Hello and thanks for checking out Musings by Suze! If you are interested in a candid account of life in the Netherlands, being an American Expat, or you are my Grandma Sue and want to make sure I’m doing okay, then this blog is for you!
Photo evidence of me in a giant’s stylish beach chair to show Grandma Sue that I’m alive and well.
How is it going so far?
I have been in the Netherlands about two weeks now and settling into my new home in Leiden has been a process! On the one hand, I consider myself lucky because everything regarding my visa has gone relatively smoothly. While obtaining a highly educated migrant’s visa requires a little preemptive action with having your diploma thoroughly vetted, the actual application process is super easy. I’m going to put together a much more detailed post about this process for all my master’s-toting friends that may also have an inclination take a break from the US of A, but the gist is this:
- Have your diploma “certified” by an agency called Nuffic
- Fill out an (approximately) 5-page visa application
- Make an appointment with the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Department)
- Attend said appointment with the IND to drop off your application, pay a fee, and receive a temporary work visa
- Receive confirmation in the mail just a few weeks later that you are approved for said visa for the rest of year!
Like I said, pretty simple!
It’s the little things that keep tripping me up. Take getting a monthly phone plan, for example. In order to qualify for a plan other than a “Pay As You Go” Simcard, you need a checking account at a bank. In order to set up that bank account, you need to assemble a variety of paperwork, including a BSN (Dutch Social Security number) and an employment contract. This means more scheduling more appointments and the totally simple feat of lining up a job. All so you can get a phone plan at a reasonable price.
While some parts of Dutch culture mirror American life (happy hour is a norm, avocado toast is a fad, and Bones reruns inexplicably always on TV at some point during the day), learning a new set of bureaucratic norms is never going to be easy no matter how similar it might be to my own. Thankfully, quite a few of Oran’s colleagues are expats and I cannot tell how appreciative I have been by how many of them have patiently answered my questions or reached out to offer tips from their own experiences. There are so many expats living in Holland that it’s important to remember that you’re never the first person to go through this initial post-arrival culture shock.
But don’t worry, I’m having fun too!
Having a break from working 40 hours a week has been pretty fantastic. Highlights have included:
Seeing a wonderfully poignant Regina Spektor concert
Exploring Utrecht for the first time
Doing the incredibly touristy canal ride of Leiden
I’m sure the lovely weather has something to do with it, but life definitely moves at a more relaxed pace here.
Dutch Experience of the Week
This past Sunday I also attended a fantastic event for new residents called We Are Leiden. Oran and I were paired with a local Dutch resident, Maartje. After chatting about our mutual interest in film, Maartje took us on a tour of the many hidden hofjes of Leiden!
One of the many hofje courtyards in Leiden, quietly tucked away in the heart of the city!
35 peaceful oases lie hidden behind closed doors in Leiden. The typical design of a hofje is 10-20 small homes that surround a beautiful garden courtyard. The hofjes were created between the 13th and 19th centuries often by rich citizens who wanted to do something good for the poor and elderly.
At the center of each courtyard is a statue that in some way symbolizes the original patron who sponsored the hofje. In this case, it is a lamb, but my favorite was a merman!
Today, these hofjes are still incredibly popular places to live. While some still have restrictions on the type of residents who can apply (i.e. one hofje was intended just for women over the age of 30), others are affordable options open to any interested applicant. But be prepared for a waiting list! It might be years before you are picked to live in one of these incredibly Dutch homes.
Maartje, a resident of a hofje herself even let us tour her apartment and play with her new kittens! So, basically, we lucked into the best host ever!
These balls of fluff could melt the iciest of hearts.
Afterwards, we went back to the center of the city to meet up with other Leiden residents new and old for a community picnic. Encompassing the old fort at the center of Leiden were information booths, games, musicians and a buffet featuring spicy Spanish rice, creamy pasta salad, heirloom tomato bruschetta, a small and crunchy baguette with either egg or tuna salad, a salty caramel brownie, and—of course—beer! While a bit different from the good ol’ American barbecue, it was decidedly pretty tasty. Call it fate or just really great timing, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to get to know my new city and to make a new friend!
Next week
Be sure to stop by for my next post because I will be unveiling some big news!
Have a question about life in the Netherlands or becoming an expat yourself, feel free to comment or send me a message through my message box under About Me.
Dutch word of the week: Fiets (n) bicycle or Fietsen (v) to bike. Did you know that there are more than 13 million bikes in Holland? With a population of approximately 16.5 million, this is almost one bike per person!
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