The Little Orange Handbook 2.0: the Netherlands for newcomers

Xpat Media, the publisher of the mighty Holland Handbook, has come up with this condensed and more portable guide to living in the Netherlands, now in a fully revised edition for 2023 and beyond.

The Little Orange Handbook describes itself as a ‘practical guide and quick introduction to the Netherlands’ and information is packed into the book’s 210 pages. It covers everything from housing and working to the educational system and political system of the country.

The contents are divided into two main sections: About the Netherlands and Living in the Netherlands. The former covers history, culture and the language. The latter covers more practical issues such as working, finance, housing, education and transportation.

The layout includes lots of photos and graphics, making the contents a bit easier to digest than a simple page of text. There are simple explanations of the energy label system for example, and down to earth information about renting a home or getting a taxi from Schiphol airport.

But you can also read about Dutch locations listed as Unesco World Heritage sites or things the Dutch invented, as well as all the cultural mistakes you are bound to make as a newbie.

As it is the ‘Little’ handbook, much of the information is brief but it is a good overview for anyone getting started in the Netherlands and does provide links to relevant websites for further information.

Buy this book

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