An Expat’s Guide To Holland Village Singapore

Holland Village is the perfect oasis in Singapore for expats who love the food scene and want a neighborhood with strong European influences. Also known as Holland V, this enclave is popular with expats and locals. It’s conveniently located close to major train routes.

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Are you considering a move to Singapore? You won’t want to miss an opportunity to explore a neighborhood like Holland Village with our convenient guide.

In this guide, we will introduce Holland V, offer tips, share its history, point out dining options, and list some key marketplaces. We’ll also cover important topics like cultural opportunities, healthcare, education, and transportation.

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Introducing Holland V Singapore To Expats

Holland Village, also known as Holland V, is a popular neighborhood in Singapore. It’s loved by local residents and foreign nationals alike for its vibrant shopping and dining options. Expats flock to this area for convenient public transportation access and riveting entertainment.

Singapore River Cruise, Anderson Bridge - Connecting Raffles Place To Merlion Park

If you would like additional information about living in Singapore or to compare Holland Village to other areas, read this article about the Best Places to Live in Singapore.

Holland Village is a crescent-shaped area of Singapore near the southern tip of the island city. It’s close to downtown and other expatriate hang-outs like Tanglin.

History And Background Of Holland Village

Holland Village is popular among expats for its European influence. In the 1930s, the area catered to the British forces stationed nearby. Through the next couple of decades, the proximity of the British shaped the development of the Holland V area of Singapore.

When the British withdrew from the region in the 1970s, the area also had a number of shops popular with locals. In time, the area started to draw in expatriate professionals, and the Western influence continued.

Living In Holland Village As An Expat

Living in Holland V as an expat means having access to a lot of Western and familiar influences, markets, and dining experiences. However, that doesn’t mean that everything about the area will be the same. The area is also known to host restaurants with cuisines across the globe.

With that in mind, it could be said that Holland Village is the best of both worlds for expats who want an adventure abroad without sacrificing some of the comforts of home.

Visas For Expats To Singapore

To obtain a visa for Singapore to live in Holland Village, you must meet the criteria for a permanent residence visa.

Spouse of a citizen or a permanent resident of Singapore
Minor children of citizens or permanent residents of Singapore
Be an aged parent of a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore
Have an employment pass
Be a foreign investor in Singapore
Be a student studying in Singapore

Keep in mind that male permanent residents will be required to register at 16.5 years old and be scheduled for enlistment at age 18 unless exempt.

Housing In Holland Village Singapore

Housing in Holland Village is expensive compared to average prices in most areas of the world. This is true whether you are looking to rent or buy in the neighborhood. Available property with land is especially rare and expensive in Holland V.

In order for a foreign national to purchase any landed property in Singapore, they must have approval from the LDAU (Land Dealings Approval Unit.) In general, purchasing a condominium without land is easier and less expensive, especially for expats.

Average rental prices in the area range from S$4.18 to S$9.64 per square foot. In US Dollars, that’s $3.09 to $7.13 per square foot. For a small, 1,000 sqft apartment, you would be paying anywhere from USD $3,090 to $7,130 on average a month.

Holland Village Tips For Expats

Expats moving to Holland Village should expect to ride public transportation or walk to most places. Areas around the city center, like Holland V, suffer from traffic congestion. However, Holland V has many supermarkets and shopping centers within the neighborhood.

Singapore is a very diverse country. Common ethnicities in Singapore include Chinese, Indian, and Malay. Singapore also has many expats from other areas of the world. Respecting elders is something that many of these cultures have in common, so make sure you know the etiquette.

Dining And Entertainment In Holland Village

The reason that Holland V draws in so many locals and expats is because of the collection of places to eat out and find entertainment! Expats will love the options available within walking distance for food and entertainment because Holland V is packed with popular eateries!

Singapore Skyline From Holland Village

There are countless options within the area, but to narrow down some must-try places, we will list restaurants with a rating above 4.5 stars and at least ten reviews on Google Maps. For your convenience, we also linked to websites where available.

