Being an expat in the Netherlands

Being an expat in the Netherlands

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Discussion

spikeyhead

17,222 posts

196 months

Monday 7th January 2013
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A lex said:
Good luck with the move - I love living in NL, but I still find some of the beaurocracy and paper pushing infuriating smile
Trying to buy food on a Sunday was my biggest frustration.

spikeyhead

17,222 posts

196 months

Monday 7th January 2013
quotequote all
A lex said:
spikeyhead said:
A lex said:
Good luck with the move - I love living in NL, but I still find some of the beaurocracy and paper pushing infuriating smile
Trying to buy food on a Sunday was my biggest frustration.
Im lucky in that respect - living so close to the border most of the big stores are open on a Sunday to cater for ze Germans (and Brits from the bases) coming across to do the shopping. Roermond is probably the best place in the country in that respect.

We've an Albert Heijn XL open 7 days a week until 10pm. smile
I had a two mile round trip to a co-op open from 4pm to 7pm, or a four mile round trip to a mini AH at the railway station that was open all day but didn't sell much.

Foppo

2,344 posts

123 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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I know Groningen University town.My uncle lives there.Nice town good night live and the people in general are ok.Groningers can be a bit stug is the word.Like Yorkshire folk.lol.One's you get to know them they are fine.

I was born in a small village not far from Groningen Nieuweschans.Winschoten is a nice small town houses are cheaper and a good motorway system not far to pop across the border to BUNDE for cheaper drink shopping.

Foppo

2,344 posts

123 months

Thursday 20th February 2014
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My sister lives in Rotterdam where I grew up.Brother lives in Assen.I was born in the province of Groningen in a small village called Nieuweschans.

I've lived in the UK for over 40 years a long time.When or if you move to Holland try to learn the language the Dutch will appreciate your effort.

Standard of living is high if you are willing to have a go.

LeoZwalf

2,802 posts

229 months

Friday 7th March 2014
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Foppo said:
...try to learn the language the Dutch will appreciate your effort.

Standard of living is high if you are willing to have a go.
This is my experience so far too. Been year just over a year now - it's a lovely country, friendly cheerful people and beautiful countryside smile

EvoDelta

8,216 posts

189 months

Friday 7th March 2014
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LeoZwalf said:
This is my experience so far too. Been year just over a year now - it's a lovely country, friendly cheerful people and beautiful countryside smile
You must live far away from me.

EvoDelta

8,216 posts

189 months

Friday 7th March 2014
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kapiteinlangzaam said:
hehe

Come to Limburg, its a whole other experience!
This is true. I just don't fancy the commute.

Foppo

2,344 posts

123 months

Friday 9th May 2014
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Do the Dutch still receive vakantiegeld.(Holidaymoney)That used to be a nice perk also payed to pensioners.

Holland was lucky after the war it took off.Massive port like Rotterdam moving goods to the Hinterland.Aard gas was found in Groningen by the mega tons.

People who where made redundant received 90% of their salary like my uncle did.Also the Dutch didn't want to go back to the us and them and they tried to create a fair society.No country is perfect, but if you can learn the language which would be appreciated by the Dutch and have a decent job it's a good place to live.

Foppo

2,344 posts

123 months

Friday 9th May 2014
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It's a shame if you work there you should receive the money different rules.
I am settled in the UK took me a while do.I grew up in Rotterdam and came here as a youngster.I was used to the buzz of a 24hr city and Hull was different then>smile

Never mind I have worked with some good people in the U.K and have a good family around me.

Medic-one

3,105 posts

202 months

Friday 9th May 2014
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A lex said:
We've an Albert Heijn XL open 7 days a week until 10pm. smile
I really miss the A&H over here.

If only they could open one and sell loads of yoghurt, vla, bitterballen, kroket, and hagelslag!

troc

3,740 posts

174 months

Friday 9th May 2014
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At least there's a M&S attached to a BP garage near me that's open long hours - plus the huge M&S in Den Haag is quite awesome smile

Oh and exemptions from income tax are awesome perks wink

Just waiting on a few more years to get promoted far enough to get proper CD status. I need a new tax-free car......


Oh, the tribulations of being an ex-pat


scdvx220

174 posts

120 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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Do you know what street the BP M+S is on?

troc

3,740 posts

174 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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scdvx220 said:
Do you know what street the BP M+S is on?
They have a few:

BP Bijleveld, Rijksweg A12 (zuidzijde), 3481 CV Harmelen

BP Ypenburg, Laan van Hoornwijck 70, 2289 DG Rijswijk <--- This is the one nearest the Hague, just off the A4.

BP Kadoelen, IJdoornlaan 11, 1121 DS Landsmeer
BP Lunetten, Lunettenbaan 100, 3524 LN Utrecht

BP Elsgeest,Rijksweg A44 nr. 200, 2343 ZZ Oegstgeest <--- This one is also nearby, on the way from the Hague to Amsterdam (I seem to recall)
BP Oude Haagseweg, Oude Haagseweg 18, 1066 BW Amsterdam

scdvx220

174 posts

120 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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Sorry, I meant to say Rijswijk. I seen a list on the M+S page but none of the list seemed like the one my colleagues had mentioned previously.

Thanks for the info.

Foppo

2,344 posts

123 months

Monday 15th June 2015
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I used to miss Krokets.Verse haring.Large Makreels.Erwten soup.Karnemelkse pap.Karnemelk.

Chocolade Vla in decent size bottles.Hagelslag.Zoute drop.Bruine bonen met spek.Verse paling heerlijk.Groningse worst ze noemen het pinkjes in Groningen.[Kertsmis] Appelflappen en Olie bollen.Bloody hell how did I survive so long without this.>@)

Alfa Male

389 posts

251 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
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Right Foppo that's it. I'm opening a Dutch food webshop for repatriated expats, watch it crash and burn smile.

troc

3,740 posts

174 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
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I actually reckon a stroopwafel and poffertjes stall would do really well at large festivals like Glastonbury......


Medic-one

3,105 posts

202 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
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Alfa Male said:
Right Foppo that's it. I'm opening a Dutch food webshop for repatriated expats, watch it crash and burn smile.
There are quite a few of those shops on the web already, though they do are a bit pricey.

We tend to just fill the car boot up when we go over :





Last trip back home we gone a bit mad...




Though going back in a few weeks, in a new car with an even bigger boot, meaning even more Dutch food, snacks and booze! bounce

troc

3,740 posts

174 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
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kapiteinlangzaam said:
Haha! My car looks like the exact opposite when I come back from the UK.

Strongbow, crumpets, wispa, twirl, prawn cocktail crisps etc etc!!
Same here although we can get emergency UK stuff at the local Marks and Spencer. Either the main shop in the Hague or I can add 5 minutes to my cycle ride home and go past the local BP.

smile

Medic-one

3,105 posts

202 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
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kapiteinlangzaam said:
You jammy git! I had no idea there was an M&S in The Hague.

frown

Now im sad and full of envy!
There's one i Amsterdam as well, and a handfull of mini shops at petrol stations, maybe one of them is near you ?

http://www.marksandspencer.eu/Onze-winkels/store-f...