HOW TO PREPARE TO MOVE TO THE NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱 (american expats in holland)

In this episode, Michelle and Alex offer up 9 practical tips to help you move to the Netherlands from another country, especially if you're an American looking to move with the "DAFT visa" or Dutch-American Friendship Treaty, or have pets, or are moving here during the housing shortage.
If you're looking to research cities in the Netherlands, start here with a playlist with all of our city vlogs: • buncharted explores th...
Episode 85 · Filmed on August 4 and 9, 2023 · Dordrecht, the Netherlands
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0:00 Introduction
0:35 Number 9
1:17 What is this video about?
1:43 Number 8
2:25 Number 7
3:04 What did we learn in Dutch class today?
3:36 Number 6
3:56 Pasar Malam Dordrecht!
5:00 Number 5
5:34 Number 4
6:21 More food at Pasar Malam Dordrecht
6:46 Number 3
7:35 A bit of vinyl record shopping
7:50 Number 2
8:34 Number 1
9:03 Wrap up
#expatlife #netherlands #movingabroad
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WHO IS BUNCHARTED?
We're Michelle and Alex, an American expat couple living abroad in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱
In 2020, we quit our jobs to travel the world, and... well, that didn't happen. So in 2022, we decided to make an even BIGGER change by packing up our lives (and our cats 🐈) and moving from Austin, Texas, in the US, to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Subscribe for new videos like this every week!

[@buncharted]

If you're an American exploring a move to the Netherlands, check out our 15-page moving guide. It includes all of the stuff we learned along the way and links and contact info for everything you'll need from immigration to buying furniture when you arrive. buncharted.gumroad.com/l/help-me-move-to-the-netherlands

[@ON-YT]

Canadian here and am looking to move there within this decade. I guess I watched a lot of Not Just Bikes videos.

[@An-Ma]

Another NJB afficionado. He had a lot to answer for. Our secrets on infrastructure are now everywhere! Seriously, I hope your plan works out! We all deserve our best life 👍🌷!

[@peterf1]

@@An-Ma Haha! Yeah another NJB groupie reporting. But there's plenty of blame to go around. The Dutch Cycling Embassy makes a living off of exporting Dutch Cycling practices around the world. I'm a total bike geek, so take my comment with a 'grain of salt' but the Dutch system is as simple as "Moving from point to point outdoors with joy and safety." Genius.

[@pmvdmeulen]

NJB Jason Slaughter is an amazing content creator 👍

[@stanvandersluis8486]

A advice, stay in Canada😂 more Nature, more living space, lower density of people, no house crisis.. Been in British Columbia this summer and it is perfect to live. Free healtcare 👌

[@ON-YT]

@@stanvandersluis8486 hi am British Columbian born and raised glad you liked our Province.

[@Species6079]

Wauw guys, your Dutch is really improving! 👏👏 Ga zo door! 😃🖖

[@pmvdmeulen]

Ik kon hem zelfs bijna verstaan😜

[@murrethmedia]

Sprekhen Sie Schnapps?

[@eddys.3524]

Good video... however one thing i've missed and that's the fact that most stores in the Netherlands do not accept CreditCards... To get around in the Netherlands you'll need a Debitcard (bankpas) for most transactions are digital. To survive the first day's in the Netherlands you'll also need cash, which is still accepted. En... jullie Nederlands gaat lekker vooruit! Volhouden! 😺

[@S.O.D.A.1]

I’ve followed you for a year as we started our quest to leave the US. Your channel is inspiring and proves that these BIG moves out of America can be done. We chose Belgium, Gent specifically, where there are more homes available. We’ve been here 4 months now. We moved from California and are never going back. Life in the Low Countries is superior to the USA is sooooo many ways. I am glad you guys are learning the language with such enthusiasm. Michelle’s throat breaking on the Dutch g’s is impressive! Go girl!

