Living and Working in and around Petten
Transcription
Living and Working in and around Petten
Living and Working in and around Petten 2 The Joint Research Centre Petten is happy to welcome you to its site, and to the Netherlands. This information booklet has been compiled by our social worker and the Public Relations & Communication department. It will hopefully provide you with answers to some of the questions which are bound to arise during the first period of your stay here and will help you feel comfortable as soon as possible in your new surroundings. Topics covered in this booklet are health care, housing, education, taxation, insurance and general information that can be useful in every day life. This booklet should be used in conjunction with the more detailed Holland handbook. Please remember that the Personnel Department, staff representatives and the social worker are always willing to help you with any questions you may have. Introduction Energy is one of today’s hottest topics. The need to develop alternative energy resources, to meet with both increasing energy demands and to preserve our environment is one of the largest challenges mankind is currently facing. You can also play a key role in the development of sustainable energy technologies for Europe. The Joint Research Centre Institute for Energy (JRC-IE) in Petten offers you a unique working opportunity, in a unique working environment. JRC-IE in Petten is one of the seven Institutes of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). The IE provides scientific and technical support for community policies related to energy. It focuses in particular on the security of energy supply, and sustainable and safe energy production. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Community. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national. More information is supplied in your information package. You can also refer to www.jrc.ec.europa.eu, and ie.jrc.ec.europa.eu 3 Contents Introduction 3 The Surrounding Area 6 Scenery, cities & villages 7 Climate 11 Petten Site Information 12 Institute for Energy 15 Neighbour companies 16 Family, Housing and Education 18 Housing 20 Education 23 Recreation 26 Sports clubs 28 Leisure for pleasure 29 Restaurants 29 30 Health care in the Netherlands 32 Family doctor– huisarts 34 Consulting hours 35 Outside office hours 35 Hospitals 36 Other medical services 38 Financial aspects of health care 39 Pregnancy 40 Dutch vaccination scheme for babies and children 44 Shopping Transport and Utilities 46 Shopping Tourist information 4 48 Public transport 51 Driving in Holland 51 Cycling 52 Finances and Other Items 54 Bank Accounts 56 Insurances 56 Taxation 56 57 Important telephone numbers 58 Libraries 58 Post office 59 59 Internet, television and telephone 59 Public phone boxes 59 Religion 60 Holidays 61 Household & Utilities Local guides / yellow pages 5 1 6 The Surrounding Area S c e n e ry , cities & villages The surrounding area of JRC-IE is simply wonderful, located within one kilometre of the beach and adjacent to many areas of outstanding beauty, including the highest and broadest dunes of the Netherlands which can be found in the National Park ‘De Schoorlse Duinen’. This area contains many kilometres of walking and cycling routes, and is even home to one of the most challenging mountain bike routes in Holland. The beautiful forests and polders with the traditional windmills complete the unique picture of the North Holland’s landscape. And for those who prefer the hustle and bustle of cities, North Holland has lots to offer from traditional picturesque villages to the exciting nightlife of Amsterdam. Alkmaar is one of the closest cities to Petten and is home to many employees. Alkmaar is a lively city with a colourful history. Throughout the year many activities are arranged from music to sport and culinary to dance, the city is host to many thousands of visitors every year, and also boasts a thriving nightlife. For the shopaholics it’s also the no. 2 city for shopping in the Netherlands. Within 30 minutes by train from Alkmaar lies one of the most famous and cosmopolitan cities in Europe, namely Amsterdam with its unique canals, cafés, theatres and exciting nightlife for all tastes. To give you an impression of Petten’s location in relation to other towns, we have listed a few other towns that are nearby on the following pages. 7 alkmaar Alkmaar combines a rich history, a vast range of shops and restaurants to suit all tastes, and many friendly cafés. Alkmaar is renowned as Holland’s cheese city. From the beginning of April until the end of September, every Friday morning the famous cheese market takes place. With more than 400 listed buildings the city still retains many characteristics of its origins. Along the inner city canals seventeenth century merchants’ houses and warehouses are situated. Alkmaar also boasts a thriving nightlife with restaurants of various kinds, pavement cafés and coffee houses, as well as a theatre, clubs, cinemas and museums. The dunes, beach and the North Sea are only 10 kilometres away from the city. The typically Dutch meadows, waterways and windmills of the “Schermer polder” can be found east of Alkmaar. bergen Bergen has been an artists’ colony since 1900. Attracted and inspired by the space and tranquillity of broad avenues and ample greenery, “de Bergense” artistic school evolved. There are still many artists living in the village who exhibit their works in galleries and art centres. The centre, situated around the ‘Ruïnekerk’ (ruined church) is also very alive with outdoor cafés, boutiques, restaurants and pubs which give the village its informal atmosphere. schoorl Schoorl, Groet en Camperduin form a ribbon at the outskirts of the ‘de Schoorlse Duinen’ (the Schoorl dunes) National Park. The dunes are among the broadest and highest in the Netherlands. This area is characterised by a variety of nature and can be explored by the many, many, kilometres of bicycle and footpaths. It also provides a challenging mountain bike route. den helder This town is officially the sunniest place of the Netherlands with an average of 1648 hours of sun a year. It has sixty thousand inhabitants. Also here, there are plenty of shops and bars. Yearly the Tall Ships race is organised, a classic race amongst the big sailing events in Europe. About one hundred sailboats compete in various categories. From Den Helder you can also take the ferry to the unique (Wadden) islands in the North. 