Indians in the Netherlands: Community, Visas, PR and Marriage
By Venkata Nagireddi, Founder & CEO, NRI Hearts · Updated 21 October 2026 · Rules checked against the IND and Netherlands Worldwide
About 240,000 people of Indian origin live in the Netherlands, the second-largest Indian community in Europe after the UK (Embassy of India, The Hague). It is really two communities: Hindustani families who came from India by way of Suriname generations ago, and a fast-growing group of Indian professionals, most of them on the highly skilled migrant permit. This guide covers where Indians live, the permit, bringing your spouse, permanent residence and getting married, with every rule linked to its official source.
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Key facts at a glance
- People of Indian origin
- About 240,000 (Embassy of India)
- Share of the Dutch population
- About 1.3% (of 18.15 million)
- Residents with a direct Indian background
- 89,000 on 1 Jan 2024, up from 27,000 in 2014 (CBS)
- Largest Indian population
- Amsterdam, about 11,000
- Highest share of Indians
- Amstelveen, 68 per 1,000 residents
- Highly skilled migrant salary, 2026
- €5,942 a month (30+), €4,357 (under 30)
- Permanent residence
- After 5 years, with a Dutch A2 civic integration exam
Indian population in the Netherlands: how many Indians live here?
The Indian population in the Netherlands is about 240,000 people of Indian origin, according to the Embassy of India in The Hague. Out of 18.15 million residents (CBS, end of June 2026), that is about 1.3% of the Netherlands population. Two different numbers are quoted, and both are right:
- The Hindustani communitymakes up most of the 240,000. Their ancestors went from India to Suriname as indentured labourers in the 19th century, and many families moved on to the Netherlands around Suriname's independence in 1975. Statistics Netherlands generally counts them under Suriname, where they or their parents were born, not under India.
- Residents with a direct Indian background, meaning born in India or a child of India-born parents: 89,000 on 1 January 2024 (about 0.5% of the population), more than three times the 27,000 of 2014 (CBS (Statistics Netherlands)). Of those who arrived in 2023, 45% came for family reasons, 40% for work and 15% to study.
Growth slowed recently. About 9,400 people moved from India to the Netherlands in 2024, down from 14,755 in 2022, and CBS reports fewer highly skilled migrants from India in 2025 than in 2024 (CBS).
Where do most Indians live in the Netherlands?
Amsterdam has the most Indians (about 11,000); Amstelveen has the highest share. CBS figures for 1 January 2024, residents with an Indian background:
| Municipality | Per 1,000 residents | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Amstelveen | 68.3 (about 6,500 people) | Next to Amsterdam and Schiphol; international schools; popular with IT professionals |
| Uithoorn | 49.6 | Quieter town south of Amstelveen |
| Eindhoven | 35.4 | The Brainport tech region: semiconductors and engineering |
| Almere | 30.7 | Newer, more affordable homes east of Amsterdam |
| Haarlemmermeer | 23.0 | Around Schiphol airport (Hoofddorp) |
| Delft and Leidschendam-Voorburg | 17.7 and 17.8 | The Hague region, home of the Embassy of India and much of the Hindustani community |
| Amsterdam | 11.8 (about 11,000 people, the largest number) | Head offices, start-ups and the widest choice of Indian shops and restaurants |
Indian community in the Netherlands: temples, associations and groups
The Hindustani community has deep roots, with mandirs, Diwali celebrations and cultural organisations, especially in The Hague region. The newer Indian community is concentrated around Amsterdam, Amstelveen and Eindhoven, with language and regional groups (Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and more), cricket clubs and festival events.
- Embassy of India, The Hague: passports, OCI, consular services and the official community page (Embassy of India, The Hague).
- Netherlands India Association and the Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade (NICCT): cultural and business links, both listed by the Embassy.
- Newcomer groups: city WhatsApp and Facebook groups are where most Indians ask about housing, schools and paperwork in their first months.
Is the Netherlands a good place to live for Indians?
For many Indian professionals and families, yes, and more of them are staying. CBS found that 56% of Indians who arrived in 2019 still lived in the Netherlands four years later, against 33% of those who arrived in 2011 (CBS (Statistics Netherlands)).
- In its favour: English is widely spoken at work, tech and engineering jobs are plentiful, a highly skilled migrant's spouse can work without a work permit, and there is a clear route to permanent residence.
- The trade-offs: housing is scarce and expensive around Amsterdam, the weather takes adjusting to, and permanent residence requires passing a Dutch-language civic integration exam.
Cost of living in the Netherlands for an Indian family
Rent is the biggest cost; health insurance and childcare are partly offset by the system. The main figures for 2026:
| Cost | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (new private-sector lets) | €20.94 per m² a month on average (Q2 2026): roughly €1,470 for a 70 m² flat, more around Amsterdam | NL Times |
| Basic health insurance | About €157 a month per adult; children under 18 pay no premium | Rijksoverheid, Government.nl |
| Daycare | Childcare benefit covers up to €11.23 an hour (after-school care €9.98), at up to 96% for a combined income up to €56,412 and less above that | Rijksoverheid |
For comparison, a highly skilled migrant aged 30 or older earns at least €5,942 gross a month in 2026, and a spouse can add a second income without a work permit. Groceries, transport and schooling vary by city; the figures above are the ones that can be checked against an official or published source.
