Expats Meet Dutchies..... Dutchies Meet Expats: A Family Picnic 12 June

My blog post about the survey that implies the Netherlands is an expat unfriendly country hit a nerve with many of you - especially when it came to the subject of making local friends.

So on this note.. I thought I would share an event with you which is designed to help you meet local Dutch people and vice versa.

On Sunday 12 June, Expat Buddy is organising an "A Family Picnic Affair" in Westerpark in Amsterdam. It starts at 2pm and finishes at 5pm. Bring the kids, a picnic basket and something to sit on and wile the afternoon away in the company of Dutchies and Expats. There's lots of information in the flyer below - and you can find details on www.xllentguidance.com






































ExpatBuddy's concept is "We are your temporary best friend" for the difficult period just after your relocation, focusing on the social and emotional distress of moving and making sure expats and their families have someone to support them finding their way around - a network, jobs, recruitment, lifestyle, neighborhood etc. In short, ExpatBuddy.nl is an aftercare service provider.

The company also organises HRM Expat knowledge sessions to create awareness about the emotional state of mind of expats and spouses after relocating - something international companies could certainly benefit from if expat surveys are anything to go by.

So put it in your diary - and maybe I'll see you there next Sunday!

"Well I Never Knew That": Rafael van der Vaart - From Humble Beginnings

(c) Amanda van Mulligen

In September last year, Dutch footballer Rafael van der Vaart made a move to Premiership football in England from Real Madrid after losing a regular place in the Spanish side. The move to Tottenham Hotspur was met with excitement from the English press.

A few weeks ago I watched an interview with the Dutchman on Football Focus on a Saturday on the BBC. He talked about his youth growing up living in a caravan in Heemskerk. And that is where he learned to play football, using empty beer bottles as goal posts. He says now that he realises that his lifestyle growing up was different but he covets it all the same. He was talent spotted at the age of 10 and subsequently joined the Ajax Academy. The rest, as they say is history.

This interesting fact about this international football star had passed me by. Now a quick look on the internet and the English press was full of it at the time of his transfer.

What is also interesting is the fact that his mother is Spanish. She moved to Holland when she was 6 so by rights he could have also chosen to play for the Spanish national team. Luckily for Holland he chose to play for his birth country.

He is reminded of his humble beginning every time he heads 'home' as he passes the caravan where the van der Vaart family used to live on the way to his parents' house - the one he bought for them when he made a name for himself in the footballing world.

Having cost Spurs £8,000,000 and played in a World Cup Final last year, he certainly has come a long way from the life he started in a caravan north of the Dutch capital city. No wonder his mantra is 'believe'.

Guest Post: Robin Pascoe looks back on her visits to Holland

Author, inspirational speaker, writer, mother of third culture kids, traveller and once an accompanying spouse. Many words to describe my guest blogger today. Two words sum it up better: Expert expat. I am delighted that Robin Pascoe has written a guest blog for A Letter from the Netherlands - here she takes a look back at her visits to Holland. Over to Robin.......


I decided this past year to stop traveling around the world on speaking tours primarily because I had visions of people saying, is she still doing that? But I overlooked one huge downside to my decision:

I wouldn’t be visiting Holland on a regular basis anymore!

When my husband left diplomatic service for the private sector and we repatriated to Vancouver, Canada, I never figured I would lecture ever again. Until one day, in our first year back and out of the clear blue, I had a fax (yes, that’s how long ago it was) from my original publisher in Singapore: a group in The Hague called “Outpost” was interested in inviting me to Holland to keynote their first Global Conference.

Immediately, I called my best friend who was living in Holland at the time and asked her to investigate just who this Outpost group might be. At the same time, I played a heavy guilt card on my husband (who was travelling more, if that was possible, in his new job) that it was time for me to have a go at getting out of town.

Shell Outpost as everyone knows, became the role model for all the corporate spousal organisations that have followed since. It turned out that a survey had revealed my very first book about being an expat wife was very popular with Shell spouses. Who knew? Not me. I always have claimed I have a life I don’t personally participate in!

Shell kicked off for me over ten years of coming over to Holland from my side of the world to speak to so many groups, I had to really think hard to remember them all.

There was the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in the early days; the American School of the Hague (twice); and the International School of Amsterdam  (also twice). Expatica.com, a great site I contributed articles to on a regular basis, organised a conference or two (I think one was in Rotterdam).

Then there were the women’s clubs: the American Women’s Club of Amsterdam (twice); Global Connection (also twice); Connecting Women in The Hague; the European Professional Women’s Network and of course, Shell Outpost in The Hague (too many times to remember after that initial conference).

The list (and I know I’m forgetting others) doesn’t do justice, though, to how much fun I always had visiting Holland and how much I miss it.

From my very first trip, where I insisted (even knowing I have no sense of direction), “oh, please don’t go to the bother of picking me up at the airport” because I would rather catch a train and go in the opposite direction of The Hague... to my last one, when my non-stop KLM flight back to Vancouver was the only flight on the board at Schipol Airport to be cancelled that day.