8 haarlem Haarlem is known to be the flower city. Between Haarlem and Leiden you can find the ‘Bollenstreek’ where in springtime countless fields of tulips, hyacinths and narcissus are flourishing, giving the landscape a wide variety of colours. The municipality has over 147.000 inhabitants and is the second largest city of the province North Holland. For years Haarlem is considered the best shopping city of the Netherlands. In the historical centre you can find exclusive stores, trendy clothing shops, charming antique stores and many restaurants. Haarlem also offers a number of large scale cultural events such as ‘Bevrijdingspop’, the ‘Haarlemmerhoutfestival’ en ‘Haarlem Jazzstad’ but also sporting events such as Haarlem Baseball week. amsterdam The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is known for its historic centre, the many canals, the relaxed atmosphere and the many places of interest. Amsterdam is truly cosmopolitan with inhabitants from 175 nationalities. As a result there are lots of different types of restaurants to suit all tastes. Besides all the fancy restaurants, there are plenty of cafés and bars that remain open until deep in the night, by which Amsterdam earns the name “The city that never sleeps.” In the area of culture Amsterdam is sensational. Ever wanted to see a real Rembrandt or Van Gogh? In various museums in Amsterdam many of their paintings are exhibited. Or just take a walk through the city centre; you will be amazed by the beautiful parks, canals and other characteristic buildings. Another interesting point to mention is that the orchestra of the Concertgebouw has been voted the world’s best symphonic orchestra. The beautiful Concertgebouw is famous around the world for its unique acoustic and is really worth a visit. In short, Amsterdam has the best of both worlds. It has all the advantages of unique tourist attractions and a huge variety of shops and amenities. On the other hand many of the canals are also relatively tranquil, providing ideal locations to have a relaxing drink. 9 Bergen en Berg Alkmaar Den H elder 10 Alkmaar Bergen C l i m at e The Netherlands has a mild maritime climate, mainly influenced by its proximity to the sea. The closer you get to the sea, the smaller the temperature differences are between summer and winter. Wind strength increases as you get closer to the sea, and generally, the wind comes from the south-west. May through August offer the most sunshine. No doubt the summer is the best time of the year to sit by the canals or take a bike trip through the country. During Spring the bulb flowers are in full bloom and The Keukenhof flower exhibition is a wonderful place to visit during this season. Rain is spread pretty evenly over the year, and if it gets cold enough during wintertime for the canals and waterways to freeze over, the Dutch enjoy skating on the canals and flood plains. Petten 11 2 Petten Site Information 12 13 14 Institute for Energy The Institute for Energy (IE) provides scientific and technical support on energy issues to policy makers of the European Union (EU). Special emphasis is given to the security of energy supply and to more sustainable, safer and cleaner energy production and use for the future. The IE is based both in Petten the Netherlands, and Ispra (Italy) and has a multidisciplinary team of some 270 academic, technical, and support staff. The IE carries out research in the fields of clean and sustainable energy spanning both nuclear and non-nuclear domains. Typical activities encompass: • • • • • • • • • Renewable energies including solar, photovoltaics and biomass; Energy techno/economic assessment; Bioenergy including biofuels; Hydrogen and fuel cells; Clean fossil including CO2 capture, transport and storage and zero-emission power generation; Energy efficiency in: buildings, industry, transport and end-use; Security of energy supply and networks and safety and reliability of energy infrastructures; Safe nuclear energy for current reactor types (generation II and III); Safety of future reactor systems in accordance with the Generation IV International Forum strategy. m issi o n s tat e m e n t The mission of the IE is to provide support to Community policies related to both nuclear and non nuclear energy in order to ensure sustainable, safe, secure and efficient energy production, distribution and use. Beach behind JRC IE Petten 15 Neighbour c o m pa n i e s ecn The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) in Petten is an independent organisation for research & development, consultancy and knowledge transfer in energy and related fields. ECN works for the national and international industry and energy sector, as well as the Dutch government and the European Commission. ECN develops technologies and products for a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly energy supply, and brings these technologies to the market. ECN’s R&D programme is focussed on the following priority fields: solar energy, wind energy, energy from biomass, energy efficiency & infrastructure, clean use of fossil fuels, fuel cell technology and policy studies. For more information: www.ecn.nl nrg NRG (Nuclear Research & consultancy Group) is the nuclear service provider. NRG has offices in Petten and Arnhem. NRG provides expertise and services in support of the safe, ecologically sound and efficient use of nuclear technologies in energy production, radiation protection and nuclear medicine. NRG has over 320 employees. NRG manages and operates the HFR (High Flux Reactor) in Petten, the most important producer of radioactive raw materials for nuclear medicine in Europe. The HFR is owned by the European Union. For more information: www.nrg.eu covidien Mallinckrodt Medical B.V. or Covidien, a daughter company of Covidien in the US, is a leading supplier of innovative pharmaceutical products to hospitals. Yearly more than twelve million patients in Europe are treated with these products for diagnostic, therapeutic and pain relief purposes. Many of these products were developed by Covidien’s own research department in Petten. Daily production takes place in Petten. For more information: www.covidien.com 16 17 3 Family, Housing and Education 18 social worker for the jrc Mrs. Anita BRUY NJE - GROENEW EG Larixplantsoen 62 1702 XJ Heerhugow aard Tel. JRC. 0224 56 53 36 (Monday, Tuesd ay & Thursday) Tel / fax. 072 57 11 972 (private) E-mail: socialworke [email protected] or r.bruyn [email protected] You can make an appointment with Mrs. Anita Bruynje - Groeneweg from Monday till Friday morning. She speaks: Dutch, English, German and French. 