Moving to Netherlands from Botswana

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Botswana to Netherlands — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Botswana to Netherlands, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Amsterdam averages 56°F vs 83°F in Gaborone, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Botswana to Netherlands, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
8

people moved from Botswana to Netherlands · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Netherlands?

Top countries of origin for Netherlands's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Botswana to Netherlands.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BW
10.6
NL
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
NL
3.4

Netherlands performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BW
$1,310
NL
$8,195
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
NL
39.1

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BW
55.0
NL
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
NL
6.6t

Botswana generally does better on environment, though Netherlands leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BW
4.2
NL
44.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.4%
NL
16.1%

Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though Botswana leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BW
23.4%
NL
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$17,500
NL
$69,300

Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though Botswana leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BW
65.6 yrs
NL
82.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
25.2
NL
3.4

Netherlands generally does better on family life, though Botswana leads in education spending.

Data: Botswana Unified Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Gaborone Rain: 21.7 in/yr (552 mm)
83° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Amsterdam
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 69°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Amsterdam
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Botswana and Netherlands. To live, work, or study long-term in Netherlands, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Netherlands's immigration authority.

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Required
Botswana passport holders need a visa to enter Netherlands.
Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Free
Netherlands passport holders can enter Botswana without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Netherlands?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Netherlands has 44.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Netherlands safe for expats?

Netherlands performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Netherlands is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Botswana?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 39.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

What's the weather like in Netherlands compared to Botswana?

The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in Netherlands?

The official language in Netherlands is Dutch. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.

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At a Glance

BW NL
Population 2,384,246 17,400,824
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) Euro (€)
Languages English, Tswana Dutch
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +267 +31
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112