[@peterf1]

Another oh-so-helpful video. I am starting to see all your "if we only knew" cases as examples of "just do it" positives, instead of errors. Take some stock in that. Your amazing progress is revealed in your confidence in giving advice. And that advice is soooo much appreciated. We have our sights on the eastern part of the country, so there's little risk of being in the busier Randstad. For reasons that are specific to our situation, we are starting with a visit to the NL Consulate to ask some visa questions.That's a resource to consider for everyone. And lastly, again, thank you for including the cat / pet process in your comments. It's my wife's biggest concern. Tot ziens!

[@jeffafa3096]

Another tip: Ask around about your options in a certain area. The housing shortage is pretty bad at the moment, and you can easily overpay A LOT. Don't expect the affordable houses to be very spacious either, most houses accommodate to your needs, but life really happens outside of your front door!

[@omervandenbelt]

AFAIk, American homes are bigger than Dutch homes. Thus, it is impossible to fit everything in. Sell stuff that you can't use here, like electric appliances, because the plug and the socket here will be different. Maybe, your appliance works on 110 volt and here we use 220 volt.

[@Dennisboetes]

I always get so hungry watching your vids 😊. Great to see you're encourage looking beyond the usual places. NL has so much more to offer than just the randstad. And your vids really show that

[@WilliamSebren]

I wish I had seen this video a year ago! I guess I'm lucky I'm marrying a Dutch man because he kept me in line with almost everything on your list. Even making sure my kitty can come with me. I see you guys walking around town all the time, I really hope you are enjoying Dordrecht as much as me! ❤

[@buncharted]

hello, neighbor! we love dordrecht!

[@ToddWalton]

I'd love to hear more about how it was moving the cats. What you had to do, how you did it, etc.

[@drmcfacekick8912]

Great vid, as always!

[@norajazzypoppy9043]

Love this vlog😊

[@bridgetvogelgregory]

Yes! This was so helpful. Definitely saving for later!

[@Leentvaar1964]

Great video again!! Glad I live here allready.

[@dutchnintendo94]

Really fun to see how you guys immediately implement the Dutch you learned in your daily life. One advice when ordering something: u pronounced een as the number 1. But it is more natural to pronounce "een" as "un" (like in the English word run). In general we only pronounce "een" as "1" if we really wanna make clear the we wanna have only 1. But overal your pronunciation was pretty good

[@buncharted]

yeah, i was emphasizing that we only wanted one since there were two of us (though michelle was creepily filming me, so... they probably didn't know that 😂)

[@OdinsSage]

I'm a few months into learning dutch and this one has tripped me up several times. Thank you for making it so clear!

[@jve89]

I did the opposite. I'm Dutch but moved away about 7 years ago to Estonia :)

[@elizabethledbetter6469]

We were wanting to do the same thing...thank you for this info

[@Siriusly_Sirius]

Great information! Thanks for this, y'all. I wrote, er, typed some of these - just in case. :)

[@fionaek]

Your “goedemiddag” sounded good!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@dylanwilliams6128]

love watching your videos

[@macbosch64]

Wow jullie Nederlands is echt al super!! Well done. I have no intentions of moving out of the Netherlands but your tips are really good and helpfull wherever you want to go to..

[@eobi-edobi4275]

WOW i know that place, at 3.19, great gelato. , great video again guys.

[@War4Skills]

Fantastische video!

[@JasonRamosNJ]

Thank you soo much for all of this information. There is a lot to think about even if I want to do half the year in NL and half in US.

[@carolynsilvers9999]

Very helpful

[@franciscoorozco9695]

amazing video

[@HylianTom]

Thank you for this video (and all of your others). Husband and I are planning a DAFT migration in a few years, but we figure it isn’t too early to start planning every single aspect of the move (I’m 1.5 years into Dutch lessons!), and your videos have been quite helpful in bringing-up things that aren’t often mentioned elsewhere.

[@buncharted]

the dutch lessons will give you a huge advantage on arrival 😄 good luck with the move!!

