Working Remotely from Amsterdam: What You Need to Know

My first week working from Amsterdam, I had a 9am US East Coast meeting.

That's 3pm Amsterdam time. No problem, right?

Wrong. I had three more meetings that day: 11am EST (5pm here), 2pm EST (8pm here), and 4pm PST (1am here).

I worked until 1am, exhausted and jet-lagged, questioning all my life choices.

Remote work from Amsterdam is amazing—but the time zones are brutal. Here's what you need to know.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• Managing time zone challenges
• Internet and infrastructure
• Coworking vs working from home
• Legal and tax considerations
• Tips for staying productive

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The Time Zone Reality

The Math

Amsterdam is:

• 6 hours ahead of US East Coast
• 9 hours ahead of US West Coast
• 7 hours ahead of Central
• 8 hours ahead of Mountain

What this means:

• 9am NYC = 3pm Amsterdam
• 9am SF = 6pm Amsterdam
• 5pm NYC = 11pm Amsterdam
• 5pm SF = 2am Amsterdam (next day)

Common Scenarios

East Coast clients:

• Their 9am = your 3pm (manageable)
• Their 5pm = your 11pm (rough)
• Morning meetings are afternoon for you
• Evening meetings are middle of night

West Coast clients:

• Their 9am = your 6pm (doable)
• Their 5pm = your 2am (impossible)
• You're asleep when they start work
• They're asleep when you start work

Mixed coast clients:

• You're working early morning and late night
• No good time for everyone
• Constant compromise
• Exhausting

Reality Check: The time zone difference is the hardest part of remote work from Amsterdam. It's doable, but it requires serious boundary-setting and communication.

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Managing Time Zones

Our Strategy

Set core hours:

• We work 9am-5pm Amsterdam time
• Available for urgent matters outside that
• But not routine meetings
• Communicated clearly to clients

Push back on late meetings:

• "That's 11pm my time. Can we do earlier?"
• Most people are understanding
• Some aren't (reconsider those clients)

Record meetings:

• Can't make 2am meeting? Record it
• Watch next morning
• Send follow-up
• Async communication

Batch US calls:

• One or two afternoons per week
• All US meetings on those days
• Protect other days
• More sustainable

What Works

Morning focus time:

• US is asleep
• No interruptions
• Deep work
• Most productive time

Afternoon meetings:

• US East Coast morning
• Reasonable for both
• 2-6pm Amsterdam time
• Sustainable

Async communication:

• Slack, email, Loom videos
• Reduces need for live meetings
• Works across time zones
• Saves sanity

What Doesn't Work

Being available 24/7:

• Tried this first month
• Burned out immediately
• Not sustainable
• Set boundaries

Late night meetings regularly:

• Occasional is fine
• Regular is not
• Ruins sleep schedule
• Affects health

Trying to work US hours:

• Some people do this
• We couldn't
• Means working 5pm-1am Amsterdam time
• Miss all of Dutch life

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Internet and Infrastructure

Internet Quality

The good news:

• Dutch internet is excellent
• Fast and reliable
• Better than many US cities
• Affordable

Typical speeds:

• 100-500 Mbps common
• 1 Gbps available
• Upload speeds are good
• Stable connections

Costs:

• €40-60/month
• Installation usually free
• No data caps
• Reliable service

Providers:

• Ziggo (cable)
• KPN (fiber)
• T-Mobile
• All work well

Our setup:

• Ziggo 200 Mbps
• €45/month
• Never had issues
• Perfect for video calls

Backup Options

Mobile hotspot:

• Dutch mobile data is fast
• Good backup
• €20-30/month unlimited
• Reliable

Coworking space:

• If home internet fails
• Always an option
• Good to have membership

Cafes:

• Most have WiFi
• Not always reliable
• Good for light work
• Not for important calls

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Working from Home vs Coworking

Working from Home

Pros:

• No commute
• Comfortable
• Cheaper
• Flexible

Cons:

• Isolating
• Small apartments
• Distractions
• No separation

Our experience: Started working from home. Felt isolated and lonely. Switched to coworking after two months.

Coworking Spaces

Pros:

• Social interaction
• Professional environment
• Networking opportunities
• Separation from home

Cons:

• Costs money (€150-400/month)
• Commute required
• Less flexible
• Can be distracting

Popular spaces:

• Spaces (multiple locations)
• B.Amsterdam
• The Thinking Hut
• WeWork
• Rockstart

For detailed reviews, see Best Coworking Spaces in Amsterdam for Americans.