Robin travelling in traditional style in Amsterdam 

There was also the time I met over lunch with my Google doppelganger, the British journalist living in Holland also named Robin Pascoe and then wrote a funny piece about ‘meeting myself’ for a Canadian newspaper.

Finally, they say a picture is worth a thousand stories. This one of me sitting in a Dutch bakfiets which was my means of transport to my AWC meeting by my hostess made it to the cover of my re-issued wife book. I was certainly glad my hostess was very fit as I watched the streetcars whiz by me in the opposite direction.

Too many stories (Queen’s Day celebrations one year in Hilversum would be an entire blog posting on its own) and too many memories (most of them involving getting lost!)

One day, I simply must get back, as my good friend and partner-in-expat-writing crime Jo Parfitt is living in The Hague inspiring new authors.

And where does her husband work? Shell, of course.  What goes around definitely comes around!

Author and ExpatExpert Robin Pascoe doesn’t travel anymore so she created an on line global lecture tour at www.youtube.com/robinpascoe

"Komt Een Vrouw bij de Dokter" - The Book

As I crept in to bed sniffing and snottering my husband asked,

"Finished your book then?"

Yes I had. I had just turned the final page over of 'Komt een Vrouw bij de Dokter' written by Kluun (aka Raymond van de Klundert). This is Kluun's debut novel written in 2003 and is dramatised from events in his own life.

It's a funny thing to enjoy a book which evokes gut wrenching tears but enjoy it I did. Well, when I say enjoy... I mean I found it hard to put down, I emphasised with the characters and I experienced their pain. That's what a good book should do right - put you into someone else's world?

When I woke the next morning I had puffed up red eyes and I was glad the book was finished. Myrna Goossen (Aperitivo) sums it up perfectly, "Man, man, wat een heftig book."

Komt een vrouw bij de doktor is a book about Stijn and Carmen living in Amsterdam in the prime of their life, both running their own companies, enjoying the night life of the Dutch capital city, surrounded by success and friends. Until they are struck by breast cancer.

This book is their journey through cancer, about how it rips at the heart of their family and confronts her close friends. It is written from the perspective of Stijn, a fun loving, philandering, emotionally challenged husband as he faces up to the reality that his wife is terminally ill. It is a book about preparing for the end, an ode to love and the strength of family. The book is a roller coaster of emotion from anger at the medical establishment, to hope brought by treatment options, desperation as the effects of chemo take hold, to the final realisation that Carmen won't see their young daughter, Luna grow up. It is a heart wrenching read, and all the more because it is based on real events.

Be prepared for humour and tears.

For those whose Dutch is in progress..... the book is available in English with the title "Love Life" by Ray Kluun. It has also been made into a very successful film of the same title starring Carice van Houten, Barry Atsma and Pierre Bokma. You can see the trailer on zie.nl.

A book sequel entitled "Widower" is also available (though I am yet to read it but it is on my reading list for sure).

Bonfire Night - Thwarting An Early Terrorist Threat

Wrapped up in woollen scarves, hats and gloves we would stand excitedly in the dark waiting for the lighting of the bonfire; for the moment when the flames would spring in to life and the wood would start to crackle, for the moment that we could feel the heat on our cold, red cheeks. The guy perched at the top of the fire would eventually fall and burn, the effort of making the figure disappearing literally in a puff of smoke.

Once the bonfire was in full flame, we would turn our excitement to the fireworks which would be next to start. In the meantime we warmed ourselves and filled our tummies with soup, a jacket potato or a hot dog or hamburger.

Then the firework display would start and the crowd would "ooh" and "aahhhh" in unison as Catherine Wheels spun, spider fireworks trailed their orange legs across the dark, starry sky and Roman Candles sent shooting stars heaven bound. We would wave our sparklers around, writing our names in light. The bangs, whistles, screeches and crackles echoed across each other as the firework show came to its finale.

Bonfire night every 5th November sticks with me, the date holding a feast of childhood memories like a t box of treasures I can open every year on this day. Of course, since I moved to the Netherlands participating in Bonfire night has become harder and I have only been in the UK to celebrate 5th November twice since 2000. As my children grow up this is a track record I aim to change so that they can learn and take part in a little piece of British history and culture. For Bonfire night is a British thing - yes, I have had lots of people back home saying to me over the years "Don't they celebrate bonfire night in Holland then?" No they don't. Of course they don't - Guy Fawkes made no attempt to blow up the Dutch parliament did he?

But he did have a cunning plan to get rid of the protestant monarch of the time by blowing up Parliament and King James I with it in 1605. The aim was to replace the head of state with a catholic one. Luckily for King James I the gunpowder plot was discovered (the anti-terrorist unit being on full alert back then too by all accounts) and the plotters were arrested and swiftly executed. End of Guy Fawkes and his friends.

On 5th November, 1605 the first 'thanksgiving' was celebrated and marked with the ringing of church bells and the lighting of bonfires. Hence, why the British, over 400 years later, still light bonfires on 5th November and put an effigy (the guy, named after Guy Fawkes) on top of the fire. The fireworks represent the foiled gunpowder plot - that and it's pretty.......

