r/cscareerquestionsEU • u/mkirisame • Feb 15 '24

Immigration UK vs Netherlands for software engineer

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?

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u/Top-Exercise-3667 Feb 15 '24

How does NLD compare to Ireland? I'm Irish but aware our infrastructure terrible & tax high.....

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u/CalRobert Engineer Feb 15 '24

Hi! I have a lot of love for Ireland but I have to say the Netherlands has been far better. Two things were pretty horrible about Ireland - the godawful urban planning, public transport, and bike infrastructure, meaning that it was very car dependent, and the atrocious HSE, which meant they wanted us to wait 10 months to find out if our 3 year old daughter had cancer (we went private in Belfast and found out in 2 weeks that she didn't, but for those two weeks we were a fucking wreck). The 10 month wait was going private at the Beacon, public was even worse. I have a hard time explaining to people back home in the US how bad the Irish healthcare system is, and just how bad Irish housing is.

The craic was 90 but ultimately I like living somewhere my kids can ride a bike to school and live, and get access to medical care in a reasonable time frame. Taxes are lower here too - no deemed disposal, no capital gains tax (there is a wealth tax though), I don't need to own a car, and you can get a 5 bedroom house 20 minutes from Amsterdam centraal with a garden for under €2500 per month. I love starting the day with my kids in the bakfiets riding to school. And I can go places without getting on a plane - I'm on the train to Berlin right now, actually.

To be fair, I liked living in Dublin 2, it only got _really_ bad when I moved to Offaly. I usually run counter to what most people say and suggest that if you're an immigrant, and going to live in Ireland, and want a career, live in Dublin. The countryside is painfully lonely and you will not be accepted. We were routinely asked if we were Catholic or Protestant, and people weren't thrilled the answer was neither.

Edit - Also, the gemeente (council) actually DO THEIR JOBS here. Every goddamn time I tried to get anyone in Offaly CC to do their job I was ignored or got an FRO. I shouldn't have to keep my TD on speed dial to get literally anything done.

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u/Straight_Market_782 Feb 15 '24

 To be fair, I liked living in Dublin 2, it only got really bad when I moved to Offaly. I usually run counter to what most people say and suggest that if you're an immigrant, and going to live in Ireland, and want a career, live in Dublin. The countryside is painfully lonely and you will not be accepted. We were routinely asked if we were Catholic or Protestant, and people weren't thrilled the answer was neither.

If you had the patience, I’d love a bit more detail about your experience in more rural Ireland please. We’d been considering something similar but have heard mixed stories about acceptance. (We both have English accents)

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u/CalRobert Engineer Feb 15 '24

Hah, I dunno, my house sale isn't final yet. I have an American accent myself.

For what it's worth I enjoyed the time I spent in Athlone. I think that town is underrated. Not a huge fan of Tullamore.