Hybrid work is the norm in many Dutch companies – and when you first start working in the Netherlands as an expat, that becomes clear pretty quickly. There’s no such thing as a standard workday anymore.
Some mornings you’re cycling to the office, dealing with the wind or rain, grabbing a matcha or coffee on the way in. Other days you’re working from home, starting your day in a quieter way. It sounds like a good balance (and often it is) but in the beginning it can feel a bit all over the place. Especially when you’re also adjusting to a new country, a new team, and a different work culture.
Not every company runs the same way
One thing that often surprises expats is how different hybrid work can look depending on the company.
In the Netherlands, expectations around hybrid work are usually clearly defined. Most companies already have a structure in place – whether that’s a fixed number of office days per week or specific team agreements about when people come in. It’s not something that’s left completely open, and it’s also not something you’re expected to figure out on your own. In most cases, the setup is explained from the start, and if you’re unsure, it’s worth asking during the interview process.
Still, even with that structure in place, it takes time to understand how it actually works within your specific team and role. If you want to get a better sense of the wider work culture behind it, our blog on Dutch work culture is a good place to start.
A small routine goes a long way
When your workdays keep switching between home and office, routine stops being something fixed and becomes something you create for yourself.
It doesn’t need to be complicated. Waking up around the same time, having a coffee before you open your laptop, starting work at roughly the same hour regardless of where you are – these small anchors make the day feel more consistent. They matter more than you’d think, especially when everything around you is still new.
Home days and office days don’t feel the same
One of the biggest adjustments with hybrid work is realising that office days and home days naturally feel different.
Office days are usually more social. You talk to colleagues, join meetings, and have those in-between conversations that don’t really happen online. It helps you feel more connected, especially when you’re still building relationships in a new country. Home days are quieter. There’s more focus, fewer interruptions, and often a better flow for getting work done. But if you have too many in a row, it can also feel a bit isolating.
Instead of trying to make both feel equal, it helps to accept the difference.
Use office days for connection and visibility. Use home days for focus and depth. Once you stop expecting every day to feel the same, things start to feel more manageable.
Don’t forget to move
This one only becomes obvious after a few weeks. Without a commute or natural breaks in your day, it’s easy to stay in the same position for hours – especially on home days.
Small moments of movement make a real difference. Stand up between meetings. Take a short walk outside at lunch. Step away from your screen when you can. It doesn’t need to be a big routine – just enough to break the pattern of sitting still all day. Your focus and energy at the end of the day will thank you for it.
Communication looks different in a hybrid setup
One thing expats don’t always anticipate is how much communication changes when your team is split between home and office.
Decisions get made in the office hallway that you might miss on a home day. Updates get shared in a quick chat that don’t always make it into an email. It’s not intentional – it’s just how hybrid teams work. Being proactive helps. Check in with your team regularly, ask questions when you’re unsure, and don’t wait for information to come to you. Over-communicating slightly is much better than being out of the loop.
It takes time to find your flow
Hybrid work sounds simple on paper, but in practice it takes time to figure out what works for you. And as an expat, you’re not only adjusting to a new way of working – you’re also settling into a new environment, new people, and new expectations all at once.
Some weeks will feel smooth and balanced. Others will feel a bit off. That’s completely normal. Over time you start noticing patterns – which days you prefer being in the office, when you focus best at home, how your week naturally starts to take shape.
And slowly, without forcing it, you find your rhythm.
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