Compare countries

The Netherlands vs United Kingdom

Two places, side by side — for anyone weighing where to move.

NL flagGB flag
Europe
NL flag
The Netherlands
Capital Amsterdam · 17M people · Euro
Europe
GB flag
United Kingdom
Capital London · 66M people · Pound
Cost of living
United Kingdom
$154/mo
Safety
The Netherlands
1.7/5
Getting around
The Netherlands
0.8/5
Culture
United Kingdom
0.4/5
Passport reach
United Kingdom
not scored
Airports
United Kingdom
209M passengers/yr
Climate
Depends on you
not scored
Overall
United Kingdom edges it, 3–2.
Across 5 scored factors, each counted once — we don't weight them for you. Healthcare, visas and tax aren't included.

Cost of living

monthly median · solo budget

United Kingdom leads
$2,401/mo
The Netherlands
$2,247/mo
United Kingdom

Cost in the three biggest cities

Amsterdam$3,405
Rotterdam$2,798
Utrecht$2,912
London$3,737
Birmingham$2,247
Liverpool$1,927

Between the two, United Kingdom is cheaper — $2,247/mo vs $2,401/mo. The Netherlands is pricier than 33 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is pricier than 31 of 41 European countries.

Safety

safety index

The Netherlands leads
4.3/5
The Netherlands
2.6/5
United Kingdom

Between the two, The Netherlands is safer — 4.3/5 vs 2.6/5. The Netherlands is safer than 32 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is less safe than 27 of 41 European countries.

Getting around

transit & transport systems

The Netherlands leads
4.2/5
The Netherlands · everyday transit
3.4/5
United Kingdom · everyday transit
4.3/5Walkability4.2/5
4.7/5Transit4.1/5
4.9/5Cycling2.5/5
4.0/5Airport access3.3/5

Between the two, The Netherlands scores higher on mobility — 4.2/5 vs 3.4/5. The Netherlands is easier to get around than 40 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is easier to get around than 31 of 41 European countries.

Culture

cultural depth

United Kingdom leads
3.9/5
The Netherlands
4.3/5
United Kingdom

Top cultural centers

The Netherlands
4.4/5
Amsterdam
Festivals
4.2/5
Rotterdam
Theatre
3.7/5
Groningen
Festivals
United Kingdom
4.9/5
London
Arts
4.0/5
Edinburgh
Festivals
4.0/5
Manchester
Nightlife

Between the two, United Kingdom scores higher on culture — 4.3/5 vs 3.9/5. The Netherlands is richer in culture than 33 of 41 European countries; United Kingdom is richer in culture than 40 of 41 European countries.

Passport reach

what the passport opens

United Kingdom leads
105Visa-free destinations126
92%GDP reach92%
1133Heritage sites reachable1133

The Netherlands's passport reaches 105 destinations visa-free to United Kingdom's 126 — United Kingdom opens more doors without a visa. Passport strength shifts over years of naturalisation, not months of planning, so it's a long-horizon footnote — not scored in the tally.

Airports

international connectivity

United Kingdom leads
3Major airports15
78MAnnual passengers287M

Between the two, United Kingdom is better connected — 287M passengers/yr vs 78M passengers/yr. The Netherlands is busier than 63 of 87 countries worldwide; United Kingdom is busier than 81 of 87 countries worldwide. The Netherlands sees ~5 air passengers per resident a year; United Kingdom sees ~4 air passengers per resident a year — a derived figure, not itself ranked.

Climate

where most people live · °C

Depends on you
The Netherlands-14°C to 29°C
United Kingdom-14°C to 25°C
-20°0°10°30°40°

The Netherlands runs -14°C to 29°C for most people; the United Kingdom runs -14°C to 25°C for most people. Depends on you — which range fits your tolerance is the real question here, not a score.