January in the Netherlands: From Blue Monday to new plans

January in the Netherlands is a month of sharp contrasts. On one side, there is the “Blue Monday” mix of rain‐slicked bike lanes, 4.30pm sunsets and the slow comedown from oliebollen and champagne; on the other, there is a real sense of “nieuwe ronden, nieuwe kansen” (new rounds, new chances).

For expats, that mix of gloom and renewal makes January one of the most important months of the year, especially if you are working on integration, studies, or your career.

Atmosphere: Between “gezellig” and “grim grey”

January is one of the coldest, darkest months here, with temperatures just above freezing and days that seem to begin and end in the same shade of grey. Somewhere between cycling into a freezing headwind and standing at a wet tram stop, you may start questioning all your life choices.

This is where the Dutch approach helps. Inside, there is gezelligheid: warm lights, busy cafés, a friend’s living room, or a candle next to your laptop while you revise KNM questions. Outside, there is uitwaaien: walking into the wind on purpose to clear your head, often at a beach like Scheveningen or Zandvoort, followed by hot chocolate. National Tulip Day in Dam Square, usually the third Saturday of January, adds a burst of colour and hope right when the month feels longest.

Integration exams: Turning obligation into a plan

If 2026 is the year you want a more secure status, permanent residence or, eventually, Dutch citizenship, January is a smart moment to make a clear plan for your civic integration exams (inburgering). Since the Wet Inburgering 2021, many newcomers are expected to reach B1 Dutch; people who arrived earlier are often still under the 2013 rules, with A2 as the target. That one level difference can decide whether you only “survive” in Dutch or can actually chat with teachers, colleagues, and your gemeente.

Use January to log into “Mijn Inburgering” with your DigiD and answer three questions: What is my deadline? Which law applies to me? What have I already passed? Once you know this, “I should work on my Dutch” becomes practical: booking exam slots, choosing a course, or planning a weekly study routine. Many expats also use this month to aim higher than the minimum and push slowly toward B1, using dark evenings for Dutch practice instead of endless scrolling.

University applications: The January tunnel

If you want to study in the Netherlands, January is a key month. Many popular numerus fixus programmes, such as Psychology, Medicine, International Business and some Computer Science tracks, have a mid-January deadline. After that, you do selection tasks or motivation rounds and receive a ranking number in the spring, which decides if you get a place or not.

For other programmes, deadlines are often later (around April or May, earlier for non‐EU students), but January is still your “reality check” month. It is the moment to collect documents, look into IDW credential evaluation, and make sure your IELTS/TOEFL or Dutch results will still be valid. Those evenings spent editing motivation letters or comparing universities are not just admin; they are an investment in the version of you who will be commuting to a new campus in September.

Job hunting: A quiet market, a smart moment

The Dutch job market in January can feel confusing. After the holidays, many people expect an immediate boom in vacancies and hear...nothing. In the background, though, managers are setting budgets, deciding which roles to open, and rewriting job descriptions. For expats, especially those who need visa sponsorship or are on a zoekjaar, this makes January a strategic month rather than a high‐volume application month.

Instead of firing off generic CVs, use this time to sharpen your profile: decide which one to two roles you really want to be known for, update your LinkedIn accordingly, list out recognised sponsor companies, and learn the current salary requirements for highly skilled migrants. Coffee chats, thoughtful LinkedIn messages, and a few very targeted applications usually work better now than mass‐applying and refreshing your inbox every hour. 

The administrative backbone of January

Underneath everything, January in the Netherlands is about getting your life “in orde” (in order). If you changed health insurers, this is the month to finalise your new policy and check your extra coverage (for example, dental or physiotherapy). It is also when you start gathering documents for your tax return later in the year, like your jaaropgave from your employer, and when you can look into free help from the Belastingdienst if Dutch tax forms feel overwhelming.

Add to that the everyday details: your WOZ valuation if you own a home, winter sales where you finally buy a truly waterproof jacket, and the slow work of making your apartment feel like a real home. None of it is glamorous, but together these small steps create the foundation for a more stable life here.

In the end, January in the Netherlands is not just about surviving grey skies. It is about quietly rearranging your future while the country rests: submitting that application, booking that exam, sending that message, lighting that candle, and reminding yourself that building a life is often invisible work done in the dark months, long before anyone else sees the results.