Freelancer in the Netherlands

Hi. I am an American looking to move to the Netherlands and I work as a freelance tour director. I want to get a residence permit that doesn't require a work permit, as I work on a contract basis.

Can anyone offer any useful information?

Thanks.

Joe

Joe-

Are you currently in the US? Are you married? I'm going to assume that you only hold a US passport, so correct me if I'm wrong. First of all, I believe you will need a work permit if you intend on doing ANY work, whether it's contract work or even unpaid volunteer work, so you'll need more than just a residence permit. American citizens that intend to stay more than 90 days in the Netherlands require registration at the police, however I don't think it's a straight forward case. On their embassy website, these are the following requirements:
1. proof of sufficient means to finance his/her stay in the Netherlands;
2. proof of adequate housing;
3. proof health insurance covering all medical/hospital costs during the stay in the Netherlands;
4. a legalized birth certificate. Since both The Netherlands and the US are part of the 'Hague Apostille Convention' an apostille is the appropriate type of legalization (authentication), available from US State Departments.

HOWEVER, it goes on to say the following:

Only in exceptional cases, the Embassy and Consulates-General of the Netherlands process applications for a stay beyond the three-months' period.

In general, a residence permit does not allow employment. Residence and employment permits are two separate things.

Please note: the Netherlands is a small and overcrowded country. Housing shortages and unemployment are acute problems. The government wants to be able to guarantee that all foreigners admitted to the country will enjoy equal status and have the best possible chance of self-fulfillment. Admitting too many foreigners would threaten those efforts. Given this cautious policy, only small numbers of foreigners are granted permission to stay in the Netherlands for a prolonged period.

So, it may not be a simple endeavor, but we'd need a bit more information I think. If you have a Dutch spouse, the process is very different. Let us know what you're status is, where you currently live, etc. and more specific advice can be offered.

The truth is, in fact, that I only really want to live in the Netherlands. I hold only a US passport and I work for a Swiss company as a tour director on a contract basis, i.e. I am not an employee.

I am currently in Belgium (not quite legal) and I want to rectify this situation. The work I will be doing won't actually be in the Netherlands as I work all over Europe and my contract company is Swiss.

Can one apply simply for a residence permit. What do I need to do, do you think, if anything?

Is there any solution for me?

To be honest, I'm not 100% sure. I'm trying to compare it to my move to Austria. I'm also American and was attempting to stay in Austria for my wedding next year. In the end, a government official advised that we have our civil ceremony now, apply for residence/work permit (it's a combo deal here) and then have our religious ceremony next year. That's what we did, and it honestly was the simplest way to go about it. Before this though, I was having issues with proving my ties to Austria. They had no intention of giving me a residence permit just because I was here. I had to have been studying or had a job lined up. Technically, you are working, and I would assume that the rules are no different because it's contractual. If it were closely examined I have the feeling that you would need a work permit in all of the countries in which you work. I could be wrong about that though and it's besides the point for the time being. Since your company is based in Switzerland, do you maintain a residence there? If not there, anywhere? How did you enter? Through the Visa Waiver Program?