19 H o u si n g Petten is located in the province of North Holland, roughly 20 kilometres north of Alkmaar which is the main town in the region and 60 kilometres north of Amsterdam. Many people chose to live in Alkmaar. Other, smaller towns popular with JRC staff are Bergen, where the European School is located, and Schoorl. agencies On the Internet you can find estate agents in the Alkmaar area. The Dutch word for “estate agent” is “makelaar”. Some of them have English sites. It is not likely that you want to buy a house immediately, so look for a house that you can rent (“huren”). Agencies can provide search services for accommodation. Please note, that this could imply some (financial) obligations on your side; therefore you should always ask for more details before you sign any documents. However, do not hesitate to contact the estate agents by phone and/or e-mail. They all (usually) speak English and will be able to give you good advice. renting a house Look for a house on the “free market”. Please note that the Netherlands is an expensive country for housing. Rent prices vary from € 800 to € 2000 a month for a small apartment to a large house. The rent price isn’t only related to the size of the apartment or house, the location can also have a significant influence on the price. Bergen is a popular and picturesque area and as such is a more expensive location: a house with two bedrooms can easily cost € 1200 a month. 20 w h at k i n d o f h o u s e c a n y o u e x p e c t A family-house is called “eensgezinswoning” in Dutch. This kind of house has two or three floors. On the first floor you find the entrance hall, the kitchen, a living room (approx. 25 till 40 m2), and a small toilet. On the second floor there’s a bathroom with a shower and/or bath and usually a second toilet and two of three bedrooms. Some houses also have a third floor, with one more room, which can be used for storage or as extra bedroom. Many of these houses have a small garden with a shed (for bikes and storage). A garage is not always available. In general these types of houses are rented without carpets or curtains. An apartment (“flat” or “apartment”) consists of a living room, one or more bedrooms, a bathroom, toilet, hall and a storeroom, which is usually located elsewhere in the building. Apartments start at about 50 m2. f u r n is h e d a c c o m m o d at i o n IMPORTANT: please note that in the Netherlands furnished accommodation (“gemeubileerde woonruimte”) can be difficult to find. The majority of furnished accommodation consists of summerhouses located near to the seaside. As a short-time solution, they can be acceptable. However, do not forget that they are meant for the tourist industry and therefore can be very expensive. r e - l o c at i o n s u p p o rt f o r n e w s ta f f New staff can be offered (subject to availability) temporary furnished accommodation and assistance to find permanent accommodation. Please ask the Housing officer from the personnel department. The personnel department can also assist in finding specific housing both in the neighbourhood of Alkmaar (“Bergermeer”) and Bergen. Special priority is given to families with children that will attend the European School in Bergen. Again, please contact the personnel department regarding house availability and more detailed information. 21 b a b y - si t t i n g Generally many teenagers do this as a way of earning money. You can ask your colleagues or neighbours, advertise in the local paper or check on the notice board at your local supermarket. c h i l d c a r e fa c i l i t i e s Although there are many nurseries, play-schools and pre- and after-school care services, please be aware that many of them have a waiting list. So, book early! Financial contribution for the fees paid by the parents can either be arranged by the Dutch government or the European Commission. In case you need child care, please contact the social worker for both advice on local facilities and your entitlements. 22 E d u c at i o n courses & a d u lt e d u c at i o n In the Netherlands there are various organisations providing a variety of courses and adult education at several levels. Ask the social worker or check the local guide (section: “Onderwijs & Opleidingen”) for more information and contact details. j o b s f o r o t h e r fa m i ly m e m b e r s There are various possibilities for other family members to get a job. For example the website www.undutchables.nl provides you with all the relevant information to get you started on the Dutch job market. This agency specialises in the mediation between foreigners and potential employers in the Netherlands. Further possibilities also exist via the local job centres. 23 24 european school Staff members of the JRC-IE can enrol their children (> 4 years) at the European School in Bergen, which is located within 15 kilometres of the JRC-IE. The school offers genuine multi-lingual education by native speakers in a wide range of European languages. It is easy to transfer to national schools in all EU member states thanks to the highly valued European Baccalaureate which is legally recognised in all European countries and beyond. Pupils are entitled to free enrolment if one of the parents has a contract with the JRC of a minimum duration of one year. Europese School Molenweidtje 5 1862 BC Bergen Tel. 072 58 90 109 [email protected] www.europeanschool.nl local schools In case you prefer another school for your children, you can check the local authorities’ guide or website for an overview of schools in the surrounding area. There are many in the areas around Petten, Bergen, Alkmaar etc. 25 4 Recreation 26 27 S p o rt s clubs The Joint Research Centre in Petten offers its staff and their families a number of sports and recreation activities and clubs. These are listed below. BSC Petten (Football) BSC Petten (Volleyball) Horse riding club Golf club Health club Ladies gym Squash club Tennis club Feast of St. Nicolas Petten has its own clubhouse with tennis courts for the use of Petten staff and family members. Many of the social events and parties are held at the clubhouse which is situated