[@highs_and_lows4665]

So...to save on shipping cost can I store my kids in my parents basement to see if I miss them after two years?

[@buncharted]

hahaha, that sounds right, but we aren't parents, so take that advice with a grain of salt

[@frankgeurts3912]

​@@bunchartedkorreltje zout 🤗

[@ktrmeadow]

Love the Hilton at the airport. The angled windows are cool. It’s right on the knooppunt too. Next visit we want to rent our ebikes there and cycle to our grandson in Groningen on the knooppunt app. How are you doing with the new bikes.?

[@buncharted]

we just rode to and around the biesbosch earlier this week - it was a lot of fun! and it was a great way to get more comfortable on the bike since it's not very busy :)

[@lukelwnmr]

Would love to see you guys visit my hometown Breda some point, especially since its so close to Dordrecht :D Id be more than happy to suggest some places to visit!

[@buncharted]

can you send us an instagram message? we'd love to get your help in finding some cool spots in breda!

[@Michael.Barath]

Great vlog Buncharted. The list is very good advice coming from anywhere. I agree look around, the Netherlands is so much more than Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam.

[@Yeet808]

Considering that fact that I’m 80% sure I want to move to the Netherlands from (Ohio). This video put me at ease. V very straight forward and entertaining. You both are awesome. Thank you for the tips. I never would have thought about an immigration lawyer at all.

[@velovoice47]

Really helpful video - thank you! I hate to bring up pronunciation again, but.... Apostille'd = "app oss TEELED". It doesn't certify that the document is real, it certifies that the person who signed the document was authorised to do so. This is why it has to be done by the state authority, who knows exactly who was the right person to be the one signing your, e.g., birth certificate, on the date it was signed. Meanwhile, love your channel - keep up the great work. (We're moving over next year!)

[@lillekenatnek195]

Step 1: step in airplane, train, bus, car w/e. Step 2: arrive in The Netherlands Step 3: put on clogs, and your good to go.

[@buncharted]

haha checks out

[@deetgeluid]

1:29 watch out! Behind you!

[@baldurironshield5083]

sorry if someone asked this but what was the realtor that you used?

[@sydneyfisher3017]

where do you take/find dutch language classes? i’m moving to amsterdam next week and want to keep up with practicing the language while there

[@buncharted]

we go to a place in dordrecht but there are plenty of dutch language schools in amsterdam! we just highly recommend taking classes. duolingo and stuff is great to reinforce what you learn, but classes teach you stuff you can use immediately.

[@spoenk7448]

If you have a good steady income definitely take on a real estate agent at the moment. And if you don't have enough, probably don't come. That's some Dutch directness for you.

[@Lilygirl283]

No, that is rude, hidden as dutch directness, there is a difference...

[@spoenk7448]

​@@Lilygirl283 Okay, so good advice is rude now. There is very real housing crisis in the Netherlands. If you don't have money for a real estate agent you probably don't have the money to get an apartment quickly anyway. And getting an address quickly is kind of key to moving to the Netherlands with DAFT.

[@SwirlingSoul]

🥰

[@Simba88242]

I was in the Netherlands for 3 months was wonderful (I was smitten) I wonder how different is summer compared to winter, do people get any SAD (seasonal affective disorder)??

[@buncharted]

it can be pretty depressing in the winter due to the lack of daylight and rain, but there are a lot of low-cost airline flights to sunny destinations :)

[@Krystalfaye]

Trying to get people in the NL to respond has been frustrating for us. We’ve contacted an expat company and some makelaars but no responses. I’m getting a little nervous that we wont have anywhere to live after December

[@buncharted]

if you aren’t already and if you can, look in areas and for makelaars outside of the western part of the country - it’ll be less competitive!

[@Krystalfaye]

@@buncharted unfortunately the school we found for our kids is in The Hague, they’re older so we are going international school. I am hoping that since we have a somewhat bigger budget it won’t be as hard? We’re coming from California so most of the places we see on funda for our needs are way less than we pay now.

