As a Dutchy, may I add some easily overlooked traps you may step into when you are going to live in The Netherlands: I am glad that you are actually doing some research and doing the ticking your boxes thing, but: You are going to an entire different country with an entire different culture, and with an entire different social structure and an entire different language, which you really should master. Remember you are doing yourself a great favor to learn the language as soon as possible, because us Dutchies talk English to strangers but Dutch among friends. So yes you can try to go around in English and we will politely answer your brief questions; superficial chit chat as well, but we Dutchies will not give you access to our personal life as long as you speak English. We've seen this all before: For example expats come to The Netherlands for estimated 4 years work, therefor they refuse to learn the Dutch language and so they get lonely, since Dutch society is not accessible in English and so these people go back home in depressed and in tears way sooner than those 4 years estimated. Please do not get fooled by the statement that we, The Dutch, speak English as a second language, because this absolutely is not the case. We do speak some !!! English and for simple chit chat just enough English, but no matter how you look at it: Want to stay stranger in The Netherlands: stick to English. Want to make life worth it and get access to the entire Dutch culture and social structure? By all means Learn to speak Dutch ! This is The Netherlands after all and we speak Dutch. This next blunt statement may hurt at first, but let is sink in before you react: With all do respect, but socially spoken, we don't need you. See in general we already have an extended group of friends we grew up with from kindergarten, school, high-school, university, clubs, you name it. And guess what: all of these long term friends speak Dutch. So to break in, in such a steady group of friends takes a lot of effort and speaking Dutch is obligated, it basically is the very first step for foreigners to overcome. So best thing you can do is: learn Dutch in the country you are from before you even set foot on Dutch soil, this will make life so much easier for you.
This guy is spot-on! You will be welcome ( but much less in Amsterdam.. there are too many US-citizens there already and people start to grow a difficult relationship with them..) If you consider The Netherlands make a smart decision and pick a different region. Haarlem, Almere, Utrecht or even better: Go south! Breda, Gorichem, Den Bosch or Maastricht ( even closer to some mountains!) Now a wild idea>>> Why not move to Antwerp? Yes this is Belgium but it has all the benefits you mentioned and some smart Dutch people already did >>for instance ME 🙂 BIG adventage: Prices for houses are very different and ehmmm they are available. The Netherlands has a very serious housing problem that makes it impossible to find a house either for renting or for sale. You will have huge issues in this department !! I might sound negative but it is meant to help you find a possibility to find a new home.
Where I live in the Netherlands, people do not have a problem with speaking English. They are used to it, like their second language. The recommendations you got in the comments are accurate. Learning Dutch will open more possibilities than when you keep speaking English, but don't worry too much.
You're right for most areas of the Netherlands. But there are plenty of exceptions, particularly in cities with universities. Lots of dutchies that studies had a mixed group of friends and are used to speaking English with friends 100% of the time. So you can make good friends without speaking Dutch. However, society at large requires Dutch to feel part of it. So definitely a valid point to learn the language as soon as possible.
So, based on one of your comments on another post you're probably aware of this but.... housing is a real issue atm. Make sure you've got housing arranged before you make the move!! And I'm not talking 'We'll AirBnB for a few months while we look around' because that will simply not work. You need to have a long term rental contract in the bag, or purchase yourselves a house, otherwise things will end in tears.
This has just become a real possibility for my husband and I who are absolutely getting out of here before 2024. I’m so glad I found you on TT and now here!
😂😂😂 Witch Witch mountain!? We do not have mountains, ! I do not know any! There are a few lovely Hills here in Gulpen Beautiful, but no mountain For called it a mountain it has to be+ 500 meter Changing definitions to fit your desired is crap!
