Raising kids can be tough enough, without the added challenge of teaching them multiple languages. Three years ago, when we moved from our home in the UK to the Netherlands, my husband and I weren’t really focusing on the fact that our newborn and toddler would end up bilingual. We talked about how they’d eventually…
The Dutch have a variety of national, public, and other holidays to keep track of. Whether you’ve just moved to the lowlands, or have lived here all your life, knowing these key Dutch public holidays will save you the embarrassment of going to work when you don’t have to.
Last year’s national elections in the Netherlands captured the attention of the world’s media. After the election of Trump in America and the British Brexit vote, the world held its breath and waited to see whether the Netherlands would be next in line to swing to populism.
Internationals living in the Netherlands often mention the challenges they face with respects to integrating into Dutch society, learning the language and more importantly making Dutch friends. The Dutch, most likely having their own set of friends over the years, (and have usually been friends with them for years) locals may not necessarily feel the…
You’ve moved to the Netherlands and you’re all settled in. You have your apartment, job, and local Albert Heijn within 500 metres sorted. You have started to make friends and you have definitely started to notice how beautiful the Dutch are – tall, blonde, graceful Europeans gliding around on bikes all day. However, there are…
When it comes to being an expat in the Netherlands, there are two reasons why most will find that the Dutch language is a great challenge. Reason one, the Dutch speak English. Reason two, the Dutch speak Dutch. If you are an expat living here, you will know exactly what I mean by this. I…
The Dutch aren’t known for taking unnecessary risks. “Wild” or “reckless” aren’t words that come to mind when you think of the Dutch national character. Why then do they so often forego what many see as an essential piece of safety equipment: the bike helmet? That the Dutch love cycling is obvious. One third of…
Unfortunately, the experience is all too common in the Netherlands. No matter what city you’re in here, bike theft is a fact of life for both internationals and Dutchies. In fact, it’s the most common criminal activity in the country, and over 600,000 bikes are stolen every year according to the RAI. The culprits are…
Have you noticed how different the Netherlands is when the Sun finally comes out? The canals don’t look like a brown sludge scratched into cobbled streets, the trees turn a shade of emerald green that will make the Wizard of Oz blush and there is suddenly orange naked flesh on show whilst people cycle by…
Amsterdam has an immigrant problem. Whole extended families pack into apartments, pay no rent, spread disease, and squeeze through the tiniest holes to steal food from hard-working Amsterdammers. The immigrants in question: mice.
