SOFI today!! (Hopefully....)

Trip number three to the SOFI office (like SIN in Canada). Luckily AIESEC here has been organizing advances on my behalf - or else I would definitely be the starving intern! Last time I went it took about an hour to get to the place, then I had to wait another 30 mins and then they turned me away in 2 seconds cause the INS (immigration) office forgot to circle something on my passport. Amazingly this does not surprise my coworkers since dutch democratic process seem to be so efficient.. I mean it only took two months to get me an email address...

click for basic Employment facts about the Netherlands:

Employment in Amsterdam
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The Netherlands may be one of the smallest countries in Europe but it is certainly among the richest on the continent. In so far as the domestic market is concerned, the country is very dependent on trade. The main industries in Holland are food processing, chemicals, gas and oil and its most important sectors are retail, property, transport, communications and the financial services. Today, excellent tax conditions have attracted some 5000 foreign investors to the Netherlands and many multinationals and household names such as Nike and Canon have made the lowlands the home for their headquarters. Furthermore, the unemployment rate stands at 3.5%, which is low in comparison to other neighbouring countries.

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch but at least 90% of Dutch people have a good command of English and over 50% can speak two languages. Applicants that do not speak Dutch are welcomed in the marketplace but a basic working knowledge of Dutch is likely to enhance a job seeker's chances of success.

full article and source here