in Bergen, near to the European School. In North Holland it is possible to do nearly any sport you can think of even skiing and mountain biking! Bergen has its own dry ski slope and an excellent mountain bike track of 14 km through the forest. Walking in the dunes and forests is a good way to keep fit and see the beautiful scenery in the local areas. There are many trails to follow from very short walks to trails of more than 50 Km. 28 L e is u r e for pleasure If you have a young family, we have beautiful long, flat and safe beaches all along the coast of Holland. They are ideal for young children of all ages. Fishing is a very popular past time in Holland (fishing in many forms: sea fishing, lake fishing and fishing in one of the many canals). For a more relaxing past time there is always shopping. And after a hard day’s shopping its always nice to stop at a nice little bar or restaurant for a coffee and something good to eat. Alkmaar has an excellent shopping centre with many bars and restaurants. It is also famous for its cheese market. R e s ta u r a n t s For an complete overview see your local guide, local newspaper and the “Yellow Pages”. Many restaurants also serve vegetarian dishes. In this region you will find: Argentine, Chinese, French, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Scottish, Turkish Indonesian and many other types of restaurants. 29 t o u r is t i n f o r m at i o n For a wide variety of information on leisure activities please contact the local VVV’s. The local authorities’ guides also provide up-to-date details on all kind of sports clubs, social-cultural clubs, theatres, museums etc. Local papers usually offer summaries of exhibitions, plays, movies, music performances and so on in the region and Amsterdam. A museum pass, which can be bought at most museums or at the post office, is valid for over 400 museums all over the country. Although most entrance fees are pretty low, it could save you some money. The museum pass costs € 35 for adults and € 17,50 for people younger than 25 years old. There is also a “CJPkaart” (Youth Passport) entitling those who are still at school or studying to reductions on all kinds of activities. The pass costs €15 per year, is available at the VVV offices and only applies to people up to 25 years old. 30 VVV offices Alkmaar Waagplein 2-3, 1811 JP Alkmaar Tel. 072 511 42 84 www.vvvalkmaar.nl Bergen - Bergen aan Zee Plein 1, 1861 JX Bergen Tel. 072 581 31 00 www.vvvbergen.com Schoorl Duinvoetweg 1, 1871 EA Schoorl Tel. 072 581 31 00 www.vvvschoorl.nl Petten Zijperweg 1a, 1755 NZ Petten Tel. 0226 38 13 52 www.vvvpetten.nl 31 5 Health care in the Netherlands 32 33 F a m i ly 34 d o c t o r – h u is a rt s The family doctor (huisarts) fulfils a central role in the health care system of the Netherlands. He or she is the first point of contact for almost everything related to health care. He treats you, but also coordinates other care, normally by means of an introductory letter to specialists or paramedics, and maintains your medical file, complete with specialist’s reports. In the Netherlands everyone has a permanent ”huisarts”. You can choose a “huisarts” within the borders of your own town (in larger cities within a radius of a few kilometers). You phone the assistant of the ”huisarts” and register yourself (with or without family) as a new patient. You must then always visit THAT “huisarts”(except outside normal hours). After your registration has been accepted, the “huisarts” you have chosen will be your main point of contact in case of general illnesses and other health related questions. Outside consulting hours, it’s likely that you will have to visit another doctor. Before choosing a “huisarts”, ask friends, colleagues or neighbours for advice. The doctor can also be visited for an introductory talk, after which you can decide whether to register or not. In case of death (“sterfgeval”) Should a death occur, the family doctor will come immediately and he or she will contact an undertaker. Please be sure to inform your Consulate. C o n s u lt i n g hours Consulting hours are always held during office hours (the same counts for consulting hours of specialists and dentists). The family doctor will always ask whether you’re able to come to the practice, not because he/she is unwilling, but because it is easier to examine the patient and to do tests at the practice itself. It’s possible to request home visits, but there has to be a clear medical necessity. For example if you are too ill or physically or mentally unable to visit the doctor. Some family doctors have an “open” consulting hour early in the morning for short consultations of max. five minutes each. In this case a prior appointment is not necessary. Please ask the assistant about the common procedure at the doctor’s practice. O u t si d e office hours In the evenings, nights and at weekends there is always a family doctor on duty, but only for urgent matters that cannot wait until the next day or until after the weekend. In case of urgent health matters outside consulting hours, please contact one of the following regional doctor’s offices (“Centrale Huisartsenposten”). Addresses and contact details for Huisartsenposten in the area, can be found on the next page. 35 Alkmaar, Heiloo, Bergen and surrounding areas Huisartsenpost Alkmaar e.o. James Wattstraat 7 1817 DC Alkmaar Tel. 072 5180618 Fax. 072 5180654 www.hapa-alkmaar.nl Schagen, Callantsoog, Petten and surrounding areas Huisartsenpost Schagen e.o. Grotewallerweg 3-04 1742 NM Schagen Tel. 0224 224040 H o s p i ta l s m e d i c a l s p e c i a l is t s Nearly all medical specialists in the Netherlands work via the outpatient departments (“polikliniek”) of hospitals. A visit to the specialist is usually arranged by your family doctor. He/she can make some recommendations and will send you to the right specialist. If urgent an appointment will be arranged quickly. However it is also possible to make a private appointment directly with a specialist. The specialist will always report back to the family doctor, providing him/her with information on the treatment. You may have to wait several weeks to be able to visit a specialist. The waiting time for the Ophthalmologists can be up to 2 to 3 months! Please read your insurance conditions to find out if you need a reference from the family doctor. For very specialised treatments, you may have to visit a