Life in the Netherlands
Living in the Netherlands has its own advantages and disadvantages. Of course, I will start off by mentioning the positive things I have experienced so far living here. I am only going to mention the topics that would actually make all the difference living here.
My top 5 reasons why you should move to the Netherlands
Opportunities
Dutch people
The system
Food
The lifestyle
Opportunities in the Netherlands
What I mean with opportunities is job opportunities. The Netherlands has a lot to offer. Before I moved, I started conversations with different recruiters and recruitment companies. I was worried that I will be jobless after I move and leave my well paid job in the UAE. WRONG. I signed a decent job contract after 2 weeks of my touchdown in the country and I started working the next month. After 1 year, I started looking for a different challenge. Finding a new job wasn’t hard at all, and I have received different offers from several companies. The wages and salaries are set standards made by the government. The education, experience, age and different other parameters. A lot of companies offer pension plans, travel allowance, flexible working hours, etc… Whenever you receive a job offer, always try to negotiate for a better offer, but be realistic.
The main reason I mentioned this topic right from the start is my experience in the UAE. Back there, the job market is very tough. UAE is a hotspot and attracts a lot of experienced professionals. That makes it very difficult for fresh graduates to start their career or receive a decent offer. To share with you an example, I had a LinkedIn premium for a while and I wanted to make a small comparison. Most of the jobs located in the UAE that were a match for my profile had over 1000 applicants. On the other hand, the same type of jobs in the Netherlands had around 10 candidates. You may think that this experiment doesn’t make any sense due to different parameters, but it sort of does. The Netherlands is certainly the perfect place to be if you are thinking to start or change your career.
Dutch people
Dutch people are very direct indeed. You will be surprised by their honest opinion and the topic they discuss. It was a bit hard to get used to at first, but after a while I started appreciating more. Back where I come from, we tend to sugar-coat everything and talk indirectly. Besides that, the Dutchies are very curious people. To explain a bit further, they ask a lot of personal questions, personal too. In my culture, asking a lot of questions, especially personal is considered rude. Here, that is a normal way of communicating. In the beginning, I was bothered about the questions and a bit uncomfortable. They tend to share about their personal life with little to no limits, even if they just met you. You may wonder how I deal with the questions, I only answer what I am comfortable with answering and sharing.
A tip: It is important to realize that you need to ask them questions back and do not be shy. If you do not take part by asking questions, they might think you are not interested in them.
Moreover, Dutchies are happy people who are always open to hear or say a joke, some of the humor is a bit dry but that’s how I like it. They’re always down to have a good time and they’re not about the negativity and the toxic environment.
Furthermore, I have never felt discriminated against, or been in any situation where I felt any type of racism. I also never put myself in a situation where such things may happen or be the trigger. Dutch people are very open about different cultures, religions and backgrounds. Alhamdulillah, as this was a big concern of mine before I moved here.
The system
This is more like how things work here. Things are very organized. There is a Dutch saying: “God created the World but the Dutch created Holland.” They really meant what they said.
1. Infrastructure
The roads and infrastructure of the country are immaculate. The roads are like a carpet. I have driven in different countries and by far the roads of the Netherlands are one of the best. There are no surprise bumps and holes ( I am talking about you Tunisia ). In fact, road taxes are higher compared to neighbouring countries. But the infrastructure is better . When it rains all day and night ( it will ), don’t worry, you won’t end up having a swimming pool in front of your house.
2. Clean streets
The country is very clean and well organized. Compared to a lot of countries and cities in Europe, the Netherlands is by far the cleanest. They have recycling bins installed almost everywhere for glass, paper, plastic, etc… If you have large unwanted items, there is a special day during the week and a specific location where you can get rid of it. Please check your municipality website to know all the information.
3. Organization
Back home, requesting a birth certificate or an attestation can be hard to do. If you need to request official governmental paperwork, you have to wait in endless queues. Besides that, you may find the officer or not. You may get that paperwork done today, or tomorrow. In the Netherlands, all you have to do is to book an appointment, which is convenient. With an appointment, you avoid all the unnecessary crowds and be certain you will get thing done. The only down part is, sometimes you have to book your appointments weeks in advance.
