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