My Dutch Dream

Many people from around the world, English included, have already emigrated to The Netherlands and are living the high life so what can we learn from them?

One forum I hang out on a lot is Channels.nl. It’s a great site frequented mostly by tourists but also by some locals. Ultimately, it is the largest English language forum about Amsterdam and The Netherlands so there is a very diverse mix and I’ve made a lot of friends there who I have actually met in real life.

One particular chap who I am yet to meet but get along with well is “shezzuk1“. Unlike some expats I have met out there or know of, this guy decided to learn Dutch and speaks it very well. I have a lot of respect for that and believe that all foreigners should learn the local language, even if it is easy to just rely on your English.

(That reminds me, I need to get a move on with my Dutch!)

I thought I’d share a post that he wrote on that forum which I thought was quite useful:

I did it myself in 2003. I’d worked for agencies before this in Holland, but this time I decided to buy myself a 328i BM touring, up stix and move there and learn the language and find a job off of my own back.

I chose Hilversum, though it was rather expensive even for just a small room, I paid 335 euros a month for a room. I used the local dole office (CWI Centrum voor Werk en Inkomen), as my internet resource.

I was job seeking and learning Dutch for a good two months before I finally landed a job in Zeist. It worked out quite well, but you do need a skill or trade that is in demand. Mine is car crash repairer/sprayer, and once I spoke Dutch reasonably, I was able to find other jobs no problem whatsoever.

So, I would suggest you start learning Dutch as quickly as possible (It’s not that hard) and make sure you have a skill or trade that is needed.

As you know, I’m planning to be self-employed come June next year, or at least have some significant self employment income which will make life a little easier. You see, I hate office work and I would rather work in a bar or a coffeeshop and have a little extra income coming in rather than work in an office and continue the daily grind that I have put myself through for the last 8 years already here in London.

By the way, I think it’s interesting that he chose to live outside of Amsterdam, this is something that I am considering to keep costs low and to obtain a more authentic “Dutch experience”. Haarlem is one town I’m considering but, frankly, almost anywhere in the Randstad will satisfy me.

Oh, and why not check out shezzuk1’s own Dutch news website: DutchNewz.