Moving to Netherlands from Suriname

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Suriname to Netherlands — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Suriname to Netherlands. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Amsterdam averages 56°F vs 92°F in Paramaribo, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Suriname to Netherlands, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
2,160 ↑ 45% vs 2022

people moved from Suriname 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

How Suriname and Netherlands stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rateUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SR
7.3
NL
0.8
Road traffic deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
NL
3.4

Netherlands performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per personWorld Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
NL
$8,195
Doctors per 10,000 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
NL
39.1

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

What about the environment?

Air pollution deathsUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SR
39.0
NL
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capitaWorld Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
NL
6.6t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 peopleUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SR
20.2
NL
44.4
Water stress levelUnited Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
NL
16.1%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateThe World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SR
7.7%
NL
3.6%
GDP per capitaThe World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
NL
$69,300

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyThe World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SR
72.4 yrs
NL
82.2 yrs
Infant mortalityThe World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
NL
3.4

Netherlands performs significantly better than Suriname across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

ParamariboRain: 84.6 in/yr (2148 mm)
92°/72°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsParamariboAmsterdam
Jan–Mar89°/71°F (32°/22°C)45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun91°/73°F (33°/23°C)61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep93°/73°F (34°/23°C)69°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec94°/73°F (34°/23°C)50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
MonthParamariboAmsterdam
Jan89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C)
Feb88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C)
Mar90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C)
Apr91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C)
May91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C)
Jun92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C)
Jul92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C)
Aug93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C)
Sep94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C)
Oct95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C)
Nov94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C)
Dec92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Suriname 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.

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Netherlands

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

Netherlands passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Netherlands passport holders can enter Suriname 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?

With 44.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Netherlands can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Suriname and Netherlands.

Is Netherlands safe for expats?

Netherlands performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Netherlands is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.3 in Suriname.

How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Suriname?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 39.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in Netherlands?

Both Suriname and Netherlands share the same official language: Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR NL
Population632,63817,400,824
CurrencySurinamese Dollar (SRD)Euro (€)
LanguagesDutchDutch
Driving sideLeftRight
Calling code+597+31
Time zones11
Emergency number112