If you live in the Netherlands and want to experience Bonfire Night get yourself over to Watersportcentrum, Sloterplas,Christoffel Plantijngracht 4, 1065 DA Amsterdam at 16.00 on Sunday 7th November, where the British Society is once more organising its Guy Fawkes Bonfire event.

Celebrate Amsterdam Pride

Photo: Mariana Coan

This week marks Gay Pride week in Amsterdam. The largest gay event in the Netherlands is celebrated in the Dutch capital with a host of events, culminating on Saturday for the fifteenth time with the world famous boat parade along Amsterdam's canals. The theme for this year's event is "celebrate".

During the week, film, art, poetry, sporting and theatre events are held. You can take a tour around Amsterdam and learn about the city's historical relationship with homosexuality. You can enjoy a special meal, BBQ, picnic or cocktail event or visit an exhibition, join any number of parties going on or take part in a debate or dance workshop. The events are numerous and varied to say the least. There are also many events linked to Europe and Africa Pride. For a full program of events and a map  visit We Are Proud.

As the week's highlight, and for the second time in just a few weeks, the capital's canals or grachten will host a lively, colourful, well-visited event - the last time being less than a month ago when the Dutch football team came home to an "almost" victory parade. 

This Saturday (7 August) 80 festively decorated boats will travel along the canals, carrying party-goers representing more than 175 companies and organisations. The event is one of the biggest of the year in Amsterdam, and has earned the Dutch city the title of "Gay Capital".

Photo: Karsten Qualmann

New this year leading the boat parade is the 'Europe Pride' boat. The boat will carry an orchestra playing the European anthem as well as members of the European Parliament. The European Union is committed to stamping out discrimination based on sexual orientation, and a highly visible participation in such a huge event is a manifestation of this.

The 'African Pride' boat is also new. The addition of the African contingent is significant; in many African countries homosexuality is still seen as a crime. Frank van Dalen, chairman of the organising group (ProGay) explains: 

  "In recent years in Africa it has not got any easier for homos, lesbians or transsexuals. With African Pride we shall show that homosexuality does exist in Africa and that it is not Western fiction or a dangerous export product. We want to show the gay community in Africa that they can count on our solidarity."

All of the boats will leave Westerdok at 14.00 and travel via Prinsengracht to the Amstel. The parade will be watched by up to half a million visitors who usually line Amsterdam's picturesque waterways.

During the day (and stretching well into the evening and night) there are also various events taking place on podia scattered across the capital, as well as in gay bars and on the streets.

The event is a symbol of the struggle that homosexuals have endured to be open about their sexuality, and this week is a chance to be visible and celebrate tolerance - not just within the gay community but the straight too. 

Frank van Dalen says "The combination of party, culture and emancipation makes this event one of a kind."

The event is free and if you are travelling from outside of Amsterdam, you may want to spend much more than one day in the capital city. Hotels are widely available across Amsterdam (including gay friendly accommodation) and you can also save money on your hotel booking with http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/hotels.com who are currently offering a 10% discount on all hotels booked at hotels.com.

Dutchies Meet Expats - Family Picnic 7 July in Amsterdam

If you have no plans for 7 July, then pack up your picnic basket, grab a blanket and head over to Westerpark in Amsterdam for the first expats and Dutchies picnic. See the flyers below for more details. For any questions, please contact Lexia (her details are below).

Guest Post Series: An Accidental Expat by Stuart

My arrival in the Netherlands was quite accidental. It all started when I replied to a cryptic job advertisement for a computer game designer that I found in a local magazine, in a local newsagents in my local town. It was cryptic because it had no address, no phone number and not really much in the way of any information other than a dot com email address. But I was willing to try anything at the time even if it sounded slightly like it was a job advertisement placed by a gang of black market human organ dealers using a games company as a front for their diabolical scheme.

A few days later I received an email which included three surprises.

Surprise number one was that in no part of the email did they enquire about the condition of my internal organs. Surprise number two was that they were offering me an interview and surprise number three (which was the biggest) was that they were offering to pay for my flights to the interview location... in the city of Amsterdam... in the Netherlands!

Things went rather well at the interview and I’ve now been living in the Netherlands for nine years. During that time I have learned a lot about the Netherlands and the Dutch and I believe that as an Englishman I have a unique point of view on the Netherlands. This point of view is usually a foot or two low that of the average Dutchman given their extreme height.

The Netherlands is a very flat country and as such its people are very envious of any other countries with even the smallest of hills or speed bumps. Young skateboarders and go-cart racers are more bitter then most. The Dutch try to compensate for this feeling of hill impotence by giving their country two names; Holland and The Netherlands (not to be confused with Never Land. You won’t find Tinkerbell here… unless maybe you spend too long in a coffee shop).

The Dutch as a whole are a very friendly people (unless they work in customer services or you mention hills). However not everyone on the street who asks, ‘Charlie?’ is inquiring about your name. This could lead to some confusion if your name actually is Charlie. You may end up being given a small bag of what seems to be a very expensive and ineffective washing powder.

It is also a popular belief that every Dutch person wears clogs, eats cheese, is constantly stoned and knows the price and proper etiquette when dealing with prostitutes in the red light district. However this is not true… sometimes they wear trainers.

