American Expat Living in Utrecht The Netherlands for 10+ Years (2020) | Expats Everywhere

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Are you thinking about moving to the Netherlands? If so, when are you moving there?

[@tomhermens7698]

Not yet but if and when, utrecht binnen de singels. Fantastic town. Full of history

[@psjasker]

It is refreshing to see a video that is drama free, cuts right to the chase and is dense with information. Nice work and a very useful interview.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks, Paul. Darla has been putting in the work to expand her network and knowledge of the Netherlands and we're glad that came out in the interview.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

Wonderful to know that Darla has been in Utrecht for 12 years. Lovely video.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks, Yasin. She definitely has a ton of experience being there so long and that expat facebook group is a huge resource.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Very nice to know that.

[@falcotol9299]

Speaking the language of the country one lives in is simply a matter of politeness and respect. For some reason that doesn´t seem to be clear to Americans.

[@agochic]

While this is true Americans are used to migrants who do not speak the language in the U.S. perhaps the people you speak of are trying to learn? I can’t speak for every American but I do agree with your thoughts on this, perhaps they’ll learn by integration and by others not accommodating them with transitioning to English.

[@tomhermens7698]

As a dutchman, holland speaks English. Walk on the damrak in Amsterdam and ask the way to anyone in Dutch. The answer you get is in english

[@jurgenvoogt1638]

​@@tomhermens7698Inderdaad. Waar is de tijd gebleven?

[@rishithakur7186]

I could understand 18:50 Dutch people are direct and given their culture is about walking and exploring they might bump a lot on micro levels so they have a mutual understanding I suppose that "it is common and we are apologetic". But I could understand fitting in a new culture is not an easy fleet but it is possible. Don't be disheartened you are brave to try a different country so pat yourself in the back and be proud of yourself! 😄😄

[@mariadebake5483]

As for healthcare: the US is used to have the best of the best???? And all those people who haven't the means to pay for it and are going without??? Je bent gek!!!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

We think the general confusion is that the US ranks #1 on many lists for the best doctors in the world and people confuse that with the "healthcare" overall or "healthcare" system where the US often ranks inside the top 20 in the world. We don't think Darla is crazy. 😜 It's just a phrasing thing. Thanks for watching and commenting. Take care, Maria.

[@Harrypjotter7]

America is the problem of capitalism, a patient in my hospital paid so much money for medicines in New York that here a not even 1 euro.

[@Brian-vk1hm]

@@Harrypjotter7 Yeah and socialists tax the hell out of you for it. You pay for it one way or another.

[@GerbenDub]

Honey, baking soda is called backing soda and sold in all shops...

[@KajiRider1997]

We have the same orange packs they got in America...

[@tomhermens7698]

Backing soda is half english/Dutch. Bak soda or soda voor bakken or baking soda. Ask.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

D Netherlands is such a wonderful country. Would love to visit Amsterdam one day, better still, working n living there. Thanks for this video.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you, Yasin. Beyond Amsterdam, would you like to live in any of the other cities?

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Besides d cities in Netherlands, d cities in UK, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Austria n Germany, not in any particular order.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands Thank you very much. 😁🇲🇾😁

[@nadi737]

Baking soda is in almost every supermarket.. :') Big packages and small. The big one is €1,40

[@ApPot]

Welcome in Utrecht

[@dutchTea]

Ah thanks! I'll pack my measuring cups!!! Emigrating from SA to Utrect in January 2024 after new years. What else do I need to bring (SA is very american we have a lot of the same stuff so just say what you cannot get there?)

[@tomhermens7698]

@dutchTea you will have found out by now. Abundance in cheese at very reasonable prices per kilo -not by 50 grs as in the US. Next step ,go for raw herring (rouwe haring) with onions and smoked eel (gerookte paling) ❤️ Two lovely things to eat.

[@GokhanElgun]

Can't wait to be there at the end of April 🙃

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Good stuff!

[@Yasin_Affandi]

Good to know that one can survive decently on annual income of €30,000 in cities in d Netherlands.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

Would u know d best ways to get info on Muslim or Halal food in European cities. It's quite easy to get Halal food items in UK from d few online stores, d restaurants n open markets.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Great question! In the past 10 years, there has been a large muslim migration throughout Europe, which has meant Muslim/Halal food has become much more widely available in all major cities. We don't have a recommended website or anything, but basically when you arrive, you should be able to start taking to people assuming that you're in any of the cities of decent size. You know?

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Thanks again.

[@rajariaz5928]

❤ Utrecht

[@tomhermens7698]

The centre is pretty. Outside and around utrecht are the businesses. Cool but nice people one warms to. The word is "nuchter".

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks for sharing.

[@camellabailey5548]

I love Utrecht, I did Summer School there at the university.xxx

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

👏👏👏

[@mineralisk]

7:23 30,000 is that gross amount?

[@Paul_C]

So funny, when Americans talk about a travel hub: The whole country is a travel hub, even the nearest large city, Frankfurt in Germany is just about 5 hours away by car.

