Interview process in the Netherlands. Trying to set realistic expectations

Hi all,

I’d like some perspective on a hiring process I’m currently in and how to read it realistically in a Dutch context.

I’m from Turkey and applied to a Netherlands-based tech company last year. I had an online interview back then, but it didn’t move forward. This year, after re-applying, I had another online call and was then invited from Istanbul to Amsterdam for an in-person interview (flight + hotel covered).

The meeting lasted about 4.5 hours including lunch, and we talked a lot about how they work and their future plans. I left feeling quite positive. During the meeting, they were transparent and said there were originally 3 candidates, 1 was eliminated, and I’m one of the final 2.

At the end of the interview, I was asked to complete a small case task, which I’ve just submitted. They said they aim to finish the process by the end of the month

I’ll be honest: after being flown in and having such an in-depth conversation, my expectations went up and I really want the job. At the same time, I’m trying not to over-interpret things.

My questions:

Is this kind of process (flying someone in, long meeting, final task) generally a good sign in the Netherlands? How should I realistically set my expectations at this stage?

Thanks in advance for any insight.