Don’t discount hawkers and small markets selling food in the area, either. Many of these little pop-up take-out eateries have rave reviews as well.

Besides the food scene, here are some of the entertainment options available in Holland Village! See if any of these niche places strikes your fancy. And if you want to visit other areas of Singapore for more entertainment, there’s accessible transportation.

Boxing Gym: UBX Holland Village has more than 50 Google reviews and maintains a 5-star rating.
Gyms: If exercise is your hobby, one of the lesser-known things about Holland Village is that it’s a haven for the best gyms. From Ritual Gym Holland Village to FitStop, the neighborhood is packed with 5-star gyms.
Board Game Club: BG Monsters Cafe has more than 140 Google reviews and maintains a 5-star rating. Located in a major shopping center.

Shopping And Markets In Holland Village

Shopping opportunities for expats in Holland Village are abundant. Holland Road Shopping Centre is a popular mall in the area. Other malls include Holland Piazza, Raffles Holland V Mall, and Jelita Shopping Centre.

There are a number of supermarkets and markets in Holland Village as well. Using Google Reviews, we’ll list the top four supermarkets. These will be among the best places to begin shopping as a new expat arrival.

Little Farms Market, Holland Village (4.6-star rating)
FairPrice Finest Raffles Holland V Mall (4.5-star rating)
CS Fresh @ Holland Shopping Centre (4.1-star rating)
FairPrice Holland Drive (4.0-star rating)

Cultural And Recreational Activities In Holland Village

Holland Village is close to many popular festivals, parks, and museums for expats to take in as much of the culture in Singapore as possible. Holland V is very close to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The cultural influence from many sources can also be seen in the architecture of the area.

Every year, there are cultural events throughout Singapore through the Cultural Extravaganza, with a variety of both free and ticketed events.

Education And Healthcare In Holland Village

Education and Healthcare are very accessible in Holland Village. There are a number of international preschools, kindergartens, and schools within the immediate area around Holland Village. There are also many medical centers and clinics with high reviews from their patients.

Some international schools you may be interested in from within or near Holland V include

For medical care, don’t forget to make sure that you have international health insurance while in Singapore. For more information about how expats can be covered in Singapore, read our article here.

Some Medical Clinics and Centers with 4-star or higher Google user ratings in Holland V include

Transportation For Holland Village

Holland Village has a stop on the Circle Line of the MRT(Mass Rapid Transit) in Singapore. This makes Holland V a great place for expats who would like to avoid needing a car while in Singapore. This will help you avoid the congested traffic in areas near downtown Singapore.

The area is very walkable, with buses available for shorter distances than you would need the MRT. Having a car will also increase living costs since most of the parking in the area is expensive and not included in other prices.

Pros And Cons Of Living In Holland Village

Holland Village is the perfect location for expats who want to have a full-fledged city adventure and feel like they can navigate a new country. The area is popular with expats as well as locals. It’s conveniently located on the Circle Line of the MRT. There are some drawbacks to consider as well.

Apple Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Skyline Near Holland Village

Some of the cons of living in Holland Village:

Holland Village, like most of Singapore, is densely populated. This will make the area feel crowded and busy to expats unfamiliar with city living.
The area has a lot of European influence and expats, so if you’re hoping to be more immersed among local residents than other expats, this may not be the neighborhood for you.
Parking is limited and expensive, so having a car in the area is extra expensive.
Traffic in the area is congested, so driving anywhere takes longer than you expect for the distance.
Wildlife attractions and lower-density areas are further north in the country. If you want to look into living further from the bustling city center, consider the Woodlands neighborhood.
The average price for rentals is very high and can only be afforded by very generous salaries. Landed property is hard to find for rent and even more expensive.

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Conclusion

Holland Village is a fabulous place for most expats. The dining, shopping, and transportation of the area make it a convenient and fun place to live. Singapore is a beautiful green island nation that draws people from all over the world.

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Serena Fung

Head of Content at Pacific Prime

Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.