Attempting to cross the street in the Netherlands can be like taking part in a live game of ‘Frogger’ because not only do the Dutch drive on the other side of the road (to the English) but you also have to look out for trams, bikes, stoned English tourists and then try not to fall in a canal (and then look out for canal boats if you do).

There are a few important phrases that come in handy when in Holland. If you can successfully order ‘een uitsmijter met ham en kaas’ you can eat like a god. As my Dutch friends will tell you it’s the only thing I’ll ever eat when we go out for lunch. If they tell you it is the only thing on the menu that I can order in Dutch it’s all lies… lies I tell you... I can order ‘een uitsmijter met bacon en kaas’ too.

“Spreekt u Engels?” is another very useful phrase but you’ll find that asking the average Dutch person if they can speak English is like asking if they can count to three since most of them can do both. I’ve been told that most Dutch people learn English from TV and repeats of The A-Team. However I have yet to hear any of them, "Pity the fool."

If all else fails you can always use the phrase I use the most, “Ik heb geen idee wat u zegt,” which translates to, “I have no idea what you said.”

By Stuart B from Invading Holland: http://www.invader-stu.com/holland/

Guest Post Series: Navigating New Roads by Dave Hampton

My low point occurred in the month following our company’s decision to close the Dutch division where I was working, laying off 200 employees. Everyone was caught by surprise: our financial performance had been improving and we were already planning the next year’s activities. There was no opportunity for discussion prior to the announcement, and no consensus about how to rationalise events and deal with the loss. As Americans, we would likely have withdrawn individually, maybe competitively, to look after ourselves and outward to our next opportunities. In contrast, the Dutch remained very much a group, supporting the workers council to organise their concerns and to negotiate agreements.

As direct as the Dutch can be in good times, they are equally open about expressing their feelings in difficult circumstances. If I asked a colleague how they were doing, we often ended up in a close conversation about our disappointment and worries. A series of facilitated small-group meetings started so that people could discuss the shutdown together, taking turns around the circle to talk about their reactions, the impacts, and, eventually, their hopes. I joined but found the process very difficult; I felt negative and weak talking about how I felt about the closure.

After six weeks, the mood suddenly turned. A polder-style consensus emerged about how to rationalise the shutdown; the discussion circles ended. The severance settlement was announced and people started to talk about their plans for starting new businesses, for returning to school, perhaps for retiring. There was an air of optimism, tinged with regret as the staff left in the building dwindled day by day. The remaining employees held a borrel each morning to share vlaai and conversation, keeping a community and support for another three months until we finally closed the doors.

My high point came with my daughter’s first visit to the Netherlands. She was in high school when I accepted my expat assignment, an age when it’s difficult to leave friends and integrate into new cultures. I’d always wanted to live in Europe; she had her doubts. But I finally convinced her to bundle onto a plane with a girlfriend for a springtime visit, ten days to see the sights and try out the culture.

Embedded in a new country, I lose sight of the differences and of how much we learn for ourselves in a couple of years. I taught them how to read the train schedules and operate the ticket booths, but it doesn’t really take hold until they had to get to Amsterdam themselves. They first debated whether the train in front of them was the right one, arguing until it left without them; then they waited at the same track for the next train only to have it pull into another track. Eventually, by the third train, they got it right, as they did by trial and error (and good humour) navigating Amsterdam, becoming aware of bicycles before crossing a street, and finding what they wanted in the Albert Heijn.

As a parent, I’ve always wanted my children to grow up to be happy, confident, and capable. At the end of the trip, we all went to dinner and it was delightful to find that they could pick the café, navigate the menu, and exchange a couple of Dutch phrases with the waiter. At its best, travel is more than new experiences; it really does grow perspectives and confidence. I was happy and proud; they were oblivious to what they’d accomplished, only absorbed with planning their next visit (and whether they might be willing to meet me somewhere along the way).

Dave is an biomedical scientist and entrepreneur from Seattle; he has lived in the Netherlands for the past 4 years. Originally on expat assignment for a US company, he left to start two businesses, Stone Bridge Biomedical (NL: Remote patient monitoring) and Camstent (UK: Biofilm resistant coatings). He also leads the medical devices course at the University of Cambridge (UK) and enjoys mentoring emerging companies, encouraging new ideas, and exploring Dutch landscapes. http://randomwalksinlowcountries.blogspot.com/

Next "Swap and the City" Event - March 14 in Amsterdam

The next Swap and the City event will take place on March 14 in Amsterdam so if you are looking for a new, exciting and social way to freshen up your wardrobe then check out www.swapandthecity.com or read my article "Swap Till You Drop in Amsterdam" on Expatica.

You can also watch footage of the last Amsterdam event.

Swap ‘Til You Drop in Amsterdam

Clothes swapping events have spread like wild fire across the United States and are all the rage in London; Amsterdam is the latest city to catch the clothes swapping fever. If you like the idea of refreshing your wardrobe in a party atmosphere in a manner that is good for the environment, good for your pocket and helps a local charity, then the “Swap and the City” event is just for you.