[@therealdutchidiot]

What strikes me about these people is how even after 10 years they're just not even trying to integrate.

[@mariadebake5483]

Yes I agree

[@MegaShrinkage]

Maybe it’s part of the human condition? There actually is research on how Dutch migrants to Canada, Australia and New Zealand did after moving there in the 40’s and 50’s. Even after being explicitly told to learn English and try to live among the english speaking natives, integrate as much as possible, many people from this 1st generation still didn’t speak English and huddled together in Dutch communities, had Delfts blauw on the walls, heavy oak furniture and small carpets on the table. It seemed that they were stuck in the decade they left the Netherlands, clinging to what they remembered about home. Very much like the first generation of migrant workers (gastarbeiders) from Turkey and Marocco in the 60’s/70’s in the Netherlands. The point was that maybe people migrating to other countries hang on to their cultural roots as a psychological neccessity to be able to navigate their new environment. What they know basically grounds them psychologically and provides a basis to adjust. So maybe integration is a process covering generations, starting with basic adjustment by the first and sliding into real integration in the following generations? And if so, it may be quite normal not to be fully integrated even after living in the new country for years, meaning that judging or demanding integration is quite meaningless and maybe even counterproductive.

[@mariadebake5483]

@@MegaShrinkage In many respects you are right, but for one thing in my opinion. They should absolutely learn dutch. Just as the first dutch immigrants in the countries you mentioned should also have learned English

[@MegaShrinkage]

@@mariadebake5483 My comment was trying to explain an apparent fundamental human process when in a new environment, in relation to the comment by Ben van Velzen that "they're just not even trying to integrate". Apart from the fact that it is unclear what definition he uses for 'integrate', the point was to maybe lower the bar a little bit in terms of demands. Of course any sensible person living in a new environment would do well to at least try to learn how to express themselves, as this would make adjusting so much easier. That being said, people differ in learning capabilities and environments differ in 'flexibility'. Many of the migrant workers were illiterate, hired to do unschooled labour in the Netherlands. I think you may understand why learning Dutch may be a tall order for these people. And the fact that almost all Dutch people speak at least some English does not really motivate migrants/expats from English speaking countries to learn this difficult language, because they're already able to express themselves quite well. I think my main point is that simply stating that foreigners are not willing or trying to 'integrate' seems like an oversimplification and may not be a very usefull way of looking at this.

[@PH61a]

FYI: Utrecht has over 360000 inhabitants

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Correct and the province of Utrecht looks to have around 1.3 million. Does that look right?

[@patglennon9671]

And a shite football team😎

[@TTTzzzz]

It took me 30 years to become kind of Dutch.

[@tomhermens7698]

Peter. Makes you unique. As a dutchman I still haven't worked out why some words are spelt with a "ij" others with "ei" . Weird . Lijders. Leiding????

[@TTTzzzz]

@@tomhermens7698 What about 'de' and 'het'! Talen zijn nooit 'logisch'. Behalve Esperanto, maar wie spreekt dat.

[@utopistmsoc]

30.000!? Hey Darla, I save money even with minimum wage (21000) so everything is possible.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Good job!

[@utopistmsoc]

@@ExpatsEverywhere this is something your viewers should know: you can live OK in Utrecht with minimum wage. It is designed that way. Maybe in a shared house, but everything is so beautiful here that you don't care.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

@@utopistmsoc thank you.

[@roel123456]

Health care system in the US best of the best????? Hahahaha…. 😳

[@bundasriharyani698]

American expat living the Netherland of coure deffrent culture but future same something most beautiful

[@Bramfly]

Funny you still call yourself an expat even though you were/are just an immigrant 😇

[@duartemonteiro7463]

😊💪💪💪😊

[@jacqvanm4882]

Baking soda hard to come by? Nah

[@roblindstrom797]

Expat?? Immigrant

[@tomhermens7698]

Ex pat is ex patriot like me. Immigrant is someone from outside that has applied to become a Dutch national. All EU people (including illegals) in my book are immigrants

[@Yasin_Affandi]

D Netherlands is such a wonderful country. Would love to visit Amsterdam one day, better still, working n living there. Thanks for this video.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

So far, only had one experience working n living abroad, in Mumbai, India for 3 years. Not what expected, as I was aiming to go to one of d wonderful cities in West Europe, perhaps in d near future.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

It really is! You should. You're welcome! Thanks for all the comments and support.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

What did you do in Mumbai?

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Thank u again for d wonderful video.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@ExpatsEverywhere I was attached to MIDA, Malaysian investment development authority. It's a govt agency. MIDA Mumbai was a new centre n I assisted d director setting up d new office. I was d office secretary, handled all d office HR & administration, budget & 3 sets of accounts, secretarial duties, clerical, filing, renewing contracts n agreements etc. I also helped organized 3 trade n investment delegations from Malaysia. 2008 in Bengaluru, 2009 in Chennai n 2010 in Mumbai. Previously I was d executive secretary to d COO/MD of d KLCC Project.