When many internationals relocate, they find themselves in a new place, knowing few people and, in the case of spouses or partners of those relocated for work, with some extra time on their hands. It can often be intimidating to step out of your comfort zone in a new place but volunteering is a great…

Built on an economy that encourages innovation, with new start-ups popping up every day, it’s no wonder that the Netherlands is enticing to expat entrepreneurs. We spoke to Margot Heesakker-Heintz and Laurens den Ouden from Business.gov.nl to compile this general checklist for new business owners in the Netherlands. Business.gov.nl is the official government website for…

Eric Ries first applied the term ‘pivot’ to startups in his book, The Lean Startup. According to Ries, a pivot is “making a change in strategy, without a change in vision”. Pivoting is knowing where you can grow and move your ideas forward. It is knowing when to abandon an idea that lack luster, knowing…

Edith Verhoek In the Netherlands, like anywhere else, you’ll need to work to pay bills and get by. There’s a wealth of opportunity here, just waiting for you to reach out and take it. However there’s also a lot of competition, and looking for a job here might be a little different than jobseeking at…

Do you have a project that just never seems to get done? Speaking Dutch? Escaping the nine-to-five world and setting up your own business? Developing a six-pack? Writing a book? There is something that magically comes up and stops you before you even get started, right? Through my own research and surveys, I identified eight…

A wanderer from an early age, American-born Lauren Kiraly packed up her American life and crossed the ocean to the Netherlands almost a year ago, husband in tow. Now her company – The Final Edit – is here to help non-native English speakers with their English skills and to present their best selves. She spoke…

Over the past year or so, the Netherlands has been working hard to become one of the best European countries to launch a start-up company.