From private clothes swapping parties to major events in international capital cities and the growth of specialised internet sites, the trend to swap clothes instead of throwing them out has grown in popularity. Of course, internet sites such as eBay have been prime places to sell unwanted clothes for some time now, but swapping events add a more personal element to getting rid of unused garments.

Swapping clothes, instead of disposing of them, is also more in line with our desire to see items recycled and reused. We are a generation more and more concerned about the world we live in, eager to reduce our carbon footprint where we can. We are more conscious of the effects we have on the environment, but these are often ideals that conflict with today’s disposable and ever-changing fashion trends. Whilst we are used to recycling glass, cans, paper, and plastic, clothes are often thrown out without a second thought about the environmental impact this has, with only a small percentage of used clothes even reaching charities. Ensuring clothes enjoy a longer life is one small way of reducing the environmental impact of the clothing industry.

“The idea of a clothing swap isn't a new one, however, I wanted to create a fun afternoon out for women in the Amsterdam area, around the theme of fashion, beauty and charity. I am passionate about the idea of green fashion: clothing nowadays has become disposable, but with “Swap and the City” perfectly good quality clothing finds a new home rather than gathering dust at the back of a closet or being dumped in a landfill,” explains Colleen Geske, who is co-organising the event with Tamara Raab.

The design of the Swap and the City event in Amsterdam to be held on 29 November is simple. In every woman’s wardrobe there is a long forgotten dress; an abandoned skirt confined to the depths of the clothes cupboard that looked great on the rack but which never quite made the grade back home; or boots that seemed perfect in the shop but which crushed your feet if you actually walked in them - each participant brings a minimum of five such items to the party, and leaves with as many items as they like. Shoes, clothes, jewellery and purses are all swappable as long as they are in great condition.

However, it is not just about swapping clothes; fun, beauty and socialising are also on the agenda.

News of this first event has been greeted enthusiastically, and a follow up for early next year is already in the planning. Colleen reveals that there is also interest to hold similar events in other Dutch cities in the future, including The Hague and Utrecht.“Women can expect a fabulous afternoon of fashion, drinks, delicious snacks and socializing. The first 2 hours of the event, guests will have a chance to enjoy drinks (cointreaupolitans), snacks and visit the stands of our beauty specialists who will be offering complimentary treatments like massages, mini-facials, threading, makeup and manicures. All guests will go home with a fabulous goodies bag full of great treats thanks to our very generous sponsors. We also have lots of excellent prizes, which will be given away throughout the afternoon,” Colleen explains.

At the end of the afternoon, clothes without a home will be donated to a local charity, namely the Blijf Groep, which is a Women’s Shelter supporting victims of domestic violence in Amsterdam and the surrounding region. The donation of clothing is particularly welcome as many women arrive at the shelter in emergency situations with only the clothes they are wearing.

The Cultuurhuis Diamantslijperij in Tolstraat 129 (the Pijp) will be the venue for the first event. For advance ticket purchases and more information, visit www.swapandthecity.com or follow news as it happens on Twitter at www.twitter.com/swapandthecity. Note that only a limited number of tickets will be available on the door on the day.

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: Small but Diverse

The Netherlands may be small, but it is perfectly formed (albeit a little on the wet side, seeing that it is predominantly set on reclaimed land). The little country is remarkably diverse for its size. For a start, despite a small population relatively speaking there are two official languages: Dutch and Frisian.

There are also packed, crowded cities and peaceful, sparsely populated villages, miles of coast line, nature areas, islands and just about every possible attraction you can think of; all packed into a land area of 33,883 sq km.

If you want amusement parks the Netherlands has an abundance; Efteling, Duinrell and Walibi World to name a few. If you want to visit a zoo or animal park, the choice is endless; Artis, Blijdorp, Ouwehands Dierenpark, Dolfinarium, Vogelpark Avifauna or Apenheul. And if we start looking at Museums, the list is literally endless! Some of the top ones to check out in the Randstad are the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, as well as the Ann Frank house of course, and the Gemeentemuseum, Panorama Mesdag or Museon in The Hague. Further afield the Zuiderzeemuseum and Zaanse Schans are most definitely worth a visit.

There is so much contrast, diversity, tradition, history, fun, adventure and architecture in the Netherlands - and it is all reachable in the blink of any eye. It may be small, but it is a well-formed package!

An Interview with an Expat - Keith Jenkins in the Hot Seat

Keith Jenkins came to the Netherlands from his homeland of Malaysia nearly two decades ago. He now has Dutch citizenship, and quite rightly no longer considers himself an expat here. He is the creator of the Velvet Escape blog, a beautiful travel blog which is definitely worth checking out.

Here's Keith's take on life in the Dutch capital.

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
I wanted to say “Too long” but that’s unfair. I really enjoy my life here and I feel very blessed that I had the opportunity to settle down in Amsterdam. It’s my home now. Answer to your question: 18 wonderful years.

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?

Like many before and after me… Love! I met my partner in Malaysia (where I’m from) and after two years of hundreds of letters (there was no email back then), phone calls and the occasional visit, I decided to move over and give it a go. I enrolled at the University of Amsterdam where I studied Dutch first (they have a fantastic Dutch language programme), then Politics/Economics for four years; graduated with a Masters degree in 1996.
Moving here has certainly been the biggest adventure of my life!

