For many things, I’ll always view the Netherlands through rose-tinted glasses. I’ve already written about the country’s gorgeous beaches that are best enjoyed in that balmy summer-to-early-autumn period and its dating culture that forces you to grab life by the short and curlies.
However, there is definitely a darker side to Dutch life that tempers that child-like excitement. This is a side that TikTokkers, bloggers, and Instagrammers avoid like the plague when romanticising the Netherlands, because… well, it just doesn’t sell.
Today’s Hot Take, on the other hand, is going to address the tip of that iceberg.
Money and employment after university are major stressors
Whilst my freelance work is largely dependent on overseas companies and publications, other university students and recent graduates aren’t quite so lucky. Some are between work or at temporary jobs, others are working a poorly paid job that drains them, and most are wondering what the future will bring in a working climate that’s feeling increasingly hostile.
A report by CBS (the Dutch bureau of statistics) seems to agree with this despondent view of things.
Figures for unemployment in the Netherlands have been rising steadily over the past few months. The last three months alone have seen a worrying trend of around 6000 people declared unemployed each month.
You may also enjoy ⬇️ HOT TAKE: BEGPACKING ISN’T A ‘NIFTY TRAVEL HACK’ — IT’S JUST SCUMMY
As for the total number of unemployed people in the Dutch economy, that figure stood at 371,000 in September.
And it doesn’t look as if the situation is going to get much better with time either.
A labour market forecast by UWV (the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency) predicts job growth to fall to 0.5% in 2024 — which is less than half of 1.4% growth seen this year. Coupled with a lower number of working hours and fewer overall vacancies also predicted for 2024, it definitely makes sense why many see the job market as a massive source of stress.
The takeaway: childlike enthusiasm is a big ask
Many of my friends are recent university graduates or those that will be graduating in 2024, and almost all of them are feeling the icy chill of uncertainty crawling up their spines.
To quote Val*, who was interviewed for this piece: “Working your ass off for two degrees with no guarantee you’ll find a proper job is just scary […] it defeats the whole purpose of going to university.”
“I have a better chance of working at Albert Heijn.” she continued, referring to a Dutch supermarket chain.
With no assurances that there’ll be money in your pocket in 2024 — especially when you’ve been sold the idea that a university degree will open doors in the job market for you — I can definitely see why it’s hard for many to muster up the carefree sense of wonder that ‘being young at heart’ requires.
*Name changed for privacy.
How realistic do you think ‘being young at heart’ is? Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments! ⬇️
Leave a Reply