Thank you Jess. My wife and I are interested in the Netherlands for all of the reasons you laid out, other than colder climate, as we've lived in Seattle for much of our lives ;) as well as our soon-to-be 3 year old. We've been eying Valencia, Spain, mostly because of the fact that we both already speak some Spanish in addition to sun and beach. As I understand it, and from my experiences traveling to Amsterdam, living in the Netherlands as an English speaker is no problem. However, are there requirements to speak Dutch if you were to eventually apply for permanent residency after 5 years? Not a deal breaker, but it would derail my other linguistic pursuits for a time. Appreciate your feedback!
Yes, that is a requirement. Understand that in order to become part of a community, you need to speak the community's language. If you don't bother with that you will end up like a typical Anglophone expat, whining online about how hard it is to make local friends. Remember, you'll be moving here because you want it and you will be imposing your presence on an already overpopulated country. For you to get accepted socially, you need to make an effort. Forcing everyone to speak with you in a foreign language but not making an effort yourself will make you stand out negatively because of the underlying entitled attitude.
@@HeikoEbeling Thank you for your feedback. Sounds like the culture is a bit different there. I've never thought of my Mexican-born friends here in the States as entitled when we converse in Spanish. Nor have I found much value in connecting with those who are easily offended. I did live in Prague for a year, and it was a challenge to make Czech friends at first, but I had plenty of other friends from all over the world, so it really didn't bother me too much and before long, I made several local friends organically. I recognize that I'm am a guest when I'm in another country, so if it melts someone down that I'm communicating in English or Spanish, I will happily wish them a pleasant day (in their native language) and move on.
Hi Jess, great to hear all your deliberations and the way you don’t haphazardly stumble into an emigration adventure that can be really hurtful. As other fellow countrymen stated, please look for a place outside of Amsterdam. That city is possibly the easiest and seemingly obvious starting point, but really, life is so much easier and relaxed in any other town or city. The only thing is that public transport is a bit less accessible outside the Randstad.
This interview is about an American couple who moved from Texas to the Netherlands on the DAFT visa. It's a general overview, the have a youtube channel about their various experiences here, but those are more oriented towards discovering the Netherlands and Dutch culture, not family life . ruclips.net/video/n7iNfTrlcuw/видео.html
Looks to me that you and your family really thought this through. I understand and as a Dutchman I do see how you might fit in our society fine! So Welcome in advance and I really hope it will work out for you and your loved ones. I'm looking forward to your explorations in my country and Europe as a whole. Given that this vlog is 10 month old, I wonder what the status of your move is. I hope to see more soon. Good luck!
You’re totaly right about our characteristics. But you forgot that we have a huge housing problem. We are short of almost a million houses. Te rent a house of to buy a house is very espansive. Coming to the Netherlands you make that problem even worse.
Seems you've got a very idealised picture of the Netherlands, disregarding the difficulties that all expats experience after moving here. Finding a job won't be a problem, your visa should be a breeze using DAFT. But then it starts, housing is very expensive and scarce. It doesn't matter if you rent or buy. The cost of living is going up by the week and the myth of the Netherlands being a welcoming and friendly country is long gone with the influx of refugees, foreign students and expats who refuse to adapt to Dutch values and norms. Yes, most Dutch people can speak English, but a lot of them refuse it because "You're in my country, so you have to speak my language." You also seem to be unaware that the Netherlands is very tiny and very densely populated. You won't find the space that you have in the USA. There's always some stranger keeping an eye on you, and if you're not used to that, living in the Netherlands can be a very paranoid experience.
Affordable healthcare?? Well, there are plenty of European countries were the healthcare is much more affordable. Actually, it is very expensive. But of course, not compared to the USA.
Yes, you seem to know, but the appeal of the Netherlands is not only is the healthcare insurance less than the US... by a lot... but you will not have a situation where despite your US 'insurance' you will be handed a tens-of-thousands of dollars invoice for your illness. It's absolutely crazy here. People lose their life savings over illness.
