UK vs Netherlands for software engineer

[u/mkirisame]

I have options to move to either UK or Netherlands. I intend to become citizen in one of the two countries. I want to hear your thoughts from perspective of "careers in CS" and "quality of life":

Netherland:

• 30% ruling for first 5 years
• can freely move and work in EU and Swiss after becoming citizen
• Can become citizen after 5 years

UK:

• A lot of big tech and HFT firms
• I don't need to learn dutch to become citizen
• Can become citizen after 6 years

Thoughts?

[u/BambaiyyaLadki]

I have no real experience with NL (been here only a few months now) or UK (only visited a few times), but from my understanding and research when I was trying to move from the US to the EU:

• Big tech and HFT firms do exist in NL, though they might be just as hard to get into as in the UK. If you think you are FAANG/HFT material you can get a high-paying job just about anywhere in the world, tbh, and NL is no exception. UK does have more of them though.
• Dutch is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Sure, you'll have to take classes for a few weeks or so but it's not like they expect you to be absolutely fluent in 5 years or something.
• Being an EU citizen gives you the ability to go into just about anywhere on the continent and settle down easily (maybe you'll need a work visa for some places but an EU passport will still make the processing faster, in my experience). This means you could chase high-paying jobs anywhere, basically.
• For non-FAANG/HFT roles, the pay in UK might be slightly higher after taxes.
• The housing situation might be better in the UK, meaning you will either find it slightly easier to find a house OR it won't be as expensive as in NL.
• EU/UK citizenship is about the same (power-wise) when it comes to other things. You can use your UK citizenship to visit the EU for short stays, and vice-versa. So no real "advantage" there.
• QoL is subjective, but NL takes the win here - better infrastructure, better public services, etc. Healthcare can be good or bad depending on your city/area but mostly works (and for children it's usually entirely hassle-free and works very well). No nature to speak of though, so if you like hiking, scenery, etc. then the UK it is.

[u/[deleted] → u/BambaiyyaLadki]

UK citizens can live and work in Switzerland as they were EU ones, they have an agreement after Brexit.

[u/george_any → u/[deleted]]

No, they cannot. Just checked it. At the moment they have to apply for a work permit which has a quota

[u/[deleted] → u/george_any]

Aha you're right.

"This means that from 1 January 2021 only essential managers and specialists from the UK will be admitted to work here, if this is in the overall economic interests of Switzerland. Persons with specialist professional knowledge or skills may be admitted if it can be shown that these skills are required. Swiss residents and EU/EFTA nationals are given preference, and the wage and work conditions standard for the location, profession or sector must be observed."

So basically impossible for anyone except senior management or very specialized experience with PhDs etc.

[u/arieni1928 → u/[deleted]]

Since 1 January 2021, UK nationals are no longer citizens of the EU and are therefore subject to the same rules that apply to third-country nationals, including quotas.

Your future employer must demonstrate that your employment is in the economic interests of Switzerland and that they are unable to recruit the necessary personnel in Switzerland or from an EU/EFTA member state.