4. Biking lanes
Bicycles are big in the Netherlands. You definitely need a bicycle to move around from one place to another. Biking is cheaper, faster and healthier than driving or using public transportation. It could be more fun at times, it all depends on the weather. You don’t have enough reasons not to ride a bike( besides the weather sometimes ). The length of all cycling baths is around 35,000 kilometers which is a quarter of the country’s roads. There are rules and laws for bikers, we will get to it some other time. Wearing a helmet and safety gear is not mandatory but always recommended. There are plenty of bicycle parking spots to make the trips easy.
Tip: Always remember where you’ve parked your bike. Especially around the city center and main public transportation stations.
You need a bike, but don’t know where to start? Please check my other blog about biking in the Netherlands.
Food
You may think that Dutch food culture is not very rich compared to other countries. It is true that It has a lot of influence from several countries around the world. Which is not something bad at all. They have a lot of nice and interesting meals and snacks. I will talk about this in more detail in a later blog. There are a lot of food options. The Netherlands is a very diverse country with a lot of nationalities. You can find 100s of different types of restaurants to satisfy your cravings. Turkish, Indonesian, Mexican, Somalian, Vietnamese and plenty more cuisines are available here . Do you have any food limitations because of religion, diet or allergies? Don’t worry, there are several vegan/vegetarian, halal/kosher, healthy, etc…. You will definitely be able to find something you like.
Compared to a lot of other countries, basic groceries are cheap in the Netherlands. Cheap, fresh and of quality. The Netherlands is one of the largest food exporters in the world . From diary, vegetables, fruits, meat, etc… and of course cheese. All Spices are available here. Any recipe you are going to try, any traditional meal you are going to cook, you will be able to find the ingredients. If not in the major supermarkets, you will find them in the specialty supermarkets.
The lifestyle
The Netherlands has its own style and vibe. Its a different lifestyle.
1. Architecture
This may be a cliché thing to say, but I do love the architects in the country. Every city, village and corner surprisingly has its own style. I appreciate those stylish old Dutch apartments by the canals in Amsterdam. It’s the best scenery in the country. If you don’t find that attractive, in that case you can always visit Rotterdam. Rotterdam is a modern city. It is all about skyscrapers, new bridges and futuristic designs. I will be talking about every city more in depth at later blogs
2. Events & Shows
The country has a lot of events all year long. Music festivals, concerts, Football games, car meets, aviation affairs and much more. Whatever you are into, you will find an event to attend. The festivals and events are well organized. The only thing you need to worry about is purchasing your ticket on time. Tickets do sell out quickly so make sure you get your tickets as soon as they’re available. I moved here during the health restrictions so, I haven’t been able to experience this to the fullest. Life is getting back to normal now, more events and festivals are coming back. I already went to 2 concerts, Amber Mark and my favourite band of all time khruangbin. Both experiences were nothing but amazing.
3. Active life
In the Netherlands most of the people are fit. There are a lot of parks around the city where you can go for a run, walk, or even use the built in outdoor gyms around big parks. Some parks are equipped with specific spots where you can actually have some BBQ, which is very busy during summertime. There are also a lot of football and basketball pitches in more or less every neighbourhood where you can practice your slam dunk or freekick. There are a lot of gyms, different sports clubs, such as football, padel, swimming pools, boxing clubs, dancing clubs and so on….
4. The language
Everyone speaks English here. The Dutch are in the number one position for their English skills of non-native English in the world. A lot of expats think that is a negative thing since it wouldn’t push you to learn the language, but I don’t believe so. Traffic signs, government letters, news etc… are in Dutch. Furthermore, speaking the Dutch language will help you integrate better with the society. You will have enough reason to learn the language.
5. Clothes
The Dutch people are not only hard workers who cycle everywhere and eat cheese all day long. Although that may be, but they’re more than that. When it comes to clothes, they are very stylish. Their sense of fashion is very high and they care about their appearance. Regardless that It might be a very simple outfit but it’s matching and on point. There are a lot of shopping malls, shops, high end brands, local brands, vintage clothes. If you are a shopping and fashion freak, you will be here.
Conclusion
In conclusion, those were my top 5 advantages I find living in the Netherlands. If you live here too, please share with me in the comment section below if you agree or disagree. You don’t live here? Please let me know if you have any questions.