Highly skilled migrant Netherlands permit (kennismigrant)
Most Indians move to the Netherlands on the highly skilled migrant permit. Your employer must be a sponsor recognised by the IND; the employer applies for you and becomes responsible for your legal residence. The permit lasts as long as your contract, up to 5 years. The IND must decide within 90 days but aims to decide within 2 weeks of a complete application (IND).
Minimum gross salary per month in 2026 (IND):
| Situation | Gross per month (2026) |
|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant, 30 or older | €5,942 |
| Highly skilled migrant, under 30 | €4,357 |
| Reduced criterion (for example within 3 years of graduating, or after an orientation year) | €3,122 |
| EU Blue Card | €5,942 (reduced: €4,754) |
These amounts change every 1 January.
Netherlands spouse visa, dependent visa and partner visa
The Netherlands spouse visa (also called the dependent visa or partner visa) is officially a residence permit for “residence with a partner”. Your husband, wife or partner gets their own permit, and if you are a highly skilled migrant they can work in any job without a work permit. Your employer can apply for them together with your own permit; you then become their sponsor (IND).
- Work: family members of a highly skilled migrant do not need a work permit (IND).
- No exam abroad: a family member joining a highly skilled migrant or EU Blue Card holder is exempt from the civic integration exam abroad (IND).
- Entry visa (mvv): Indian nationals need one. It is applied for together with the residence permit; your partner collects it from the Dutch embassy or consulate within 3 months of approval and then has 90 days to travel (IND).
- Income: the sponsor must earn enough. The general amount from 1 July to 31 December 2026 is €2,337 gross a month without holiday allowance (IND); a highly skilled migrant salary is well above it.
- After arrival: registration with the municipality, a tuberculosis test within 3 months and Dutch health insurance within 4 months (IND).
- Time: the IND has up to 90 days to decide.
Age and relationship rules depend on whether you were married before or after you moved, and on whether you are married, registered partners or unmarried partners. Check your own situation in the IND brochure (IND).
Netherlands PR for Indians: can Indians get PR in the Netherlands?
You can apply for permanent residence after 5 consecutive years of lawful residence, if all of these apply (IND):
- Your main residence was in the Netherlands for the whole period and you always extended your permit on time.
- Your current permit is for a non-temporary purpose. A highly skilled migrant permit is; a student permit is not (IND).
- You have passed the civic integration exam at level A2 or higher, or you are exempt.
- You have independent, sustainable and sufficient income.
The IND first checks whether you qualify for the EU long-term resident permit, which also makes it easier to move to another EU country later.
Can foreigners get married in the Netherlands? Marrying as an Indian
You can marry in the Netherlands if at least one of you is Dutch or lives in the Netherlands. Both partners must be 18 or older and not already married, and you need 2 to 4 witnesses aged 18 or older (Netherlands Worldwide).
- Give notice of your intended marriage to the municipality. If both of you live abroad, notice goes through The Hague, at least 8 to 12 weeks before the wedding; the notice is valid for 1 year (Netherlands Worldwide).
- Documents depend on the municipality. Expect to be asked for a declaration that you are unmarried from the last place you lived abroad, legalised and translated where needed. If you are not Dutch, you may also sign a personal declaration that the marriage is genuine (Netherlands Worldwide).
- Choose community of property or a marriage contract drawn up by a notary.
Married in India instead? A foreign marriage can be registered in the Netherlands (Netherlands Worldwide), and for the partner visa the IND will ask for the marriage certificate. Planning the move as a couple? See our NRI marriage planning guide and marriage and immigration guides.
Finding an Indian partner in the Netherlands: which matrimony site is best for NRIs?
It depends on what you want. The big Indian portals, BharatMatrimony, Jeevansathi, Shaadi.com and Sangam, all have Netherlands pages and the largest overall pools. Many families also rely on community networks and temple contacts. NRI Hearts is built for NRIs: it shows members who live in the Netherlands, with nearby Europe alongside. We run NRI Hearts, so compare for yourself.
With the community spread between Amstelveen, Eindhoven and The Hague, and many people here for a few years at a time, meeting someone with the same background and plans is hard. On NRI Hearts you can search members who live in the Netherlands by community and religion, check kundali compatibility before you talk, and see what each verification badge covers. Every profile is email-verified and manually reviewed before it goes live; we do not check marital status, visa or employment, so do your own checks too (how to verify an NRI match).
Browse members in the Netherlands or see all Indian singles in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
How many Indians live in the Netherlands?
About 240,000 people of Indian origin live in the Netherlands, according to the Embassy of India in The Hague. That makes it the second-largest Indian diaspora in Europe, after the UK. Most belong to the Hindustani community, whose families came from India via Suriname. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) separately counts 89,000 residents with a direct Indian background (born in India, or a child of India-born parents) on 1 January 2024, up from 27,000 in 2014.
