A Guide to Buying a Bicycle in the Netherlands
If you plan on moving to the Netherlands for work or study, it’s inevitable that you’ll end up buying a bicycle. Not only is it the preferred mode of transportation in Holland cycling, but also it’s part of the culture and everyday life, and is the easiest way to get around the cities. The infrastructure…
Awesome things for kids to do in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is famous for its many tourist attractions for adults, but did you know that it is also an awesome place to holiday with kids? It is unsurprising really, when you take into account that Dutch kids are rated some of the happiest in the world. There are oodles of fun things to do in…
How To Raise Bilingual Kids in the Netherlands
Raising kids can be tough enough, without the added challenge of teaching them multiple languages. Three years ago, when we moved from our home in the UK to the Netherlands, my husband and I weren’t really focusing on the fact that our newborn and toddler would end up bilingual. We talked about how they’d eventually…
Dutch Holidays – Key Dates for 2018 & 2019
The Dutch have a variety of national, public and other holidays to keep track of. Whether you’ve just moved to the lowlands, or have lived here all your life, knowing the below list of key dates will save you the embarrassment of going to work when you don’t have to. 2018 Holiday Date New Year’s…
Dutch Local Elections: Why the Expat Vote Matters to D66
Last year’s national elections in the Netherlands captured the attention of the world’s media. After the election of Trump in America and the British Brexit vote, the world held its breath and waited to see whether the Netherlands would be next in line to swing to populism. While outsider parties gained some ground, things swiftly…
Protected: Tips on how to make Dutch friends
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The Do’s and Don’ts of dating the Dutch
The Do’s and Don’ts of dating the Dutch You’ve moved to the Netherlands and you’re all settled in. You have your apartment, job and local Albert Heijn within 500 metres of your place sorted. You have started to make friends and you have definitely started to notice how beautiful the Dutch are – tall, blonde,…
Learning Dutch and integrating into society, the Utrecht way
When it comes to being an expat in the Netherlands, there are two reasons why most will find that the Dutch language is a great challenge. Reason one, the Dutch speak English. Reason two, the Dutch speak Dutch. If you are an expat living here, you will know exactly what I mean by this. I…
Why don’t the Dutch wear bike helmets?
The Dutch aren’t known for taking unnecessary risks. “Wild” or “reckless” aren’t words that come to mind when you think of the Dutch national character. Why then do they so often forego what many see as an essential piece of safety equipment: the bike helmet? That the Dutch love cycling is obvious. One third of…
How to Beat the Bike Burglars
Unfortunately, the experience is all too common in the Netherlands. No matter what city you’re in here, bike theft is a fact of life for both internationals and Dutchies. In fact, it’s the most common criminal activity in the country, and over 600,000 bikes are stolen every year according to the RAI. The culprits are…