University hospital. h o s p i ta l c o n ta c t i n f o r m at i o n In the area of Petten two hospitals are situated, namely: Medisch Centrum Alkmaar, a large hospital in Alkmaar and Gemini Ziekenhuis Den Helder, a smaller hospital in Den Helder, but also here all the usual specialisations are represented. Ambulance (in case of emergency): Tel.112 36 Medisch Centrum Alkmaar Gemini Ziekenhuis Den Helder Wilhelminalaan 12 Huisduinerweg 3 1815 JD ALKMAAR 1782 GZ Den Helder Tel. 072 548 44 44 Tel. 0223 69 69 69 [email protected] Patients information desk: Outpatient department: Tel. 072 548 35 00 Tel. 0223 69 66 66 Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis Location Oosterpark Academisch Medisch Centrum Oosterpark 9 1105 AZ Amsterdam 1091 AC Amsterdam Tel. 020 566 91 11 Meibergdreef 9 Tel. 020 599 91 11 Visitors: Patients information desk: 's Gravesandeplein 116 Tel. 020 566 33 55 1091 BC Amsterdam Emma Kinderziekenhuis (AMC) Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Meibergdreef 9 Plesmanlaan 121 1105 AZ Amsterdam 1066 CX Amsterdam Tel. 020 566 91 11 Tel. 020 512 91 11 Outpatient department: V.U. Ziekenhuis Tel. 020 512 23 33 De Boelelaan 1117 1081 HV Amsterdam - Buitenvelddert Tel. 020 444 44 44 Patients information desk: Tel. 020 444 07 00 emergency first aid (“E.H.B.O”) For emergency first aid you have direct access to the hospital (without intervention of the family doctor). First Aid stations are open 24 hours a day. 37 Other m e d i c a l s e rv i c e s m u n i c i pa l h e a lt h c a r e (“G.G.D”) Among other services the G.G.D. can be consulted in case you need travellers vaccinations. G.G.D. Schagen Grotewallerweg 1 1742 NM Schagen Tel: 0224 72 06 20 [email protected] G.G.D. Alkmaar Hertog Aalbrechtweg 5 1823 DL Alkmaar Tel. 072 566 26 62 [email protected] d e n t is t You are free to choose any dentist ("tandarts") within 50 kilometres of your home. However, in case of emergency it would be best to have a dentist close to your home. pharmacy Pharmacies ("apotheek") are open from Monday till Friday, during office hours. Outside office hours there is a pharmacy on duty to supply urgent prescriptions. For common medications, like aspirins, vitamins etc, you can also turn to a drug store ("drogist") which are usually open on Saturdays and during late night shopping evenings. In the pharmacy you pay cash and in some cases you can open an account. homecare (" t h u is z o r g ”) In every town or area a homecare organisation is represented. Their care concerns everybody; babies, children, adults, the elderly, handicapped, etc. Homecare organisations offer a great variety of services, offered by registered nurses, nursing aids and Health visitors, who work in close cooperation with the local doctors. 38 Some services offered by Homecare include: • nursing • caring (verzorgend) • supporting (ondersteunend) help at home • advice about special equipment at home for chronically sick or ha handicapped people • information about the use of medicines • nutritional advice (dieticians) Please contact the social worker in case you need the service of district homecare. Financial a s p e c t s o f h e a lt h c a r e h e a lt h i n s u r a n c e The insurance for JRC staff is organised and executed by the European Commission. Detailed information is available on Intranet. Please make sure to follow the correct procedures and ask the administration for assistance if needed. In the Netherlands ervery inhabitant, no matter what insurance, has access to health care without restriction. Partners and/or children of JRC-IE staff members who have income from a Dutch source, mainly out of work, are obliged to be insured under the Dutch “Zorgverzekeringswet”. Do not forget to apply for this insurance within the time limit of the law; 4 months. pay m e n t In the Netherlands it is not customary to pay a doctor’s or dentist’s bill right away. Follow the rules of the Commission’s Sickness Insurance Scheme for reimbursement of medical fees. Family members, which are under the Dutch "Zorgverzekeringswet", have to follow the procedure of their insurance company. 39 Pregnancy After your family doctor has confirmed your pregnancy, he or she will refer you to a midwife and/or to the centre for Maternity Homecare. Some family doctors help with deliveries themselves. You will be advised to see a gynaecologist in case of possible problems that may occur, or because of difficulties with a pregnancy in the past. Personal wishes concerning delivery The expectant mother (and father) discuss their personal wishes concerning the delivery with the midwife, family doctor, gynaecologist and/ or others who will support the “mother” during delivery. Please note that there can be differences between hospitals. Find out about the rules in the different hospitals, so that you can choose the one that appeals most to you. How to make a choice Ask friends about their experiences with different hospitals, midwifes or gynaecologists. In principle you always decide yourself where your baby should be delivered. Of course this will not be at home if difficulties are expected. g i v i n g b i rt h t o a b a b y : at h o m e o r i n h o s p i ta l ? At home The baby is born at home and the delivery is made by the midwife or your family doctor. Giving birth to the baby at home is possible if the pregnancy has developed without problems and when there is a good chance that the delivery will happen normally. Delivery in hospital will be advised if: • There is a chance of difficulties. • The mother is over 35 years old or very young • Sometimes for non-medical reasons, e.g. if the house is not suitable 40 In hospital In this case there are two possibilities: Outpatient departments (Polikliniek), this means that mother and baby leave the hospital 2 hours after the delivery (of course only if everything is alright) The delivery will again be made by the person who has also done the pregnancy monitoring. Hospitalization: this means a stay in hospital for mother and baby for 5 days. The gynaecologist gives guidance during the delivery. m i d w i f e o r fa m i ly d o c t o r In most areas the midwifes (“verloskundigen”) monitor the pregnancy and make the delivery. For several years now they have taken over most of the activities from the family doctors, although there are still family doctors who help with the delivery. Midwife The midwife is qualified in the support and