Moving to Bhutan from Netherlands

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Netherlands to Bhutan? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Netherlands to Bhutan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dzongkha. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Thimphu averages 72°F vs 56°F in Amsterdam, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Netherlands to Bhutan.

Living there in 2020
19 ↓ 5% vs 2015

people born in Netherlands live in Bhutan · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bhutan?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Bhutan compared to Netherlands.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
BT
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
BT
12.2

Netherlands performs better than Bhutan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NL
$8,195
BT
$677
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
BT
5.5

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan 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

NL
13.0
BT
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
BT
2.0t

Netherlands generally does better on environment, though Bhutan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NL
44.4
BT
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
BT
1.4%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NL
3.6%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
BT
$14,000

Netherlands performs better than Bhutan across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NL
82.2 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
BT
27.0

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

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Thimphu Rain: 23.3 in/yr (591 mm)
72° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Thimphu
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Thimphu
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Bhutan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Netherlands passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Bhutan.
Bhutan passport

Bhutan passport holder visiting Netherlands

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Bhutan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Bhutan: 0.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Bhutan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Bhutan safe for expats?

Netherlands performs better than Bhutan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL BT
Population 17,400,824 867,775
Currency Euro (€) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages Dutch Dzongkha
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +31 +975
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112