What is your profession?
That’s a question to which I have yet to formulate a proper answer. I worked as a relationship manager, equities analyst, and then as an investment proposals manager in asset management at ABN AMRO Bank for a total of ten years. The bank was taken over and I opted to leave. I travelled around the world for five months, thinking I’d be able to get a new banking job when I returned. Alas, the financial sector collapsed when I was halfway through my trip. I returned to Amsterdam and there were no jobs so I decided to turn to what I enjoy doing: writing, specifically, travel-writing. I launched my travel blog (http://velvetescape.com/blog) on 30th December 2008 and I’ve been having a ball with it since.

Marketing the Velvet Escape name on Twitter and facebook really got me interested in the workings of social media and its boundless possibilities. So, I now have an offshoot business: social media advisory for (predominantly travel-related) small businesses, called Velvet Connect. I advise these businesses how to effectively market themselves by engaging with and building a community via various social media platforms.

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
The weather! Malaysia is hot and humid all year round. I love the four seasons here. One thing I can’t stand is the wind though. Rain, snow, hail, whatever… I can handle, but not the wind!

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
Phew, that’s a tough one. I would have to say the one cookie per cup of coffee/tea custom. I was like.. just hand me the cookie jar will you! ;-)

I guess another adjustment was the language. I must commend the instructors at the University of Amsterdam. They drilled us continuously on speaking without an accent and getting our grammar right. After a year, I was speaking and writing Queen’s Dutch. Consequence: my classmates at uni either admired me (for my language prowess) or thought I was a snob (for speaking almost faultlessly). I had to adjust to that too, though years later, when I joined ABN AMRO Bank, my accentless Dutch proved to be a big asset.

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
So many things. Most of all, I would miss the gorgeous canals. I would also miss the fact that this country is so well organised.

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
The strict opening times. Coming from Malaysia, which has certainly embraced the 24-hour economy, I’m still miffed that I can’t simply pop over to the local supermarket if I’ve run out of sugar at 10pm (there are no night shops near where I live) or on Sundays. When is 7-11 going to make its debut here?!

Another aspect that really gets to me is the fact that I have to make an appointment each time I need a doctor (which thankfully is not often!).

What is your favourite Dutch word?
‘Gezellig’!! No question about it. I fell in love with the word as well as its meaning the first time I heard it.

How would you describe the Dutch people?
The Dutch speak their minds (which I’ve grown to respect). There’s no beating around the bush here, which is great. No nuances, just in-your-face, straight-to-the-point opinions. Sure saves loads of time though! They’re also incredibly ‘nuchter’… umm, that means something like ‘grounded’ or ‘sensible’, I think. I also love the fact that the average Dutch person speaks at least two languages.

The Dutch are also a fun/party-loving, bike-crazy, football-mad, proud, business-minded and travel-hungry people. I’m constantly amazed that for such a small country, with only 16 million inhabitants, it’s global footprint is enormous. Just think of the multitude of Dutch multinationals, its rich history in global trade (and colonisation), its outstanding sporting achievements and the fact that Dutchies really travel the world (they’re everywhere!).

Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about the Netherlands for people living here?
I have a few I check once in a while. These include http://www.expatica.nl/ , http://www.dutchdailynews.com/ and http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/

Positive Thoughts About The Netherlands - Location, Location, Location

One of the things that I love about living in the Netherlands, instead of living on a large island, is the fact that it is such a short drive to other countries, a hop, skip and a jump from other cultures and new experiences. Within an hour's drive I can be in Germany or Belgium, and motoring a little further brings me into France or Luxembourg.

We have made some great trips over the years I have been living here; weekends enjoying the peace of the Ardennes, the bustle of Brussels and the beauty of Bruges; a few days in Paris; a Christmas at Euro Disney, a day trip to Movie World and the magical atmosphere and Glühwein of the Christmas markets in Aachen and Dusseldorf. We also celebrated an unexpectedly snowy birthday in Monschau in the German Eifel. Wonderful experiences almost on our doorstep and all wildly different to the landscape and culture of the Netherlands.

Before I am yet again accused of sliding into a post of negative comments about the Netherlands, escaping the Dutch and their homeland is not my primary reason for experiencing this closeness and accessibility of other countries as a positive thing.... although for those near the borders it does mean you have somewhere decent to go grocery shopping. Oops.

Growing up in a country where it took us five hours to get to my grandparents (okay, three if my dad was driving the whole way), the Netherlands is a nice change; it seems to me that everything is close at hand- even different countries. Of course, the UK has Wales and Scotland that can be reached by car, but both are still a long drive from the south of England (and I confess I have never actually been to Scotland). For the Americans living here, I can imagine the feeling that everything is very close must be stronger still.

I also love the fact that whilst other cultures are within easy reach to the south and east, there are also miles (or kilometers I should say) of coastline to visit, with some truly unique regions to experience. Hopping to the Dutch islands (see my post about Texel) made me feel like I really was taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life in the Randstad, even within the confines of a day trip. Whilst I was in Texel I had to keep reminding myself that I was still on Dutch soil; it seemed like we had gone 'abroad'.