monitoring of a healthy pregnancy, the delivery and the six-week-period after giving birth. If necessary she consults a gynaecologist or refers you to a gynaecologist. During the pregnancy she will provide you with all information and answer all your questions in order to improve your health. The midwife usually has consulting hours at the “thuiszorg” or health centres. safety Safety depends a lot on personal feelings; one person will feel safe to have their baby in the familiar atmosphere of home, surrounded by their family, while another will feel more safe with the assurance that in a hospital all equipment is present, if needed. Compared to other countries, the number of babies born at home in the Netherlands is much higher. m at e r n i t y h o m e c a r e - kraamzorg After giving birth to your baby, the midwife or family doctor will visit you daily in the first 3 or 4 days and after that period at longer intervals. In the first few days a nurse will take a very small blood sample from the heel of the baby (hielprik). The blood is checked for abnormalities in the metabolism and in the thyroid functions. Tasks of the maternity assistant depend on the arrangements made. There are several possibilities, for example: the maternity nurse assists the midwife or doctor with the delivery, takes care of technical tasks or carries out the daily housekeeping tasks How does it work? Please find below an overview of the most important facts & figures on maternity home care: 41 Maternity home care (“Kraamzorg”) is provided for a maximum of 9 days in case of a home delivery and 8 days in the case of a “poliklinische” hospital delivery. Extension is not possible. Registration must take place as early as possible (about 3 months into pregnancy) during the consulting hours. The staff nurse will ask for the necessary information, tell you about the procedures and will give you a list of things you have to buy or borrow. The staff nurse visits at home around the 8th month of the pregnancy. She will discuss all the aspects of the maternity home care with you. The nurse will see if all required (medical) articles for mother and baby are present and she will always check the hot-water bottle for leakage. If you have questions before this visit, you can always call. On the last day of the home care the nurse makes a file about mother and baby and delivers this file to the district nurse of the “consultatie bureau”, who will pay a visit to the mother in the 2nd week. The district nurse will also make an appointment for the first visit to the “consultatiebureau”. Payment: Usually 1 week after you have received home care. r e g is t r at i o n f o r m at e r n i t y h o m e c a r e There is one central point of contact for the whole region of North Holland . Thuiszorg Afd. Kraamzorg Postbus 67 1800 AB Alkmaar Tel. 072 512 71 27 (working days) www.evean.nl The “thuiszorg” also has several booklets available with descriptions of the services they offer; they will give you a copy at your request. c h i l d h e a lt h c e n t r e / clinic (“ c o n s u ltat i e b u r e a u ”) In the Netherlands, clinics (“consultatiebureaus”) monitor the progress of babies and toddlers. When a child is born, its birth has to be registered within three days at the town hall. In larger hospitals it is sometimes possible to 42 register the birth. A week after birth a health visitor (“wijkverpleegkundige”) pays a home visit to take blood from the baby’s heel for the PKU/CHT test. She also will get acquainted with the parents and explain the role of the clinic and how she can be contacted if questions arise. She also provides the parents with a growth book with lots of information on child care. If necessary nutrition and baby care will be discussed during the visit. Another home visit will be scheduled for about one week later. During this visit a first appointment for the clinic will be made. Regular check-ups take place at the health centre; frequently in the beginning and at longer intervals as the child grows older. The child’s development is monitored to ensure that physical or mental problems are detected at an early stage. The doctor at the clinic will physically examine the child (height, weight, head-circumference, hips, eyes, ears, etc.) while the health visitor discusses the care and feeding of the child. Either the doctor or the health visitor will ask questions to determine the development stage of the child and also the parents will have plenty opportunity to discuss concerns they might have. At some office visits parents will meet with both doctor and health visitor, at other visits they will only meet with the health visitor. In special circumstances the health visitor will pay home visits. If necessary the clinic refers to the family doctor or specialist. At the age of 4 the municipal health care (“G.G.D.”) will take over the monitoring through the schools until the child is 18 years old. 43 Dutch va c c i n at i o n s c h e m e f o r b a b i e s a n d c h i l d r e n In the Netherlands vaccinations are provided through the Government Vaccination Programme (“Rijks Vaccinatie Programma”). After registration of a child’s birth at the town hall, parents receive a package with information about the Dutch vaccination schedule together with a vaccination card (“vaccinatiekaart”) for administration of the dates, types of vaccination and lot numbers. If a child was already vaccinated in another country, the Dutch schedule will be followed after residency in the Netherlands. Any “missing” vaccination will be added. Vaccinations are not mandatory. Health care and vaccinations are provided to members of the home care organization (“regionale thuiszorg”) without extra costs. It is possible for both check-ups and vaccinations to be done by the family doctor for the cost of a consultation each time. There are 3 types of vaccinations: 1) D.K.T.P. (together in one injection) D = Diphteria, K = Kinkhoest (Pertussis), T = Tetanus, P = Polio aK = Accellulair vaccin Pertussis 2) D.T.P. (together in one injection) D= Diphteria , T = Tetanus, P = Polio, Hb = Haemophilus influenza b 3) B.M.R. B = Bof (parotis), M = Mazelen (measles), R = Rode Hond (Rubella) Age f o r va c c i n at i o n s 2 months DKTP 1 + Hib 1 + Pneu 1 3 months DKTP 2 + Hib 2 + Pneu 2 4 months DKTP 3 + Hib 3 + Pneu 3 11 – 12 months DKTP 4 + Hib 4 + Pneu 4 14 months BMR 1 + MenC 4 years DKTP 5 + aK 9 years DTP 6 + BMR 