From one small country to another
In the Randstad, distances are short, as in Bahrain, and there are trains everywhere. You can live in Wassenaar or Amstelveen, with the school ten minutes away by bicycle. The office in Amsterdam or The Hague is within half an hour. Paris and London are a train ride away. See where families settle.
Planning to buy a family home? See how buyers from abroad buy Dutch property and which transfer tax applies.
Schools and healthcare
The British, American and IB schools are in the same areas where families live. Make your shortlist a year ahead. See international schools in the Netherlands. The standard health insurance costs about €150 per adult per month, and children are insured for free. Families who used to drive across the causeway to Saudi Arabia to see a specialist now find specialists close to home.
Daily life
There are halal restaurants, mosques and Gulf communities across the region, and you can use English everywhere. The Zuidas, the business district of Amsterdam with many finance firms, is a short bike ride from the schools. See a European second base for Bahrain residents.
You can set up the company by power of attorney, from any country. This usually happens within one week once all documents are complete. See setting up a BV in the Netherlands from abroad.
Residence and sequence
The residence permit comes first. You can use your own BV as a recognised sponsor, or apply under the scheme for self-employed people. You register the company before anything else. See the Bahrain incorporation guide. Follow the 90-day checklist for the order of the steps.