October 2010
IND registration for EU citizens: a must!
As a national of an EU member state you are free to live and work anywhere in the European Union. However when residing in the Netherlands for more than three months, you are still obliged to register with the Dutch Immigration Service (IND). Even though there are no sanctions on not being registered, it is highly advisable to do so. It is a small effort, but it can make a big difference.
Foreign researchers miss out on childcare allowance
To be eligible for childcare allowance in the Netherlands – as a compensation for the high cost of childcare – parents need to possess an employment contract. This seems an acceptable criterion for eligibility, as the idea is that only working parents need to use childcare facilities. But this criterion excludes all researchers in the Netherlands who are not employed. These unsalaried researchers thus fall through the cracks when it comes to childcare benefit .
OV Chip Card for travel within the Netherlands
The OV chipkaart (OV Chip Card) has recently been introduced as a new means of payment for the public transport system in the Netherlands. The smart card is the size of a bank card and contains an invisible chip. You can top up your OV Chip Card either with credit in euros which you can use to travel anywhere within the Netherlands, or with a specific travel product such as a single or season ticket. The OV Chip Card will gradually replace other forms of payment for public transport. Learn more about the types of cards and how to use them.
Column: Unintentional effects
After extensive deliberation and costly failures, the public transport smart card was finally launched in the Netherlands. After a few days it became apparent that a fundamental element had been overlooked. Many schools take their students on excursions by bus or tram to the zoo or a historic monument, for example. Previously, their teacher could just buy a ticket for the whole class. With the new system, it appeared that each child needed an individual ticket to check in and out of the vehicle, and anyone forgetting to do so would risk a fine ranging from four to twenty euros.
JRC’s start recruiting scientific staff
Over 250 scientific positions are available. Registration is open until 4 November.
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