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Blog: wordgeyser Topics:expat, netherlands, family and life expatsblogs
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Category Archives: The Netherlands
The Non-Expat Expat: Not Fitting The Box
We’ve lived away from our birth country for 20 years and a lot’s happened in that time – we moved to the USA, raised a family, took American citizenship, relocated back to Europe and will move on again. The first two … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Expat Experiences, The Netherlands
Tagged advice for new expats, advice from long term expat, American citizenship, becoming an expat, effect of expat life on children, empty nest, families living overseas, Family, global families, HIFX expat website, living abroad, long time expats, tips for expats, tips for moving abroad, tips for moving overseas, want to live overseas?, what new expats need to know, when kids live overseas, when kids move away, where is home?
15 Comments
Living in The Netherlands: What to Bring with You
I was recently asked what would be an essential item to bring to the Netherlands if I was moving here. A loaded question – one I didn’t want to answer without serious consideration. Much depends on where you’re coming from, whether … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Dutch Culture, Expat Experiences, Family Life, The Netherlands
Tagged american school of the hague, expat relocation to the netherlands, help moving to the netherlands, living in the Netherlands, moving to the hague, moving to the netherlands, relocating to the netherlands, tips for international moves, tips for moving overseas, what do expats need to bring to the ntherlands, what to bring to the netherlands
4 Comments
Interview with Expatsblog – USA to the Netherlands
A while ago I was interviewed by Expatsblog for their great website which is full of resources for anyone moving from somewhere to, well, just about anywhere else. Their website a phenomenal amount of information available on wherever it is you’ll … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Dutch Culture, The Netherlands, Travel
Tagged advice moving to the netherlands, expat family, expat life, global travel, living in den haag, living in Holland, living in the hague, living in the Netherlands, living overseas, moving family to the netherlands, moving from USA to the Netherlands, moving overseas, moving to the netherlands, Netherlands, should i move overseas?, third culture kids
1 Comment
Dutch Delights: The Magic of Winter Days
The first snow day of the winter and in its wake the dreary, endless days of the Dutch fall are forgotten. Day after day of leaden skies, like a dirty, heavy, sodden blanket thrown over the country, dripping constantly, suffocating … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Expat Experiences, Inspiration and Reflection, The Netherlands
Tagged finding joy, james Joyce the dubliners, joy in nature, making memories, memories of snow, snaow days in holland, snow days, snow days in the netherlands, snow in new orleans, winter in Holland, winter in the netherlands
19 Comments
Queen’s Day: The Quieter Side
I’ve decided to share the quieter side of Queen’s Day, Koninginnedag, a day to celebrate the birthday of the former Queen, Juliana. The present Queen, Beatrix, spends the day with members of the Royal family, visiting towns throughout the Netherlands. … Continue reading
Global Tax : Inescapable and Unrelenting
It’s February and there’s that sinking feeling in my stomach. Not the winter blues, instead the gargantuan beast from hell, the preparation of the annual tax returns. You can’t forget about it, or pretend it’s not happening, stick fingers in your … Continue reading
Pylons and Pianos Unrelated?: Not as Much as You’d Think
Sometimes you read an article or catch something on TV that stops you in your tracks and makes you wonder about life. I had two experiences like that yesterday which (on a small scale) blew me away. The first was … Continue reading
Posted in Dutch Culture, England and Things English, Inspiration and Reflection, The Netherlands
Tagged Department of Energy and Climate, design and tecnology, electrical pylons, Energy, incubate festival, luke jerram, Netherlands, nurturing the spirit, play me I'm yours in Tilberg netherlands, Pylon Design Competition, Royal Institute of British Architects, Technology, Tilburg
10 Comments
S.A.D or Just Sad?: The Legacy of the Dutch Summer
I have bemoaned the non-arrival of the Dutch summer for well, the whole of the summer. Much was promised in the warm, soft days of spring when we could venture outdoors sans sweaters and coats, absorb the warming sunlight through our … Continue reading
Brothels Closed at 10pm and No Magic Mushrooms? In AMSTERDAM?
One thing with living in the Netherlands, visitors are always asking about the drug culture and sex industry. It’s a source of great fascination to many people that the Dutch are tolerant and open about these less than respectable, by the … Continue reading
Dutch Navy 1: Somali Pirates 0
It’s been brought to my attention today that Somalian pirates are in the news again. In the Netherlands. “Five Somalis are appearing in court in Rotterdam today charged with piracy. They are accused of attempting to capture a South African yacht … Continue reading
Repatriation of the Deceased: If You Die Overseas Die in The Netherlands
I did have a mental debate as to whether I should write about today’s topic. After listening to both sides for several days I’ve decided we’re all adults and can deal with grown up things. Ever given a thought to what … Continue reading
Posted in Dutch Culture, Expat Experiences, The Netherlands
Tagged airport mortuaries, amsterdam's schiphol airport, death overseas, death overseas. death while travelling oversea, funerals, getting the body home, holland, mortuary at Amsterdam airport, Theo de Haardt, when an expat dies, when an expat dies overseas
8 Comments
How much personal living/working space does a Dutch person have?