What percentage of the Netherlands population is Indian?
About 1.3%. The roughly 240,000 people of Indian origin counted by the Embassy of India are about 1.3% of the Netherlands' 18.15 million residents (CBS, end of June 2026). Counting only residents with a direct Indian background (89,000 on 1 January 2024), it is about 0.5%.
Where do most Indians live in the Netherlands?
Amsterdam has the largest number of residents with an Indian background, about 11,000. Amstelveen, next to Amsterdam, has the highest share: 68 in every 1,000 residents, about 6,500 people. Uithoorn, Eindhoven, Almere, Haarlemmermeer and the towns around The Hague and Delft follow (CBS, 1 January 2024).
Can Indians get PR in the Netherlands?
Yes. After 5 consecutive years of lawful residence you can apply for a permanent residence permit if your current permit is for a non-temporary purpose (a highly skilled migrant permit is), you have passed the civic integration exam at level A2 or are exempt, and you meet the income requirement. The IND first checks whether you qualify for the EU long-term resident permit instead.
What is the Netherlands spouse visa or dependent visa called officially?
The IND calls it a residence permit for “residence with a partner” (part of family reunification). People also call it the Netherlands spouse visa, dependent visa or partner visa. Indian nationals also need an entry visa (mvv), which is applied for together with the residence permit.
Can my spouse work in the Netherlands if I am a highly skilled migrant?
Yes. According to the IND, family members of someone with a highly skilled migrant residence permit do not need a work permit, so your husband or wife can work for any employer once their own residence permit is issued.
Does the spouse of a highly skilled migrant need the civic integration exam abroad?
No. The IND exempts a family member who comes to live with someone holding a residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (or an EU Blue Card) from the civic integration exam abroad.
Can an Indian get married in the Netherlands?
Yes, if at least one of you is Dutch or lives in the Netherlands. Both partners must be 18 or older and not already married, and you need 2 to 4 witnesses. You first give notice of your intended marriage to the municipality; the notice is valid for one year. The municipality tells you which documents it needs, usually including a declaration that you are unmarried, legalised and translated where needed.
What is the cost of living in the Netherlands for an Indian family?
Housing is the biggest cost: new private-sector rents averaged €20.94 per square metre a month in Q2 2026, so a 70 m² flat is roughly €1,470 a month, and more around Amsterdam. Basic health insurance averages €157 a month per adult in 2026 and children under 18 are insured free. Daycare is covered by childcare benefit up to €11.23 an hour in 2026, at up to 96% for lower incomes and less at higher incomes.
Which matrimony site is best for NRIs in the Netherlands?
It depends on what you want. The big Indian portals (BharatMatrimony, Jeevansathi, Shaadi.com and Sangam) all have Netherlands pages and the largest overall pools. NRI Hearts is built for NRIs and shows members who live in the Netherlands, with nearby Europe alongside, kundali matching, and badges that say exactly what was checked. Many families also use community networks and temple contacts. We run NRI Hearts, so compare for yourself.
Is the Netherlands a good place to live for Indians?
Many Indians think so: English is widely spoken, tech and engineering jobs are plentiful, and a highly skilled migrant's spouse can work without a work permit. CBS found that Indians who arrived in 2019 were far more likely to still live in the Netherlands four years later (56%) than those who arrived in 2011 (33%). The trade-offs are high housing costs and the Dutch-language exam needed for permanent residence.
Sources
All checked on 21 October 2026. Immigration rules change; always confirm with the IND before you apply.
- Embassy of India, The Hague: Indian Community in Netherlands
- CBS (Statistics Netherlands): Migrants from India are staying longer in the Netherlands, 5 March 2025
- CBS: Immigration down in 2025, especially asylum and knowledge migrants, 30 June 2026
- CBS: Population growth slowed in the first half of 2026, 30 July 2026
- IND: Required amounts income requirements (2026)
- IND: Residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (brochure 3072)
- IND: Coming to work in the Netherlands (brochure 3086)
- IND: Enabling a family member or relative to come to the Netherlands (brochure 3085)
- IND: Appendix civic integration examination abroad (form 7606)
- IND: Temporary and non-temporary purposes of residence
- IND: Permanent residence permit
- Rijksoverheid: Wat kost het om een zorgverzekering af te sluiten? (average premium 2026)
- Government.nl: Standard health insurance
- Rijksoverheid: Bedragen kinderopvangtoeslag 2026 (childcare benefit amounts)
- NL Times: Private sector rent hikes outpace inflation (Pararius and Huurwoningen.nl, Q2 2026), 10 July 2026
- Netherlands Worldwide: Conditions for marriage in the Netherlands
- Netherlands Worldwide: Giving notice of your intention to marry in the Netherlands
- Netherlands Worldwide: What documents do I need to marry in the Netherlands?
- Netherlands Worldwide: Registering a foreign marriage in the Netherlands
This guide is general information, not legal advice. NRI Hearts is a matrimonial platform, not an immigration adviser.