Gerrit(48)

After twenty years as a nurse at MST in Enschede I was burned out. Work pressure in Dutch healthcare is inhumane — night shifts with two nurses for thirty patients, no time for personal attention, ever more administration. When I read that Belgian hospitals actively recruit Dutch nurses, I started applying.

AZ Vesalius in Tongeren hired me as a registered nurse. My Dutch BIG registration was recognized through the European directive on professional qualifications — I only needed to submit an application to the FPS Public Health. The process took six weeks. My diploma was fully recognized, and I could start immediately.

Employment conditions in Belgium are noticeably better. The patient-to-nurse ratio is lower (I now have maximum eight patients per shift), there are more irregular hours supplements, a 13th month, meal vouchers and hospitalization insurance through the hospital. Net salary is comparable to the Netherlands, but workload is lower and appreciation greater.

Tongeren is Belgium's oldest city — a small but charming town in Belgian Limburg. I bought a renovated townhouse near the Grote Markt for €210,000. In Enschede I paid €280,000 for a comparable home. Registration duties were 3%, and the notary handled everything efficiently. I needed the rijksregisternummer for the mortgage file at my bank.

The mutualiteit (I chose Helan in Limburg) I arranged immediately. As a healthcare provider in Belgium you build pension rights through RIZIV (National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance). The Belgian healthcare system seen from inside is much better organized than the Dutch — more resources, better staffing and less market-driven approach.

My advice to Dutch nurses: don't be put off by bureaucracy. Recognition of your diploma is well arranged through the EU, the transition is achievable and working conditions are better. Tongeren is ideal for those seeking tranquility: a small city with good care and a pleasant life. I finally sleep well again after my shifts.