How is Accommodation and Transportation Organised When I Move Abroad?

When making the move to relocate abroad, it’s only normal to have concerns about the place you’ll be staying at, along with the work and commute. What will the accommodation look like when I’m there? 

In this article, we’ll explain what types of arrangements employers offer and what you can expect. However, first and foremost, the type of housing and transportation from your new living place to your new job depends on the country you will be working in, either the Netherlands, Germany, or Belgium.

What Accommodation do Agencies Abroad Offer, and for How Long are These Available?

Robin only offers you work when the accommodation, at least during your first months abroad, is as well organised if requested. We know from our own experiences that it can be tough to arrange affordable accommodation yourself in another country. Especially when you don’t speak the language of said country.

In the Netherlands, accommodation is provided for as long as you are working through the agency you signed the contract with when you started working. 

Other agencies in Germany and Belgium offer accommodation for you just for the first three months abroad. After these three months, the agency will help you agree directly with the housing provider or find something for yourself. 

These agencies want people to integrate into the country and see that having accommodation is part of the integration process. Still, Robin works with plenty of agencies in Germany and Belgium that provide accommodation for the whole time you work there.

What Type of Accommodation Can I Expect When I Go to Work Abroad?

The Netherlands

The type of accommodation depends on specifics, such as how significant the housing shortage is in a specific region or country. As you may know, there’s a substantial housing problem in the Netherlands, especially in the southern part of the country. 

This is why housing companies develop units in specific regions to comfortably accommodate migrant workers. Some agencies Robin works with have big hotels available, for example, explicitly made for this purpose. 

You may also find little villages of tiny homes in the Netherlands that are as well developed for the same purpose. In districts where there are more homes available, you can expect to live in ordinary apartment buildings or detached homes.

Belgium and Germany

In Germany and Belgium, where the lack of housing for migrant workers is less significant than in the Netherlands, expect to live in a furnished apartment or a detached home. It doesn’t matter what country you go to, expect to share a room with someone else. Houses include furniture and cooking facilities. You only need to take bed linen for yourself and, of course, take some personal items that make your new living place make you feel more at home.

How Much Will Accommodation Cost Me?

Housing costs also mostly depend on the region you will be placed in. For instance, Amsterdam will be more expensive than living in a small village in the Dutch countryside or in Germany.

It doesn’t matter which country, accommodation costs in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium are very similar to each other. Typically, agencies will charge a fixed fee as rent, each week. Regardless of the type of arrangement you have, rent will be around 100 euros per week, automatically deducted from your salary. Additionally, in the Netherlands, employers aren’t allowed to charge the full accommodation cost when you don’t work enough hours to cover these costs. 

When an employment agency and their accommodation is located in a more remote district, you can expect to pay less for your accommodation, around 80 euros per week. In case you feel that you can get better accommodation for a reasonable price yourself, agencies don’t have a problem when you find accommodation by yourself.

With Whom Will I Live When I Move Abroad With The Help of Robin?

It doesn’t matter to what country you will move to work abroad and expect to live with various nationalities. Most agencies Robin works with have people from all over Europe: Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

In most cases, the agency will try to find a roommate for you from the same nationality to adapt to your new home as easily as possible. In case you are not satisfied with the accommodation provided for you, agencies are open to offering you another home elsewhere if these are available. 

Keep in mind that the homes’ cleanliness  and overall state is mainly dependent on the people living there and not so much on the agency that provides the accommodation. Keeping the house tidy and cozy is the resident’s responsibility, just like in case of any home.

How is Transportation for Work Organised?

All the agencies Robin works take care of the daily commute to and from work. Still, there are a few expectations, in which the agencies prefer that you travel in your own car (which will get compensated). 

You should also know that in the Netherlands, you’ll most likely be provided a bicycle upon arrival if the commute is less than 10 kilometers. Bikes are the number one means of transportation for the Dutch, and having your own bike can give you additional freedom as you don’t have to share rides with someone else. 

On the other hand, cycling is free! You only need to pay a deposit which will be returned when you give the bicycle back. If you want your own bicycle as well, this is not a problem. Check www.marktplaats.nl and search for ‘fiets’ to find an affordable bike in your surroundings.

If you live further than 10 km away from your job, agencies will provide a car for you and your colleagues living in the same accommodation.

In Belgium, bicycles are slightly less standard than in the Netherlands. In some cases, the agency asks you to go to work using local transport. Some Belgium agencies prefer people to use their own car to go to work and back and will pay travel expenses for that. In case you want to buy a bicycle in Belgium, check 2dehands.be to get yourself a good deal.

In Germany, most employers arrange a car for you to travel to work and back. You will need to share this car with other people living in the same home or that you need to pick up some colleagues at another address. Distances in Germany are a bit further compared to the Netherlands and Belgium, so it’s harder to commute to work using a bicycle.

Keep in Mind

Accommodation will always be provided for those who go to work abroad with Robin’s help. But the exact address where you will live will be only offered a couple of days before your arrival abroad. It is challenging for agencies to plan the accommodation weeks ahead.

If you have preferences on where you would like to live and with whom, let Robin job experts know so we can help you find work with accommodation accordingly.