2 Hep B = hepatitis B, Men C = meningococcal C, Pneu= Pneumonia 44 45 6 Shopping Transport and Utilities 46 47 Shopping w e e k d ay s In general shops are opened from: 9.00 till 18.00 h. Except for Monday morning, when many shops are closed till 13.00 o’clock. s at u r d ay On Saturdays many shops close at 16.00 or 17.00 h. s u n d ay Most shops are closed on Sundays. A few times a year though there are special “Shopping Sundays“(in cities, including Alkmaar, usually the first Sunday of the month). Expect for Amsterdam, where the shops in the centre are always open on Sundays. shopping nights In Alkmaar shops are open on Thursday night from 18.00 till 21.00 h. In some villages, for example Bergen and Schoorl the shops are open on Friday night from 18.00 till 21.00 h. To know for sure when a shop is opened, check the timetable which is generally visible on the entrance door. supermarkets Most supermarkets are open on Monday to Saturday from 8.00 - 20.00 h. (some supermarkets until 21.00 h.). A few supermarkets are opened Sunday’s as well (e.g. in Bergen, Callantsoog and Egmond aan den Hoef). Some supermarkets offer the possibility to order your groceries online and have it delivered to your home. buying clothes See the separate table for clothing sizes. For bargains look out for the words “reclame”, “aanbieding”, “voordeel”, “korting”, “opruiming” or “uitverkoop” and sale. bank cards Please note that foreign bank cards are not accepted in most shops. Therefore it is important to open a Dutch bank account as soon as possible so you can get a national bank card and feel financially independent. 48 49 50 Public t r a n s p o rt A “Strippenkaart”, is a special ticket for travelling on busses, trams and subways in Holland. One ticket consists of several strips and the number of strips used depends on the length of the journey. “Strippenkaarten” are available at post offices, kiosks and at the counter of supermarkets. You can also buy a ticket on the bus or the tram itself, but this is more expensive. There’s also another, new bus and tram card called the “OV-chipkaart”. At this moment the card can only be used for public transport in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, but in time, this card will replace the “strippenkaart” and make it possible to travel by bus, tram and metro (and train) anywhere within the Netherlands. It has the size of a bank card, contains an invisible chip and can be loaded with credit in euro’s. For more information, please check www.ovchipkaart.nl (also English site). Information on public transport (within NL): Additional information on transport by train: Information on public transport abroad: Driving in Tel. 0900 92 92 www.9292ov.nl www.ns.nl (also English site) Tel. 0900 92 96 Holland Minimum age for driving a moped (up to 50 cc) 16 years (certificate needed); For driving a motorcycle 18 years (driver’s license) For driving a car 18 years (driver’s license) Speed limit on motorways generally 120 km/ph. On secondary roads generally 80 km/ph. Please note: Look out for cyclists and moped riders! There are many cycle paths and cyclists often have right of way. Don’t forget to fulfil all your duties, for example: the import of your car and keeping your driver’s license valid. Ask the personnel department for support. Cars older than three years need an APK certificate (general periodical tests). The costs of this yearly examination are approximately €47,60 plus all necessary repairs to meet the legal requirements. 51 ANWB (Automobile Club) offers its members many travel services from maps, advice, and various degrees of breakdown services. For more details please check the website www.anwb.nl or visit one of the ANWB stores. Parking In general you have to pay for parking in the centre of a town, either in public garages or at a parking meter during weekdays between 10:00-19:00h, late night shopping and on Saturdays. Sometimes, there are special parking sites, called “blauwe zones” where you can park your car for free during two hours by putting a blue parking card (available at ANWB stores) behind the front window of your car. On the front of the blue parking card there is a manual clock to show your time of arrival on the parking site. If you park your car along the road, please be aware of the following signs: Yellow lines: parking prohibited Yellow dotted line: parking prohibited, dropping someone is allowed Cycling Cycling is the no. 1 means of transportation in the Netherlands. Some even say that the total length of the cycle paths in Netherlands amounts to 20.000 kilometers. Secondary school children quite commonly cycle over 15 km in each direction to school. If you decide to buy a bike yourself, don’t forget to buy a heavy lock and chain, as thousands of bikes are stolen every week. Rent-a-bike: please see your local guide. 52 53 7 Finances and Other Items 54 55 bank accounts On commencing work at Petten you will be given an ABN AMRO bank account so that your salary can be paid directly into the bank. If you would prefer an account with another bank, you are free to choose one. Insurances As in all European countries it is wise to ensure that both your family and material goods are insured. In the Netherlands it is also normal to have an Liability Insurance (“W.A.”), which covers yourself, your family (and even your pets) for damage to third parties. Legal Expenses Insurance (“Rechtsbijstand”) is also highly recommendable. In case of a legal conflict, it assures you of expert assistance you can afford. T a x at i o n The amount for local taxes varies depending on the location. The local authorities’ guides and web sites can usually provide you with more detailed information on this topic. r e f u s e ta x ( a f va l s t o f f e n h e f f i n g ) This tax has to be paid for all the refuse that is produced and collected by the local council collectors. The amount of tax depends on the number of persons living at a given address. For example, in Alkmaar if you live by yourself, the amount of Refuse tax in 2009 is about €152, but if you live together with other people you pay about €239. s e wa g e c h a r g e s (rioolrecht) The sewage charges concern all citizens and companies of a municipality. The sewage charges are collected by the local authorities at the beginning of each year and can be paid either all at once or in separate terms. p r o p e rt y ta x 56 (onroerendgoedbelasting) Owners