The Netherlands popular with expats

AMSTERDAM - In the immediate post-war years, hundreds of thousands of Dutch emigrants settled in countries such as Canada, the U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand. Initially, many of the vacancies were filled by newcomers from Spain, Yugoslavia, Morocco and Turkey. Theirs numbers were supplanted by arrivals from Surinam and the Dutch Antilles, and in recent years by highly trained people who choose to take a job in the Netherlands for a specified time. No one is certain how large this group of expats is, but estimates suggest that Amsterdam alone may be home to 100,000 such temporary workers. Compared to other countries, these workers tend to stay longer in the Netherlands than in any other nation. The expat service industry sees the sector expanding in the years to come, with demand for highly trained workers growing. The largest groups of expats in the Netherlands hail from India, the U.S.A. and Japan but managers still prefer to hire Europeans, who fit in easier culturally. The expats are relying on temporary employment agencies, lawyers, immigration consultants and real estate firms to help them find their way in the country.