@@peterf1 How long do you think our system will be sustainable when foreigners come to the Netherlands to get their illnesses treated for next to nothing without contributing to the system? If you pay 10 years on premiums you might have contributed €17000 on premiums. Now say you need heart surgery. Since you're insured you don't pay the €8200 for the surgery and the €32000 for the 14 days stay in hospital. If you're lucky it isn't an emergency so we can forget the €2500 for the ambulance. After paying €17000, you get healthcare for the amount of €40.200. Which will cost you nothing. You have to understand that this is not sustainable in the log run.
@@williamgeardener2509 Absolutely a fair question. The only answer I can provide is from my admittedly limited knowledge. First for my wife and I, we'd be required to purchase private insurance. The amount over 10 years would be closer to €48000 rather than €17000, but the larger point is that risk would be acquired by the private insurance company, not the Dutch system which we would not have access to. There's also a chance I'd fall victim to enjoying too many bitterballen and beer and croak long before needing the repairs mentioned.
@@peterf1 When you're living in the Netherlands, you qualify for the Dutch healthcare insurance. (Every refugee, foreign student and expat does...) So you don't pay the ridiculous €48.000 on American uninsurance, but just €34000 (€17.000 x 2 for you and your wife). Still considerably less than the €40.200 that your surgery would have costed. And if you indulge in bitterballen and beer, you made need open heart surgery very much sooner than after just 10 years. 😄
i know why so many americans want to go to europe ( the Netherlands ) ... we ARE the american dream ......and we dont have to be a sleep for it because we have enough free time to realize it 😅
As a Dutchy, may I add some easily overlooked traps you may step into when you are going to live in The Netherlands: I am glad that you are actually doing some research and doing the ticking your boxes thing, but: You are going to an entire different country with an entire different culture, and with an entire different social structure and an entire different language, which you really should master. Remember you are doing yourself a great favor to learn the language as soon as possible, because us Dutchies talk English to strangers but Dutch among friends. So yes you can try to go around in English and we will politely answer your brief questions; superficial chit chat as well, but we Dutchies will not give you access to our personal life as long as you speak English. We've seen this all before: For example expats come to The Netherlands for estimated 4 years work, therefor they refuse to learn the Dutch language and so they get lonely, since Dutch society is not accessible in English and so these people go back home in depressed and in tears way sooner than those 4 years estimated. Please do not get fooled by the statement that we, The Dutch, speak English as a second language, because this absolutely is not the case. We do speak some !!! English and for simple chit chat just enough English, but no matter how you look at it: Want to stay stranger in The Netherlands: stick to English. Want to make life worth it and get access to the entire Dutch culture and social structure? By all means Learn to speak Dutch ! This is The Netherlands after all and we speak Dutch. This next blunt statement may hurt at first, but let is sink in before you react: With all do respect, but socially spoken, we don't need you. See in general we already have an extended group of friends we grew up with from kindergarten, school, high-school, university, clubs, you name it. And guess what: all of these long term friends speak Dutch. So to break in, in such a steady group of friends takes a lot of effort and speaking Dutch is obligated, it basically is the very first step for foreigners to overcome. So best thing you can do is: learn Dutch in the country you are from before you even set foot on Dutch soil, this will make life so much easier for you.
This guy is spot-on! You will be welcome ( but much less in Amsterdam.. there are too many US-citizens there already and people start to grow a difficult relationship with them..) If you consider The Netherlands make a smart decision and pick a different region. Haarlem, Almere, Utrecht or even better: Go south! Breda, Gorichem, Den Bosch or Maastricht ( even closer to some mountains!)
Now a wild idea>>> Why not move to Antwerp? Yes this is Belgium but it has all the benefits you mentioned and some smart Dutch people already did >>for instance ME 🙂 BIG adventage: Prices for houses are very different and ehmmm they are available. The Netherlands has a very serious housing problem that makes it impossible to find a house either for renting or for sale. You will have huge issues in this department !! I might sound negative but it is meant to help you find a possibility to find a new home.
@@Dutchbelg3 No, no... you are not negative; you just state it the way it is.
Fair comment and no Amsterdam is not the netherlands, it is its own country by now.
Where I live in the Netherlands, people do not have a problem with speaking English.
