Moving to Netherlands from Sao Tome and Principe

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Netherlands, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Sao Tome and Principe to Netherlands, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
5 ↑ 25% vs 2022

people moved from Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe to Netherlands.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
NL
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
NL
3.4

Netherlands performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

ST
$355
NL
$8,195
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
NL
39.1

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ST
85.0
NL
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
NL
6.6t

Sao Tome and Principe 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

ST
2.0
NL
44.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ST
1.9%
NL
16.1%

Netherlands generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
NL
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
NL
$69,300

Netherlands performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ST
67.1 yrs
NL
82.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
NL
3.4

Netherlands performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all family life metrics.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe 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.

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Netherlands

Visa Required
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders need a visa to enter Netherlands.
Netherlands passport

Netherlands passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Free
Netherlands passport holders can enter Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Netherlands is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Sao Tome and Principe?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Netherlands leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 39.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Netherlands?

The official language in Netherlands is Dutch. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

ST NL
Population 217,164 17,400,824
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) Euro (€)
Languages Portuguese Dutch
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +239 +31
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112