[@buncharted]

it’ll be less competitive if you find and bid on it, but the inventory of higher end homes is lower

[@felipecanfield8665]

Hi, thank you for the video, but I have a question, I'm Brazilian/Italian and I'll move to the Netherlands in April...I'm looking for websites to rent an apartment/studio/room... I didn't understand how you did it. Did you contected a real state agent to find a place for you? Thank you =)

[@buncharted]

i believe we mention this in this video but yes, we used a real estate agent

[@clyubove]

How much did it cost total to move your cats?

[@kaceyvaughn1469]

Do you guys remember around how much it cost to get an immigration attorney and how much it cost around to hire your real estate agent?

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

Happy I don't have to go through all of that to live in the Netherlands :o).

[@Lilygirl283]

This was fairly easy, some countries make it very hard...

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

@@Lilygirl283 I know, but even this looks like a lot of hassle to me. Ain't got the energy I used to have :o).

[@murrethmedia]

Can you get along in the Netherlands OK only speaking English? I'm curious how much of the language you feel you need before you move there.

[@buncharted]

yes, for the most part, but the locals definitely prefer to speak dutch. so to move here, you're good with just the basics (hello, goodbye, thank you, etc.) but once you're here, we highly recommend starting up dutch courses!

[@murrethmedia]

Thank you very kindly for your prompt reply! 😊@@buncharted

[@ialrakis5173]

Just out of interest. Did you do any Dutch training in advance via websites/apps like Duolingo or similar, and would it have made a difference?

[@buncharted]

we did but it just didn't stick with us. the issue with duolingo and the like is they don't give you stuff you can put into practice immediately. i use duolingo now to reinforce what i'm learning in class, but the great thing about class is that you learn your address, the alphabet, how to order food, etc. it's just way more practical.

[@appie210]

have you ever had moroccan food you should eat it its amazing like your videos a lot

[@buncharted]

we haven't! but we just looked up a spot in dordrecht - we'll try it soon!

[@Lilygirl283]

​@@bunchartedit's amazing the variety of foreign foods they have in The Netherlands, i live in Australia, (i'm Dutch btw) and there is nowhere nearly as much here...

[@amt6896]

How you apply for permanent residence?

[@dabeasty3]

Can you guys recomend a trustworthy real estate agent or site for future students?

[@buncharted]

we used orange homes as our real estate agent but we don't know anything about student housing - sorry!

[@dabeasty3]

@@buncharted Thank you so much, how complex are the requirements for renting as an expat? I was seeing that many ask for income, how would that look for an expat that has income outside nl? Does orange homes take that into account?

[@buncharted]

generally, the requirement is 3 months of 3x rent as income. if you’re moving to the netherlands and starting a new job though, there’s not a standard here - showing a mix of savings and future income could help, along with past income statements. this is what your real estate agent can help you navigate.

[@wyattjones7699]

I’m an Army Vet and am wanting to move to the Netherlands with my girlfriend to start a new chapter in life. I’ve always wanted to move to the Netherlands and have friends there who are natives. I’m just super nervous and really scared to start the process.

[@buncharted]

it’s a big change but it can definitely be worth it :)

[@twoalpha09]

Don't move there I live in Canada now Much better here than NL

[@Stormvogel262]

What records were you looking for?

[@buncharted]

the new jenny lewis record (joy'all) and blackpink - we have eclectic taste 😸

[@Paul_C]

Hmm, seems I can't type the jenny album... the price is visible though

[@Paul_C]

And now the answer 'it is available at BOL. vanished. Why does KZbin prevent me from answering. Bol has both albums available

[@buncharted]

they have it online at velvetmusic.nl but i love the feeling of shopping in an actual record store - makes me feel like a kid again 🤓

[@Stormvogel262]

@@buncharted Aaah yes I think I know what you're talking about..... I actually bought record store racks for my vinyl, just to recreate that magical feeling of browsing through albums (including the alphabetic tabs) in a record store at home, lol.