They are used to it, like their second language.
The recommendations you got in the comments are accurate. Learning Dutch will open more possibilities than when you keep speaking English, but don't worry too much.
You're right for most areas of the Netherlands. But there are plenty of exceptions, particularly in cities with universities. Lots of dutchies that studies had a mixed group of friends and are used to speaking English with friends 100% of the time. So you can make good friends without speaking Dutch. However, society at large requires Dutch to feel part of it. So definitely a valid point to learn the language as soon as possible.
So, based on one of your comments on another post you're probably aware of this but.... housing is a real issue atm. Make sure you've got housing arranged before you make the move!! And I'm not talking 'We'll AirBnB for a few months while we look around' because that will simply not work. You need to have a long term rental contract in the bag, or purchase yourselves a house, otherwise things will end in tears.
Looks like you took a very practical approach to the move, well done, i approve :)
This has just become a real possibility for my husband and I who are absolutely getting out of here before 2024. I’m so glad I found you on TT and now here!
How's your move going? Have you moved already? Or are you still in the preperation phase?
Hey Jess,
The Netherlands does have a Dutch Mountain Trail...🙂 includes the only mountain cabin in The Netherlands...
😂😂😂
Witch Witch mountain!?
We do not have mountains, !
I do not know any!
There are a few lovely Hills here in Gulpen
Beautiful, but no mountain
For called it a mountain it has to be+ 500 meter
Changing definitions to fit your desired is crap!
Thank you Jess. My wife and I are interested in the Netherlands for all of the reasons you laid out, other than colder climate, as we've lived in Seattle for much of our lives ;) as well as our soon-to-be 3 year old. We've been eying Valencia, Spain, mostly because of the fact that we both already speak some Spanish in addition to sun and beach. As I understand it, and from my experiences traveling to Amsterdam, living in the Netherlands as an English speaker is no problem. However, are there requirements to speak Dutch if you were to eventually apply for permanent residency after 5 years? Not a deal breaker, but it would derail my other linguistic pursuits for a time. Appreciate your feedback!
Yes, that is a requirement. Understand that in order to become part of a community, you need to speak the community's language. If you don't bother with that you will end up like a typical Anglophone expat, whining online about how hard it is to make local friends. Remember, you'll be moving here because you want it and you will be imposing your presence on an already overpopulated country. For you to get accepted socially, you need to make an effort. Forcing everyone to speak with you in a foreign language but not making an effort yourself will make you stand out negatively because of the underlying entitled attitude.
@@HeikoEbeling Thank you for your feedback. Sounds like the culture is a bit different there. I've never thought of my Mexican-born friends here in the States as entitled when we converse in Spanish. Nor have I found much value in connecting with those who are easily offended. I did live in Prague for a year, and it was a challenge to make Czech friends at first, but I had plenty of other friends from all over the world, so it really didn't bother me too much and before long, I made several local friends organically. I recognize that I'm am a guest when I'm in another country, so if it melts someone down that I'm communicating in English or Spanish, I will happily wish them a pleasant day (in their native language) and move on.
When will be the next update?
Hi Jess, great to hear all your deliberations and the way you don’t haphazardly stumble into an emigration adventure that can be really hurtful. As other fellow countrymen stated, please look for a place outside of Amsterdam. That city is possibly the easiest and seemingly obvious starting point, but really, life is so much easier and relaxed in any other town or city. The only thing is that public transport is a bit less accessible outside the Randstad.
just curious, what kind of business did you start under the Daft process?
Welcome to the Netherlands.
Mountains? Try Norway.
This interview is about an American couple who moved from Texas to the Netherlands on the DAFT visa. It's a general overview, the have a youtube channel about their various experiences here, but those are more oriented towards discovering the Netherlands and Dutch culture, not family life . ruclips.net/video/n7iNfTrlcuw/видео.html
Looks to me that you and your family really thought this through. I understand and as a Dutchman I do see how you might fit in our society fine! So Welcome in advance and I really hope it will work out for you and your loved ones.
