[dijit]

Interestingly the Dutch have been very keen to capture Tech companies (or at least make it an attractive place for employees).

There is a low flat tax rate (30% iirc) for some years (was 5 when I last checked) if you're working in an "in-demand" sector, and tech is one of those sectors.

This is somewhat controversial from what I understand, not all of the Dutch like it, and I understand why: it's not really very fair to give foreigners a tax break and not your own people. But it's interesting nonetheless.

[nivenkos]

Worth noting that a lot of other EU countries have similar policies.

Spain has the Beckham law - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beckham_law - though it might not survive much longer.

Sweden has a similar policy but you need to earn over ~120,000 euros: https://www.forskarskattenamnden.se/forutsattningarforskatte...

I was really close to moving to NL to take advantage of that (vs. the insane taxes in Sweden) but unfortunately at the time I got the offer they were still in full lockdown restrictions.

[rzanella]

Portugal - https://www.pwc.pt/pt/servicos/fiscalidade/individuals-taxat...

[ralfn]

>not all of the Dutch like it, and I understand why: it's not really very fair to give foreigners a tax break and not your own people.

Some people in my country fail to realize that in this case the Dutch state did not invest in the education of these people. I suspect the math works out.

[reacharavindh]

I have recently moved to NL and am making use of the 30% tax ruling. To me, another attraction was the exemption from capital gains for the 5 years I have 30% ruling. If I get lucky with my investments, I can get more out of them.

[jvdp]

> This is somewhat controversial from what I understand, not all of the Dutch like it, and I understand why: it's not really very fair to give foreigners a tax break and not your own people.

Another way to look at it would be that these expats contribute to our economy and society without having cost us money in preparation (schooling etc.) So I think it's a win-win.

[frenkel]

What taxes are you talking about? Vennootschapsbelasting? I believe it is a reduced rate for all businesses below a certain revenue.

[WJW]

I think he means the 30% ruling: https://www.expatica.com/nl/finance/taxes/the-dutch-30-rulin...

[tgv]

The 30% rule: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/inkomstenbelasting/...

[brianwawok]

I really have trouble telling Dutch words from hand smash in keyboards. I love it.

[WJW]

My favorite is the word "angstschreeuw" (cry/shout of fear), which is the word with the most consecutive consonants in the Dutch dictionary.

[rapnie]

"Grachtengordel" (canals) is great to practice pronunciation.

[Semaphor]

The German word is very similar: Angstschrei ;)

[AdhemarVandamme]

Along with “herfstschraalte” (autumnal skimpiness).

[gpvos]

I'm not sure that is in the dictionary. You can get more consonants with slechtstschrijvend and zachtstschrijdend, which are perfectly normal Dutch words but unlikely to end up in the dictionary (worst-writing and softest-treading). With the transliterated Russian borsjtsj you can get one more: borsjtsjschrokkend (Borscht-devouring).

[sorokod]

Angst scream?

[Semaphor]

German/Dutch "Angst" is English "fear", the English word "angst" is more "existential dread".

[sorokod]

https://www.etymonline.com/word/angst

[gpvos]

Etymologically, yes. The meaning has diverged a little, so "cry of fear" is a closer translation.

[gpvos]

And to think that Dutch is the closest somewhat-large language to English... (skipping Scots (often seen as a dialect) and Frisian (really small)).

[krageon]

You can make big(ger) tax break deals with the tax authority in the netherlands if you fork over enough money. Perhaps folks pay lip service to it being controversial, but fundamentally the cultural backdrop that stimulated the historical amassing of wealth has not changed much.

[tgv]

> not all of the Dutch like it

I guess a majority will be opposed if you'd ask plainly. The main effect is that companies save on their payroll.