I’m hoping everyone is up to a mental workout as I’ve come across some facts on the Netherlands which make for very interesting reading. This morning there was an article on the dutchnews.nl website, quoting information released yesterday by the … Continue reading
Dutch Sending the Poles Home?
So the Dutch are considering sending Polish and other east Europeans home? I didn’t read the full story immediately as my brain went into complete melt down and shock at the thought of the Dutch economy grinding to a halt … Continue reading
And I thought the Dutch Were Tolerant
Last night after a day driving down and around Victoria BC, we settled with our hosts to watch a movie. Nothing too challenging but with enough entertainment value to stop us drifting off to sleep. John Grisham’s The Rainmaker suited … Continue reading
Kids Home Alone: Part II – The Installation of a Plastic Hot Tub
. . . continued from the previous post, in which we returned home from a weekend away to discover all was not quite as we had left it . . . I was still seething at the maltreatment of my … Continue reading
Kids Home Alone: Part I – What’s the Right Age?
OK we’re back, feeling a tad grouchy after having to deal with the cross Channel ferry . . . technically, according to the Captain, the trans North Sea ferry as we’re nowhere near the Channel travelling Hull to Rotterdam. I … Continue reading
Why Holland is the Worst Country for Drivers
Excuse me while I take a moment to swallow some heavy-duty Tylenol (to stop the pulsating banging in my head) washed down with something even stronger to subdue the need to kill anyone who comes into my field of vision. The … Continue reading
Who Dat?: Friendly Faces in Foreign Places
A while back driving home from Schiphol (Amsterdam) Airport, the Captain and I experienced something which got me thinking about how we react when we meet fellow countrymen thousands of miles from home. Our American home is New Orleans; I’ve … Continue reading
Dutch Workmen: Tips On Understanding The Tribe
I’ve been doing some unofficial research of late into the habits and behaviour of Dutch workmen. I say unofficial because it’s more observation than research and has happened only because we have decorators repainting the exterior of our building. It’s supposedly a twelve … Continue reading
When the Netherlands is Perfect: The Gentle Grace of Holland
It occurred to me this morning I’ve never said much about the everyday beauty of the Netherlands. I’ve sat and typed through the long dark days of winter, made miserable by the relentless rain, howling wind and a chill factor that … Continue reading
Garden Gnomes and Pink Flamingos: The Ultimate in Taste
In the previous blog I wrote about how some people judge or pigeonhole others by the way they speak, which led me to wonder why people are also judgemental about other folks’ belongings, their choice of furniture, the way they decorate their homes. Who it is that dictates what … Continue reading
Family Travels and Unaccompanied Children
There’s something rather nice about returning home from travelling, even if home is in a foreign country. It’s a feeling of having survived a mission during which so much could have gone wrong. As I mentioned a few posts ago, getting out of … Continue reading
Posted in Expat Experiences, Family Life, The Netherlands, Travel
Tagged children travelling alone, cross channel ferry, expat children travelling alone, international travel and unaccompanied children, international travel with children, losing a passport while travelling, Passport, teens travelling alone, travel, travel from europe to UK, unaccompanied children and international travel, unaccompanied minors, when should kids travel on their own
6 Comments
Foreign Invasion: When the Tourists Arrive
The sun is beaming gloriously from a blue sky and it’s two days to go to the Easter weekend. As a family we hate traveling at peak holiday periods, we know Schiphol airport (Amsterdam) will be bursting at the seams … Continue reading
Posted in Dutch Culture, Expat Experiences, The Netherlands
Tagged Dutch attitudes to expats, Dutch attitudes to foreigners, Dutch life, expats and locals, holidaymakers in the netherlands, holidays in the netherlands, summer in the netherlands, wassenaar netherlands, wassenaar the netherlands
3 Comments
Keukenhof: Useful Tips for Reluctant Visitors
I realised in my earlier post I’d forgotten to include some pretty important stuff you may like to consider before visiting the Keukenhof, should you decide to go at some point over the next few weeks. The weather here in The … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life, The Netherlands
Tagged Expat, Haarlem, keukenhof, Netherlands, travel, tulip time in the netherlands
3 Comments
Keukenhof: The Jewel in the Crown of The Netherlands
What I didn’t mention in The Perfect Palette : The Netherlands in Spring and what anyone living here would think of when you put ‘spring’ and ‘The Netherlands’ in the same sentence – the Keukenhof The reason, dear readers, is because I’ve saved … Continue reading
The Perfect Palette – The Netherlands in Spring
When the sun comes out in the spring, there is no more beautiful place in the world than The Netherlands – this from someone who struggles with the weather here after more than ten years living in the heat, humidity and dramatic … Continue reading