And then of course there are the big cities, which provide a cultural feast for hungry visitors - Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague and the little places dotted around them such as Delft and Gouda. This side of the Netherlands is also a contrast to the East and North where culture and language differences show their face.

The Netherlands may be small, but we all know it's not size that matters - for me this little Dutch nation really is a gateway to amazing travel and cultural experiences.

Heather in the Hot Seat - Interview with an Expat

The Interview with an Expat series is back after a small interlude. If you would like to be interviewed too, please get in touch. Meanwhile, it really is a pleasure to introduce Heather....

Heather is a Canadian living in Amsterdam. She is also the author of the popular blog Life Abroad, where her insights into life in the Dutch capital, as well as her stunning photography, have been entertaining us for just over a year. Here are Heather's thoughts on life as an expatriate in the Netherlands.

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
Since May 2008

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?
I was taking a year off from academics after graduating university, and my boyfriend sold his website to a Dutch company. It was the perfect opportunity to accompany him to the Netherlands and have a great adventure!

What is your profession?
Right now I work as a nanny in Amsterdam. I’ve worked bartending, waitressing, and as a hostel staff member during my time here. In the fall I’m heading back to school for an MBA.

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
The geographic distances are so close here. In Canada, if you drive for 8 hours, you can still be in the same province. In the Netherlands, you can circumnavigate the country! It is remarkable to drive around and visit such unique towns, and even leave the Netherlands to visit other European countries, just for a day-trip. I definitely think we’ve gotten into the Dutch mindset about distances though. If something is a 20 minute drive, we think it’s “far”. In Canada, it can take us that long to get to the local grocery store!

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
It may seem small, but I was surprised about the grocery-shopping situation. Back in Canada we drove to the grocery store, where we stocked up on a week’s worth of groceries, and piled it into our huge fridge. Here, I go to Dirk or the Albert Cuyp Market at least once a day. My mindset has changed when it comes to buying food. Whereas in Canada I would buy things in anticipation of needing them, here I wait until I have nothing left before restocking our teensy tiny fridge. I also buy a lot more fresh foods and skip the frozen stuff altogether.

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
Definitely the abundance of great restaurants and cafes. I enjoy trying out new restaurants all the time, and love the amount of international cuisine found in Amsterdam. I don’t think we’ve been to a “chain” restaurant the whole time we’ve been here! I would also miss just sitting out on a sidewalk café having a “cupje koffie” and people-watching. Amsterdam has a unique laid-back coffee culture that we just don’t have where I’m from.

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
Not understanding the language completely. When I walk into a store or a restaurant, I sometimes don’t know that someone is talking to me. Normally I’m very friendly, so it’s been hard feeling like I’m ignoring or being rude to people, when it’s entirely unintentional.

What is your favourite Dutch word?
My favourite Dutch word is gezellig. I love what it stands for.

How would you describe the Dutch people?
Dutch people are attractive, well-dressed, and approachable. They’re generally very friendly and open, and extremely helpful when you require information or assistance on any subject. We’ve found that people go above-and-beyond to answer the most basic expat questions we have, such as where to buy lactose free milk and what we should expect when buying a car. Of course they are also very straightforward, but I really enjoy this aspect of Dutch culture. In Canada people are so polite, almost to a fault, that sometimes you don’t know where you stand. You always know with a Dutch person.

Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about the Netherlands for people living here?
There are so many great Dutch expat blogs, and we’ve really become a tight community of blog-friends. Some new additions that I think are great are The Blue Suitcase (http://thebluesuitcase.blogspot.com/) and Amsterdamned (http://angelarhodes.blogspot.com/). My introduction to expat living and my go-to source for all Dutch information is still Isabella’s A Touch of Dutch (http://atouchofdutch.blogspot.com/).

Queen's Day - The Orange Festival

As I write, the centre of The Hague is being sealed off to make the final preparations for the annual Queen's Day celebrations that take place the night before (only in The Hague - everywhere else the party starts tomorrow).

If this is your first Queen's Day in the Netherlands, then you are in for a treat. Or a surprise. Or a shock. Depends on your outlook on life. The main thing is wear orange tomorrow (admittedly not the top colour in most people's wardrobe) - that includes socks, hats and t-shirts. If you don't happen to have an orange hat lying around at home (really? you don't?) then not to worry - you will by the time you get back from your celebrations tomorrow evening.

Celebrating Queen's Day is a strange thing to the non-Dutchies among us. It means selling your junk on a blanket on the street, usually in the rain. For the mega-dedicated this means claiming your pitch at a truly ungodly hour and sitting tight until the rest of the Netherlands wakes up and dutifully traipses by to buy your unwanted crap. Of course, if you are repatriating in the coming months, this may be a good opportunity to get rid of the stuff you don't want shipped back.... but don't expect to retire on the takings... the Dutch are not known for just giving away their money.

Queen's Day may also mean music, beer and dancing if you head over to Amsterdam, or visit The Hague "the night before". Other cities also put on a bit of a performance, and the aim really is to have a good time and a bit of a party to celebrate the Queen's Birthday.

