Moving to Namibia from Netherlands

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Netherlands to Namibia, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Windhoek averages 80°F vs 56°F in Amsterdam, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
539 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in Netherlands live in Namibia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Namibia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NL
0.8
NA
12.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NL
3.4
NA
22.0

Netherlands performs better than Namibia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NL
$8,195
NA
$1,068
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NL
39.1
NA
5.4

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia 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
NA
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NL
6.6t
NA
1.2t

Netherlands generally does better on environment, though Namibia 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
NA
3.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NL
16.1%
NA
0.9%

Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though Namibia 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%
NA
19.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NL
$69,300
NA
$11,500

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NL
82.2 yrs
NA
66.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NL
3.4
NA
29.4

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

Data: Tax and Customs Administration - Belastingdienst, 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

Windhoek Rain: 14.5 in/yr (368 mm)
80° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amsterdam Windhoek
Jan–Mar 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) 84°/63°F (29°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 74°/50°F (23°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/53°F (21°/12°C) 76°/49°F (24°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) 87°/61°F (30°/16°C)
View all months
Month Amsterdam Windhoek
Jan 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.7°C)
Feb 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C) 84°/63°F (28.7°/17.0°C)
Mar 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C) 81°/61°F (27.4°/15.9°C)
Apr 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C) 78°/55°F (25.8°/12.9°C)
May 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C) 74°/50°F (23.4°/9.8°C)
Jun 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C) 69°/44°F (20.7°/6.9°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C) 70°/44°F (21.2°/6.9°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C) 75°/48°F (23.8°/8.9°C)
Sep 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C) 82°/54°F (27.5°/12.4°C)
Oct 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C) 85°/58°F (29.3°/14.7°C)
Nov 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C) 86°/61°F (30.2°/16.2°C)
Dec 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) 89°/63°F (31.4°/17.2°C)

Data: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Namibia Meteorological Service Namibia Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Namibia

Visa on Arrival
Netherlands passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Namibia.
Namibia passport

Namibia passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Required
Namibia 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 Namibia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Namibia has 3.9 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 Namibia safe for expats?

Netherlands performs better than Namibia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Namibia is 12.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Netherlands.

How is healthcare in Namibia compared to Netherlands?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Namibia, compared to 39.1 in Netherlands. Namibia scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Netherlands: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Windhoek is 80°F, compared to 56°F in Amsterdam. Windhoek receives around 14.5 in of rainfall per year, while Amsterdam gets 30.7 in.

What language do they speak in Namibia?

The official languages in Namibia are Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. In Netherlands, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

NL NA
Population 17,400,824 2,727,409
Currency Euro (€) Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Languages Dutch Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +31 +264
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 10111