Earning Dutch and living Global

Abstract

This thesis explores the housing pathways of Dutch digital nomads across three phases: pre-nomadic, nomadic, and post-nomadic. While digital nomadism has gained significant visibility worldwide, relatively little is known about how Dutch nomads organize their housing before departure, abroad, and upon return. To address this gap, the study adopts an exploratory mixed methods design that combines a literature analysis with 14 in-depth interviews and a survey of 160 respondents. The findings suggest that housing choices in the Netherlands, such as renting, owning, or living with parents, may shape what becomes possible abroad, although this relationship is not statistically confirmed. During the nomadic phase, respondents describe using layered strategies: online platforms often provide initial access, while personal networks appear to support stability and affordability. Upon return, housing pathways begin to diverge. Some, typically with more stable incomes, view flexibility as a continued preference that allows them to rent or buy independently. Others experience flexibility more as a necessity, constrained by limited mortgage access or strict rental conditions. Rather than offering definitive conclusions, the study aims to provide an initial understanding of how Dutch digital nomads navigate housing across different phases of mobility before departure, abroad, and upon return. The results highlight how experiences abroad remain tied to conditions in the Dutch housing system and underline the need of more flexible rental arrangements to support mobility and reintegration.