I'm looking forward to your explorations in my country and Europe as a whole. Given that this vlog is 10 month old, I wonder what the status of your move is.
I hope to see more soon. Good luck!
Can you recommend a house hunting website, please?
That's so exciting for you guys! If you're looking in The Netherlands, I'd check out funda.nl or pararius.com! That's what we're using!
No updates???
You’re totaly right about our characteristics. But you forgot that we have a huge housing problem. We are short of almost a million houses. Te rent a house of to buy a house is very espansive. Coming to the Netherlands you make that problem even worse.
A little bit, though currently there are loads of housing projects that are starting up I'm not sure it currently is enough to meet demand.
@@polyliker8065 At the most we can built online 100.000 houses a year. So it will take at least ten years before the problem is solved.
Your flight is taking longer than expected 🤣
Seems you've got a very idealised picture of the Netherlands, disregarding the difficulties that all expats experience after moving here. Finding a job won't be a problem, your visa should be a breeze using DAFT. But then it starts, housing is very expensive and scarce. It doesn't matter if you rent or buy. The cost of living is going up by the week and the myth of the Netherlands being a welcoming and friendly country is long gone with the influx of refugees, foreign students and expats who refuse to adapt to Dutch values and norms. Yes, most Dutch people can speak English, but a lot of them refuse it because "You're in my country, so you have to speak my language."
You also seem to be unaware that the Netherlands is very tiny and very densely populated. You won't find the space that you have in the USA. There's always some stranger keeping an eye on you, and if you're not used to that, living in the Netherlands can be a very paranoid experience.
Affordable healthcare?? Well, there are plenty of European countries were the healthcare is much more affordable. Actually, it is very expensive. But of course, not compared to the USA.
Yes, you seem to know, but the appeal of the Netherlands is not only is the healthcare insurance less than the US... by a lot... but you will not have a situation where despite your US 'insurance' you will be handed a tens-of-thousands of dollars invoice for your illness. It's absolutely crazy here. People lose their life savings over illness.
@@peterf1 How long do you think our system will be sustainable when foreigners come to the Netherlands to get their illnesses treated for next to nothing without contributing to the system? If you pay 10 years on premiums you might have contributed €17000 on premiums. Now say you need heart surgery. Since you're insured you don't pay the €8200 for the surgery and the €32000 for the 14 days stay in hospital. If you're lucky it isn't an emergency so we can forget the €2500 for the ambulance. After paying €17000, you get healthcare for the amount of €40.200. Which will cost you nothing. You have to understand that this is not sustainable in the log run.
@@williamgeardener2509 Absolutely a fair question. The only answer I can provide is from my admittedly limited knowledge. First for my wife and I, we'd be required to purchase private insurance. The amount over 10 years would be closer to €48000 rather than €17000, but the larger point is that risk would be acquired by the private insurance company, not the Dutch system which we would not have access to. There's also a chance I'd fall victim to enjoying too many bitterballen and beer and croak long before needing the repairs mentioned.
@@peterf1 When you're living in the Netherlands, you qualify for the Dutch healthcare insurance. (Every refugee, foreign student and expat does...) So you don't pay the ridiculous €48.000 on American uninsurance, but just €34000 (€17.000 x 2 for you and your wife). Still considerably less than the €40.200 that your surgery would have costed.
And if you indulge in bitterballen and beer, you made need open heart surgery very much sooner than after just 10 years. 😄
i know why so many americans want to go to europe ( the Netherlands ) ... we ARE the american dream ......and we dont have to be a sleep for it because we have enough free time to realize it 😅
😎👍🏻😎
Before you move, get rid of that highly annoying focal fry.
Before you do anything, get rid of that highly annoying habit of randomly insulting people you don't know. What is wrong with you.
Please stay in the US.
You really think that it's going to be that easy? Think again.
Why do you say this.
That's a very stupid reaction.
Stay away.