Dutch Death and Taxes: Where There’s a Will There’s a Lawyer
This week has seen the Captain and I have our annual meeting with our Dutch and US accountants – enough angst to put both of us in need of a long vacation somewhere warm, with hammocks, and 24-hour room service. … Continue reading
Posted in Dutch Culture, Dutch Laws, Taxes and Bureaucracy, Expat Experiences, Family Life, The Netherlands
Tagged do you need a will in the netherlands, do you need to have a will in holland, does an American living in the netherlands need a dutch will, dutch inheritance laws, Dutch inheritance laws and wills, dutch taxes and inheritance, dutch wills, expat and wills in holland, expat and wills in the netherlands, expat life, expats and wills, last will and testament
7 Comments
Loving your Dutch Bike
Ask anyone to think of anything Dutch and I guarantee the top four will be, in no particular order, tulips, windmills, clogs and bikes. Bikes will always be listed – they are such an ingrained part of Dutch life and … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Dutch Culture, Expat Experiences, Family Life, The Netherlands
Tagged best bike for the netherlands, biking in the netherlands, choosing a bike, dutch bikes, exploring the netherlands on a bike, humor, Jeremy Clarkson, learning to ride a bike, Netherlands, omafiets bikes in the netherlands
7 Comments
Spring Time and Dutch Delights: Dutch Leisure Pursuits
Finally after six long months of cold, wet and dark the Spring Equinox has arrived, the first day in the year when day and night are of equal length. From now until September 21 the days will be longer than the … Continue reading
Diplomatic Incidents In the Sick Bed
I have been forced back to bed for the day by my husband, not for the bliss of carnal delights, but because he seems to think I’m ‘going down with something’. The possibility of the domestic helm being unmanned has galvanised him into action, … Continue reading
Planes, Trains and Snowmobiles
Here we go again. Further adventures in the Snowmobile. The Captain is en route from Harwich along with refugees from the nightmare of Heathrow and the other London airports. Guess who’s designated to pick him up? I’m also collecting Don and Stuart, … Continue reading
Posted in Expat Experiences, Family Life, The Netherlands
Tagged driving, driving in snow, Harwich Rotterdam ferry, Heathrow, hook of holland ferry, international travel delays due to weather, keeping warm in vehicle in snow conditions, snow mobile, stuck in vehicle in bad weather, travel delays due to snow, travel delays due to snow in europe, travel delays due to snow in the Netherlands, travel delays due to snow in UK, travel problems, winter driving in the Netherlands
4 Comments
Wassenaar White-out
I’m done with the snow and you can cancel Christmas too. We woke up this morning to the wonderful light and deep quiet of a new snowfall, a real magical winter wonderland. Like an idiot I’d promised Harry I’d drive … Continue reading
Posted in Christmas, Thanksgiving and Holidays, Expat Experiences, Inspiration and Reflection, The Netherlands
Tagged Christmas, December in the Netherlands, driving in snow, Expat, loving snow, serenity of snow, snow days in the netherlands, snow in the netherlands, Thanksgiving and Holidays, traffic delays in snow, winter driving in the Netherlands, winter traffic in the netherlands
1 Comment
Snow Day in The Hague
Snow Day! Well, we have about an inch but the way the Dutch roads have ground to a halt makes you think we had at least six feet. Driving into The Hague this morning was easy – driving out after four hours of continual snow … Continue reading
The Problems of an American pre-lit Christmas Tree in Europe…
Right. It’s involved two step ladders, several beer mats (for balance, duh) and it’s time for the big switch on, tad-daa… okay, so who moved the transformer? It’s kept in the same place all year, and at this point in the proceedings … Continue reading
Posted in Christmas, Thanksgiving and Holidays, Expat Experiences, Family Life, The Netherlands
Tagged american pre-lit Christmas tree in Europe, Christmas, electrical transformers, Expat, expat christmas, pre-lit christmas trees, putting up a christmas tree, taking pre-lit tree from USA to Europe, Thanksgiving and Holidays, usa pre-lit christmas trees in europe
1 Comment
Dog Days and Birthdays: November in the Netherlands
Some days you get out of bed feeling you can’t make the effort, then you do and the day takes off in ways you don’t expect. I’d psyched up for another day of rain, mud, and the company of equally … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life, Inspiration and Reflection, The Netherlands
Tagged back to nature, Dogs, English Springer Spaniel, finding calm in solitude, inspiration, joy of nature, life balance, Netherlands, nourishing the spirit, november in the netherlands, reconnecting with yourself, serenity in nature, solitude, Sporting-Gundog Group, weather in the Netherlands
1 Comment
wordgeyser 
The Dutch 30% Tax Rule and International Teachers
I’ve written about the Dutch 30% tax ruling before, a topic foremost in most expats’ minds during the annual tax period. This year the topic gained the status of national debate when the junior tax minister, Frans Weekers, considered introducing an income … Continue reading →