It might be a hard pill to swallow, but September has officially arrived. As we all wave a teary goodbye to summer and prepare for the autumn season, here are seven things expats living and working in the Netherlands need to know about this month. 

1. Final kids return to school as summer holidays come to an end

August saw children attending school in the northern and central regions return to class, and this month it will be the turn of kids in southern parts of the country to trade their swimming costumes and sunglasses for backpacks and notebooks. On Monday, September 4, the final schools reopen their doors for the start of the new academic year, marking the official end of the summer holidays. 

2. GGD to launch another COVID-19 booster campaign

This month will also see everyone over the age of 12 living in the Netherlands be invited to receive another booster jab in order to better protect them from COVID-19. Vaccinations are set to start in mid-September. Find out more about the government’s latest round of booster vaccinations here. 

3. NS to switch to reduced timetable as a result of staff shortages 

Last week, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) announced that, as it transitions into its 2023 timetable, the rail company will be running a reduced timetable across the Netherlands from September 5. The reduction in train services will continue into next year, with NS planning to run 10 percent fewer trains from December 11, 2022. 

4. Last chance to apply for compensation from Dutch airports

If the extremely long security queues at Schiphol and Eindhoven Airport resulted in you missing your flight, then you have until the end of September to put in an application for compensation. For more about the compensation conditions and procedures for both airports, click here. 

5. Dutch government to reveal 2023 budget on Prinsjesdag

With September officially here, it can mean only one thing: budget day is right around the corner. Every year, on the third Tuesday of September, the Dutch government reveals its annual budget for the coming year. This year, Prinsjesdag (or “Prince’s Day”) falls on September 20.

6. Next round of STAP applications to open 

On September 1, applications re-open for people in the Netherlands to apply for the government's STAP budget scheme. Under the scheme, employed and unemployed people can apply for a 1.000-euro subsidy to cover the costs of a course or training programme.

7. IKEA stores in the Netherlands to adjust closing times

At the end of August, Swedish furniture chain IKEA announced that it would be adjusting its opening times in the Netherlands, closing stores earlier due to a lack of customers. From September 1, Dutch stores will close at 8pm instead of 9pm on weekdays, and most will close as early as 7pm on Saturdays.