Hilfort insight blog

Relocating to The Hague is exciting, but for expats it also means dealing with Dutch regulations, housing rules, taxes, schools and daily life all at once. For employers, every relocation adds responsibilities for employees, compliance and business continuity. Expat services bring immigration, housing, tax and schooling into one coordinated process instead of separate projects. When that process is clear, expats, families and HR teams can focus on work instead of chasing documents or worrying whether they are still compliant. Hilfort does not offer housing or relocation execution itself. Our team provides legal and compliance expertise, immigration guidance and introductions to trusted partners in The Hague and across the Netherlands so that individuals and employers can design a safe relocation process that fits their situation.

You’ve signed the contract, booked your ticket, and can already picture your first bike ride through The Netherlands. Then reality kicks in. How do you find housing in a tight market, complete your registration on time, open a bank account, arrange healthcare, and get your residence permit approved; ideally without spending every evening reading rules in Dutch?

Global expansion brings new markets and a maze of payroll, tax, and HR obligations. The right international payroll service doesn’t just “run payroll.” It aligns policy, systems, and local practices across multiple countries so people are paid accurately, on time, and in line with local compliance and global standards. For global businesses, this guide explains what international payroll is, why it matters, the core international payroll solutions available, and how to select a partner that scales with you.

There's a moment almost every expat in the Netherlands faces. It doesn't happen during the house hunt, or while adjusting to the Dutch weather, or even in the first week of work. It happens when a blue envelop from the Dutch tax authorities (Belastingdienst) lands in the mailbox. It looks like a normal letter, official polite, and very very Dutch. But it;s filled with tax matters that can leave most of the expats feeling overwhelmed.

Hiring employees in the Netherlands can be complex, especially with local tax rules, labor law, and social security obligations. That’s why many companies turn to payroll services—a form of outsourcing where a payroll company becomes the legal employer, while your business remains in charge of daily operations and team management. This approach, also known as payroll outsourcing or payroll administration, is gaining traction with Dutch and international companies alike. Whether you're hiring in the Netherlands or across multiple countries, a reliable payroll solution can streamline operations and ensure legal compliance.

Being an expat means moving to a country where language doesn't come naturally, the food tastes different, and the culture feels completely new. Everyday things that felt simple back home, like renting a place to live, signing a work contract, or understanding tax forms, become challenges when you don't have proper expat legal advice and assistance. But these challenges don’t stop there. As an international especially the legal system can feel unfamiliar and complex, if you didn’t grow up with it. That's why expat legal advice and services can help expats like you undertstand how those laws and jurisdictions affect your situation and what the consequences might be.

Every now and then, you meet someone whose story sticks with you. Not because it's dramatic, but because it's real, filled with challenges, growth, and resilience. That’s how I felt when I heard about Shivraj Sharma’s journey. Originally from India, Shivraj has been working in environmental auditing and greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting for over two decades. When his role expanded, his presence was needed in the Netherlands. He was hesitant to leave the life he’d built, but sometimes life has other plans. Shivraj moved to the Netherlands with his wife and son in June 2023. “Usually, I’ve seen people move to the Netherlands for a new job. In my case, the job moved me here. I didn’t want to come at first. I had my home, my routine, my community. I was settled in India.”

Over the last few months, we've looked at the payroll process from all angles: how it works, how HR and payroll are connected, and even what your Dutch payslip actually says. But as we wrap our heads around the basics, it's time to take a big step toward understanding an automated payroll system. Gone are the days of manually copying data between spreadsheets or double-checking payroll taxes line by line. Payroll is evolving, and it's not just a tech upgrade but a shift in how companies think about time, trust, efficiency, and reliability. It demonstrates the benefits of improved payroll processes through automation, including real-time data processing, which enhances decision-making.

Every end of the month, there's this quiet moment, maybe a few seconds long, maybe a little longer, where you see that notification, email, or digital nudge: your salary has been paid, reflecting the calculations done by hr. You open it, glance at the salary that hits your bank account, and if you're like most people, you feel a brief sense of satisfaction.