The Netherlands is one of Europe's best countries and it has a shortage of dentists. This has created fabulous career opportunities for foreign dentists. Read why you should consider working as a dentist there.
1. Plenty of vacancies and a big shortage of dentists
The Netherlands has a shortage of dentists. Its three dental schools produce just two thirds of the dentists required each year for the healthy functioning of the national dental services and the situation is further exacerbated by many expected retirals in the coming years. This has created an unprecedented opportunity for international dental graduates from other countries within the European Union to practice in the Netherlands for years to come.
2. High quality of dentistry
The Netherlands is renowned for its strong healthcare system in which dentistry is a cornerstone. It is home to many modern dental clinics where a wide range of treatments is offered. Contrary to some other countries, dentists in the Netherlands work with an assistant.
Patients generally visit the dentist twice per year for a check-up and dentists may see 15-25 patients per day, although the presence of an assistant will allow the dentists to dedicate themselves fully to the quality of the treatment. This focus on efficiency and quality allows young dentists to quickly gain work experience while also pursuing differentiated dental skills.
Dutch dentistry has a reputation for high quality and patient expectations of expert services which extends to prosthetics, endodontics and implantology. This variety allows for a high monthly turnover and, with that, high salaries.
3. Dentists are respected
In the Netherlands, dentistry is seen as a cornerstone of healthcare. Patients visit the dentist for regular check ups to preserve oral health. If you are able to get a clear picture of the needs of the patient and provide them with a fitting treatment, the patient will go home satisfied. A satisfied patient feels confident in your expertise, and will return to your clinic for the next check-up. Of course, communication and a good command of the Dutch language are an essential part of providing quality dental care.
4. Fixed costs
The costs of dental treatments in the Netherlands are fixed. This means that there is no competition in the area of pricing, and clinics are not able to promote their business with free treatments or other special offers. As a dentist, you can truly set yourself apart in terms of quality. When you provide good healthcare, patients will reward this by returning to your clinic for the next check-up or treatment.
5. Good working conditions – A stable balance between life and work
Dentistry is among the best-paying jobs in the Netherlands. This means a good starting salary for young dentists, along with the potential to grow considerably. None of this goes at the cost of a healthy balance between work and life. In the Netherlands, the average work day lasts for 8 hours, and a full-time job amounts to 38-40 hours per week. There is plenty of time left for a life outside of your career, such as friends, family, sports and social activities.
6. Social security
The Netherlands has an elaborate social safety net. Should you encounter financial troubles due to unemployment (unlikely, given the current market situation), disease or other issues, there is ample opportunity to receive government support. If you have children, you may also be entitled to certain financial benefits to help you out as a caretaker.
In terms of retirement funds, dentists generally do not require financial aid of any sorts, as their earnings during their career are more than enough to allow for an enjoyable and carefree retirement. Because of this, many dentists choose to retire early, as they have enough money to live a comfortable life off interest alone.
7. Democracy, diversity & welcoming EU labor migrants
The Netherlands is known worldwide for its tolerance, freedom, and political and economic stability. The United Kingdom left the European Union (EU), and not every country within the EU offers certainty and stability. The Netherlands is a part of the EU, and, as such, keeps investing in labour mobility between EU countries.
8. 30% Ruling – Tax benefit for expats
With the 30% Ruling, the Dutch government hopes to attract foreign professionals who possess a certain expertise that is scarce in the Netherlands. This includes dentistry. The government wants to compensate dentists for any extra costs incurred while moving to the Netherlands, such as housing, learning the language, and other things. In practice, this means that you are entitled to tax exemption of up to 30% of your gross salary across 5 years, making it highly attractive to work in the Netherlands from a financial point of view.
9. Excellent infrastructure
Dutch society has many general advantages, such as safety, good organization, punctuality, reliability and efficiency. Salaries are given out on a fixed date (the exact date varies per employer) and (medical) organisations work with such efficiency that most issues are resolved quickly.
Additionally, Dutch infrastructure is particularly strong. Every part of the country can be reached with ease, roads are maintained well and public transportation is widely available. Those who live close to work often travel there with Holland’s most iconic means of transportation: the bicycle.
10. Nature, water and hygiene
Despite being a heavily populated and urbanised country, there is still plenty of nature to enjoy in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is full of beautiful nature places for a peaceful walk or a refreshing hike, to admire flowers, and search for mushrooms or birds. National parks, forests, estates, lakes, and dunes, the possibilities are endless. Meanwhile, urban areas are clean, and stray animals are almost nowhere to be seen.
The Netherlands has strict regulations and standards in place to ensure the safety and purity of its tap water. The drinking water in the Netherlands is carefully monitored and treated by water companies to meet these standards. Overall, Dutch tap water is considered safe and of high quality.
11. Open culture
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Dutch culture is that you never have to be bored after work. There is a near endless amount of options in terms of leisure activities. Sport clubs, courses, dancing schools, volunteer work, bars, restaurants and much, much more awaits you. These are all opportunities for you to integrate with Dutch society, and feel at home in addition to working on your dentistry career.
12. Strong education system
Education is compulsory (leerplicht) in the Netherlands from the ages of five to 16, however, most children start to attend primary school at age four. While the structure of primary education in the Netherlands is straightforward, the structure of the Dutch secondary education system often seems confusing because of the multiple paths and graduation ages in high school.
In reality, Dutch secondary schools are similar to those in most other countries, with one stream to prepare students for vocational training (VMBO), and another to prepare students for university (VWO). The main difference in the Netherlands is that there is a third, middle, stream in high schools that prepares students to study at universities of applied sciences (HAVO).
As a dentist from abroad, you can put your children in one of the English/International schools, but you also have the option to send them to a regular primary school and let them be around and make friends with Dutch children.
In summary, the Netherlands offers unrivalled career opportunities for dentists who wish to practice general dentistry or a specialist dental field combined with excellent remuneration, significant tax advantages at the outset and a high quality of life in a safe, developed country.
If practising dentistry in the Netherlands interests you, please contact us and submit your CV. You can view advertised jobs .