Our Recommendation

Hybrid approach:

• Coworking 2-3 days/week
• Home 2-3 days/week
• Best of both
• Sustainable

Home days for:

• Deep focus work
• Early/late meetings
• Heads-down tasks

Coworking days for:

• Social interaction
• Collaboration
• Networking
• Getting out

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Legal and Tax Considerations

Working for US Company

You can:

• Work remotely for US employer
• As long as you have a Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) permit
• Through your Dutch business
• Invoice your US employer

You cannot:

• Be employed by US company directly
• Must be contractor/freelancer
• Through your Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) business
• This is important

How it works:

• Register business in Netherlands (KVK)
• Invoice US company as contractor
• They pay your Dutch business
• You pay yourself salary
• File taxes in both countries

Taxes

You'll pay taxes in:

• Netherlands (where you live)
• United States (US citizens always file)

Dutch taxes:

• 37-49% income tax
• File annual return
• Hire accountant (recommended)

US taxes:

• Still file US return
• Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (€120,000+)
• Foreign Tax Credit
• Hire accountant familiar with expat taxes

Important:

• Don't try to do this yourself
• Hire professionals
• Worth the cost
• Avoid mistakes

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Productivity Tips

Create Routine

Set schedule:

• Start/end times
• Breaks
• Lunch
• Stick to it

Morning routine:

• Bike to coworking space
• Coffee
• Plan day
• Start work

End of day:

• Close laptop
• Leave workspace
• Bike home
• Done

Manage Energy

Use morning focus time:

• US is asleep
• No meetings
• Deep work
• Most productive

Protect boundaries:

• No meetings after 6pm (usually)
• Communicate clearly
• Say no
• Sustainable

Take breaks:

• Bike ride at lunch
• Walk around block
• Coffee break
• Essential

Stay Connected

Overcommunicate:

• More than you think necessary
• Async updates
• Regular check-ins
• Build trust

Video on for meetings:

• Helps with connection
• Shows engagement
• Better than audio only

Visit US occasionally:

• Once or twice a year
• Face time matters
• Strengthens relationships
• Worth the cost

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Tools We Use

Communication:

• Slack (team chat)
• Zoom (video calls)
• Loom (async video)
• Email

Project management:

• Asana
• Notion
• Trello
• Whatever your team uses

Time tracking:

• Toggl
• Harvest
• For invoicing
• Track billable hours

VPN:

• For US services
• Access US content
• Security
• Essential

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Common Challenges

Loneliness

The problem:

• Working alone
• No coworkers nearby
• Isolated
• Affects mental health

Solutions:

• Coworking space
• Coffee shop work days
• Lunch with friends
• Join communities

Meeting Fatigue

The problem:

• Video calls all day
• Exhausting
• No breaks
• Burned out

Solutions:

• Block focus time
• Batch meetings
• Take breaks
• Walk between calls

Time Zone Stress

The problem:

• Late night meetings
• Early morning calls
• Never off
• Exhausting

Solutions:

• Set boundaries
• Communicate limits
• Record meetings
• Say no

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Is It Worth It?

Pros

Living in Amsterdam:

• Amazing city
• Travel Europe
• New experiences
• Adventure

Work flexibility:

• Work from anywhere
• Set schedule
• Control environment

No commute:

• Bike to coworking
• 10 minutes
• Exercise built in

Cons

Time zones:

• Biggest challenge
• Requires boundaries
• Can be exhausting

Isolation:

• Working alone
• Miss office culture
• Need to be proactive

Complexity:

• Two tax systems
• Legal considerations
• More admin

Our Take

Worth it? Yes, absolutely.

But:

• Requires discipline
• Need boundaries
• Takes adjustment
• Not for everyone

Best for:

• Self-motivated people
• Good communicators
• Boundary-setters
• Adventure-seekers

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FAQ

Q: Can I work for a US company while living in Amsterdam?

A: Yes, but you must work as a contractor through your Dutch business, not as a direct employee. Your DAFT business invoices the US company, and you pay yourself from your Dutch business.

Q: Do I need to pay taxes in both countries?

A: Yes. You'll file taxes in both the Netherlands (where you live) and the US (as a US citizen). But the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit help avoid double taxation. Hire an accountant familiar with expat taxes.

Q: What if my company requires me to work US hours?

A: This is difficult from Amsterdam. You'd be working 5pm-1am Amsterdam time for East Coast hours, or 6pm-2am for West Coast. Some people do this short-term, but it's not sustainable long-term and you'll miss out on Dutch life.

Q: Is the internet good enough for video calls?

A: Yes, absolutely. Dutch internet is excellent—fast, reliable, and affordable. We've never had issues with video calls, even with multiple people on calls simultaneously.

Q: Should I get a coworking space membership?

A: We recommend it, at least part-time. Working from home in a small Amsterdam apartment can be isolating. A coworking space provides social interaction, professional environment, and separation between work and home. For reviews of specific spaces, see Best Coworking Spaces in Amsterdam for Americans.

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Want to know which coworking spaces are best for Americans? Get detailed reviews and recommendations. Read the Coworking Guide →

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We're not immigration lawyers—just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.