Although, technically speaking, April 30th is not actually the Queen's Birthday. It is the Queen Mother's birthday. Queen Beatrix celebrates her birthday in January.... no, it's not one of those weird English queen things where she has two birthdays, it's just that the weather in January is most definitely not conducive to an outside party. So Beatrix kept Queen's Day as it was when she took the throne and there is a little less chance of it raining on your blanket full of junk.....

Enjoy Queen's Day and whatever you do, wherever you go, whatever you wear - MAKE IT ORANGE!

Jessica Buckley in the Hot Seat - Interview With an Expat

Jessica Buckley is a 24 year old Brit living in the Pijp area of Amsterdam. She is currently doing a Research Masters Degree in Media Studies at the University of Amsterdam and shares her views of life in the Netherlands:

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
Three years

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?
Initially I went to university at the VU, but now I am coming to the end of a Research Master of Arts degree at the UvA.

What is your profession?
I work in management information, specifically for a company called Effectory. I work in Amsterdam on a part time basis for their UK subsidiary.

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
Apart from the language, I think that the main difference is in what is considered to be polite behaviour. For instance, British language and culture operates around causing someone the least possible offence by finding alternative ways to phrase things so that your meaning is understood without hurting the person’s feelings. There are very subtle codes, meanings and practices. I have found that some Dutch people feel that this is in fact lying as they prefer a far more direct approach which they feel is fairer to that person in the long term, even though they may find it extremely upsetting to begin with.

Oh, and the three kisses, it is ok if you are familiar with this as a social greeting, but where I come from a handshake is quite enough thank you.

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
I first came here initially assuming that everyone would speak English. They do, but it doesn’t mean that they want to or have to. It was an adjustment to depend on someone else’s co-operation to be able to communicate. Quite a shock for a native English speaker!

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
My bike and my boyfriend, I miss them both when I am away.

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
Personal banking. I loathe the fact that my bank card is not Visa debit enabled which would allow me to use it for purchasing items over the internet or booking flights. Instead, the chip on the card is for this ridiculous chipknip system which is essentially a digital purse which constantly needs loading at a cash point. The next logical step would be to connect this chip directly to a bank account, making it much more user friendly. If you are already going to a cash point to load your chipknip, wouldn’t you just take out cash instead? I have seen maybe 5% of my acquaintance use within the time I have been here. Utterly frustrating seeing as Visa debit is the norm for almost every other European country.

What is your favourite Dutch word?
Lekkerding!

How would you describe the Dutch people?
Kind, generous, with an excellent sense of humour and national pride, but can be as blunt as an axe.

All about Amsterdam... Well Maybe

This is the reason you should not rely on online translation tools to do the job for you:

http://www.europewallpapers.com/?p=386

I quote (because I really could not make this up)

"Explore Amsterdam by foot, tram, supply journeying or bike. Word of warning though with the bikes on a past calculate there are over 400,000 bikes in Amsterdam, if you are a taste wobbly it could be prizewinning to move in digit of the parks."

I think it is saying for the inexperienced, biking in Amsterdam can be daunting and it might be an idea to keep to the parks. However, I cannot be sure.

For the rest, well I challenge you to work it out for yourselves... particularly the paragraph about drugs and prostitution. Happy reading!

Thanks to Planet Germany for this lead which followed from Cathy Dobson's post about Germany from the same site.

Amsterdam: The Biking Capitol of Europe

Expatica – “I am Not a Tourist” Fair

If you have unpacked your bags and are planning on staying in the Netherlands a while, or even if your suitcases were abandoned long ago and you are a seasoned expatriate, here's an event for your calendar this weekend.

Sunday (12th October) sees the annual Expatica lifestyle fair "I am not a Tourist" taking place for the fifth year in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam.

The purpose of the "I am not a tourist fair" is to provide expatriates in the Netherlands with information, an opportunity to network and a chance to be entertained. From expatriate banking, insurance, taxation, buying a house, looking for a job or learning the language experts will be on hand to give advice and share their knowledge on a variety of stands.

In addition, there are workshops and presentations planned throughout the day on a wide range of subjects. Here are some of the highlights:

• Curious Orange, a live radio recording by Radio Netherlands Worldwide
  
• Living in Holland – Rent or Buy presented by makelaar.com
  
• Having a Baby in the Netherlands hosted by Truus Gale for ACCESS
  
• Author of 25 books, expatriate and career expert Jo Parfitt is presenting "Forced to Fly" and "How to Have a Career in Your Suitcase"
  
• Down to Earth Meditation for Busy People by Barbara Rogoski


• Women in the Dutch Workplace by Suzy Ogé, Founder and Director of the Women's Business Initiative International
  

Entertainment includes dancing by Extremos on the main stage, stand up comedy from Lambros Fisfis and improv from The Dog Ate my Scenework. The kids have not been forgotten - a bouncy castle and arts and crafts will undoubtedly keep them out of mischief.

For the full programme and timings, visit Expatica. Free tickets are available in advance, or pay 10 euros on the day.

See you there!