of a house have to pay this tax. If you own a house on the 1st of January you have to pay for the whole year, not matter if you leave or sell the house. How much you have to pay depends on the value of the house. For example in Alkmaar the Property tax (2009) is calculated as follows: 0,084% of the market value (“Woz-waarde”) of your house. dog-license fee (hondenbelasting) For every dog owned, dog tax has to be paid. In general the tax is progressive in case more dogs are owned. Fee for the first dog is between €61 and €88 a year. l a n d d r a i n a g e r at e s ( wat e r s c h a p s b e l a s t i n g ) The land drainage rates are collected by the regional water board (“Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier, HHNK”). The HHNK is responsible for the maintenance of the dikes and for ensuring good water quality. The land drainage taxes have to be paid at the beginning of each year and can either be paid all at once or in a maximum of ten terms. r o a d - ta x (wegenbelasting) If you own a car, you are obliged to pay this tax. The amount of tax is based on the weight of your car and the fuel the car uses. Road-tax is collected by the Tax Department (“Belastingdienst”), mail from this department can be recognized by the blue envelope. You can chose either to pay the total amount all at once or to spread the payment in monthly terms. Pay in time to avoid any penalties. Household & Utilities refuse collection Generally grey and green containers are used for household refuse and are collected once a week at the specially designated places. The green containers are used for biological refuse and the grey containers for nonbiological items, such as plastic, metal cans and so on. Large pieces or large amounts of rubbish can either be collected by the local council (according to certain rules) or the council generally has a central disposal depot where you can bring such refuse. Glass bottles which are non-returnable (“geen statiegeld”) can be disposed of in special containers (“glasbak”) usually located near supermarkets. For paint and other chemicals, see your local guide for disposal rules. Please note that not all materials are accepted free of charge (furniture, building waste etc.) 57 domestic help You can advertise in the local papers or on the notice board at your local supermarket. Also ask your neighbours and colleagues if they can recommend someone. For domestic help in case of serious illness, please contact the social worker. i m p o rta n t t e l e p h o n e n u m b e r s JRC Reception 0224 56 56 56 JRC Emergency 0224 56 4444 Social worker (JRC)-Anita Bruynje 0224 56 5336 (office) 072 5711972 (private) (emergency cases) Emergency Services 112 Police 0900 8844 Fire brigade 072 5675010 In case of Gas / Electricity failure 0800 9009 In case of water failure 0800 0232355 Libraries There are public libraries in most cities and towns. The annual subscription costs about €38 for adults and is usually free for children. For all libraries entrance is free. 58 Centrale bibliotheek Alkmaar Gasthuisstraat 2 1811 KC Alkmaar Tel. 072 515 66 44 [email protected] Openbare bibliotheek Bergen Dreef 1 1861 TX Bergen Tel. 072 589 43 60 [email protected] Bibliotheek Alkmaar, De Mare Laan van Straatsburg 2 1826 BZ Alkmaar Tel. 072 561 69 57 [email protected] Bibliotheek Alkmaar, Oudorp Oudorperplein 13 1823 HA Alkmaar Tel. 072 512 19 69 [email protected] The JRC-IE also has a small staff library. Post office The post office is not only useful for posting mail and packages. When you buy or sell a car, you also have to go to the post office to remit the car on your or the buyers name. Besides, concert tickets can also be bought there. Local guides / y e l l o w pa g e s The yellow pages are called de “Gouden Gids” in Dutch. The Gouden Gids contains an alphabetical overview of addresses of all kinds of companies, shops and services that are located in the region. Internet, t e l e v isi o n a n d t e l e p h o n e Some companies offer telephone, cable TV and internet in one package. Most of the time such packages are more profitable than ordering separately. There are several possibilities to receive television and radio channels (analogue or digital cable connections, satellite dish and digital antenna). TV and radio guides provide with full details of Dutch wavelength, programmes etc, as well as TV programmes available via the cable network. Public phone boxes For telephone calls from public phone boxes you need either coins, a credit card or a phone card (available at post offices, counters at supermarkets and kiosks). 59 Religion churches The following churches hold services in foreign languages: 60 Anglican Church of England Groenburgwal 42 1011 HW Amsterdam Tel. 020 624 8877 Holleweg 111 1852 KE Heiloo www.christchurch.nl Eglise réformée Wallone Walenpleintje 159 1012 JZ Amsterdam Tel. 020 623 20 74 www.waalsekerk-amsterdam.nl Evangelische Kirche J.J. Viottasstraat 44 1071 JT Amsterdam Tel. 020 673 25 22 www.deg-amsterdam.nl Russian Orthodox church Lijnbaansgracht 47 1017 JA Amsterdam Tel. 020 421 18 15 www.orthodox.nl Greek Orthodox Church Springweg 89 2511 VL Utrecht Tel. 030 233 14 89 www.orthodox-utrecht.nl L.J.G. Synagoge Stadionweg 269 1076 NZ Amsterdam Tel. 020 54 00 122 www.ljgamsterdam.nl Stichting Marokkaanse Islamieten Montelbaan 4 1813 EB Alkmaar Tel. 072 5404061 Islamitische/Turkse moskee Mr. P.J. Troelstrakade 42 1814 TB Alkmaar Tel. 072 520 90 09 Many other churches of all religions can be found in the local area. Please see your local guide or phone book for a complete overview. h o l i d ay s } New Years Day Good Friday Easter Day Easter Monday Ascension Day Whitsun Queens Day Liberation Day Christmas Day Boxing Day n at i o n a l / January 1st varies each year April 30th May 5th December 25th December 26th local events 4th of May: The victims of World War II are commemorated with a two minutes’ silence from 20.00 till 20.02 h. 8th of October: Alkmaar celebrates its independence. 11th of November: In this region “Sint Maarten” is celebrated, children with “home made” lanterns go from house to house singing songs in exchange for sweets. 5th of December: This is St. Nicolaas’ (Sinterklaas) evening. The feast celebrates the name day of Saint Nicolaas, patron saint of children. This is for many Dutch a larger celebration than Christmas, with presents especially for children. Many shops close one hour earlier. 61