Every stage of the journey, from applying through your college to five years into life and work in the Netherlands — what happens, who you'll be working with, and what it means for your pay and security.

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1. 1

   Sourcing (India)

   Your college can put you forward — this is simply how the process starts.

   What happens

   You hear about the program through your college and apply.

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Nursing College

2. 2

   Apply & Assess

   You'll sign your employment agreement and a loan agreement covering your relocation costs.

   What happens

   You're interviewed and assessed, then sign your employment agreement and loan agreement.

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Stride India (screening), Stride NL (contract)

3. 3

   VOG & paperwork

   Your background check, visa and diploma recognition happen alongside your language course — not a separate wait.

   What happens

   You provide the documents needed; your VOG, visa and diploma recognition are then processed in parallel with your Dutch course, not as a separate waiting period.

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Stride India (local logistics)

4. 4

   Dutch language training (India)

   You'll study Dutch to B1 level while your paperwork is handled alongside it — course costs are covered for you.

   What happens

   You attend a Dutch language course, working toward B1 level, while your visa, VOG and diploma recognition are processed in parallel — not something you wait on separately.

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Language School

5. 5

   Fly to NL

   Your flight to the Netherlands is arranged and covered under your loan.

   What happens

   You travel to the Netherlands.

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Stride NL

6. 6

   Acclimatise (housing, matching period)

   You'll have housing from day one and some spending money while we match you with a care organisation.

   What happens

   You settle into your housing, get oriented, and wait to be matched with a care organisation.

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Stride NL

   Where you'll live

   You'll have a private room in a shared house from the day you arrive, while we match you with a care organisation and go through your meeloopdagen. Rent and utilities (electricity, water, internet) are all covered during this shared-house period — nothing for you to pay.

7. 7

   Meelopen (job shadowing)

   A relaxed trial day so you and a potential care organisation can check the fit.

   What happens

   You shadow at a potential care organisation for a day (a meeloopdag).

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Dutch Employer, Stride NL (facilitates)

8. 8

   Start working, first 6 months

   Months 0–6 of employment

   You start working and move into your own place near your care organisation.

   What happens

   You start working as a V-IG (assisting nurse); your pay switches to hours-worked once you're placed, with no or very short notice periods on either side.

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Dutch Employer (daily), Stride NL (employer of record)

   Where you'll live

   You move into a private studio near your care organisation (standard), or a shared apartment with your own private room in high-demand cities like Amsterdam or Utrecht. Rent is still covered by Stride NL; you pay your own utilities.

   Pay & job security

   ≈€3,057 netto/month (Year 1, V-IG level). Pay for hours worked only. Sick pay: 10 days paid annually via Stride. Notice: none either direction — ends if the placement ends.

9. 9

   Contract, months 6–12

   Months 6–12

   Same pay as before, and now formal notice periods apply on both sides.

   What happens

   Your pay stays the same, but formal notice periods now apply.

   Who you'll be in touch with

   Dutch Employer, Stride NL

   Pay & job security

   ≈€3,057 netto/month (Year 1, still V-IG level). Sick pay: 10 days paid annually via Stride. Notice: 10 days if Stride ends the placement, 1 day if she chooses to leave.

10. 10

    Buildup

    Years 2–3

    Your protections grow: sick pay rises, and you can pick up better-paid freelance shifts.

    What happens

    Your pay continues between placements, sick pay rises to 90% of your base salary, and you can start picking up freelance shifts through Stride.

    Who you'll be in touch with

    Stride NL

    Pay & job security

    ≈€3,264 → €3,399 netto/month (Year 2 BIG nurse → Year 3 +step). Pay continues between placements. Sick pay rises to 90% of base salary. Notice: at least 1 month, either direction. Freelance shifts available from year 2, can significantly increase earnings.

11. 11

    Permanent

    Years 3–5+

    Permanent terms, with full sick pay and a standard one-month notice period.

    What happens

    You're on permanent terms: pay continues between placements, and you get full sick pay.

    Who you'll be in touch with

    Stride NL

    Pay & job security

    ≈€3,399+ netto/month (Year 3+ level, ongoing). Pay continues between placements. Full sick pay continues. Notice: at least 1 month, either direction.

Figures are indicative and depend on your care organisation, shifts and city. Not financial, legal or immigration advice.