[@filipnecinski773]

Landing in this country and realizing after years that you don't fit in might be a waste of time. For you, the Netherlands might seem perfect at first glance, despite the vast differences between Texas and the Netherlands. A compatibility test wasn't necessary. For me, discovering this country coincided with discovering myself; the compatibility was confirmed. Although living in a small country affects everyone's imagination differently, some Americans might be bothered not so much by the lack of space as by the proverbial freedoms (e.g., taxes on water, cars, dogs, mandatory insurance), but is that really the case? I don't consider it positive that Poland leans more towards the USA than towards Western Europe (socialism). Do you think a middle-ground solution is possible?

[@Paul_C]

That chair, I know it, looks like the Eames chair, just it isn't. That is somewhat surprising, not the average American seem to like. Guess you are not the average. Should have known.. ❤😂

[@buncharted]

we love our fake eames chair :)

[@Lilygirl283]

They are not the average Americans, i love their sense of humor...😂

[@corneisgewoonsupertof]

I have a strong feeling that most viewers are Dutch like I am, or am I wrong?

[@Species6079]

I am too! 😂

[@ibovisser8061]

Am dutch but live in the US. And want to go back.....

[@Mesmancer]

Ik wel ja :)

[@frankgeurts3912]

@@ibovisser8061 ok ok,you can come back

[@frankgeurts3912]

Yes iam fully dutch 😁 videos zijn vermakelijk

[@razorsharp9850]

Daft visa pretty much is a loop hole in the system now after all this time. Not really serves the intended purpose anymore. Try doing it the other way around, impossible. Dutch government should only keep the visa rules if reciprocated. Nothing to do with you guys. Hope you enjoy life here and have a good business.

[@buncharted]

agree it should be reciprocated and i agree some folks use it as a loophole, it should only be used by folks coming here with a genuine interest in establishing a business

[@user-vr2xv8gj7b]

I like your videos very much. I learn about us (Dutch)... But please.... don't call our country Holland (as you did in the discription of this video). I don't live in Holland and I am very glad I don't live in Holland. By the way: great you brought our Frisian flag to your home...

[@buncharted]

we totally agree with you - we're just doing it for youtube search purposes since it's a frequent search term!

[@YogaBlissDance]

YOu guys are so slim I thought you were vegetarian perhaps...

[@HEL-V]

Buy a boat 😉

[@witte2565]

Me as a dutch guy i dont understand why people love the netherlands so much .i dont like it her anymore

[@ibovisser8061]

You don't know how lucky you are......

[@Paul_C]

Maybe just visit outside the EU for a change. There are a lot of countries to chose from, and you might some better. And with a Dutch passport you can travel to your heart's contend. Just ask yourself why first.

[@frankgeurts3912]

We have a superb country ❤

[@siccodierdorp6947]

@@frankgeurts3912 The best!

[@lienbijs1205]

​@@ibovisser8061That depends on personal experiences. Poverty is rising and try to stand in the shoes of somebody who is desperately for a home.

[@phil_the_explorer3068]

Number 1: find a job 😂

[@hcjkruse]

Goed gedaan met deze tien punten. Nu wil ik ook een broodje rendang. Indonesische Tofu heet ook wel Tahoe. Tahoe kun je kopen bij Albert Heijn of bij de Toko. Meer soorten Tofu vind je bijvoorbeeld bij Aziatische supermarkt Amazing Oriental. Selamat Makan! Voor de gevoelige huid zijn mogelijk de producten van Happy soap een goed idee. Happy Soap kun je in Deventer kopen tegenover Espresso bar "Coffee Together" en bij een winkel genaam "Hoge Ramen"(High Windows). Deze winkel vind je in een zijstraat van de Lange Bisschopstraat. Online is het wellicht makkelijker en goedkoper. Coffee Together heeft volgens ons de lekkerste koffie van Deventer. Zeg niet Coffeeshop, dat is in Nederland iets heel anders...