Moving to Netherlands from the USA: Things That Were Hard At First But Are Easier One Year Later

Moving to Netherlands from the USA: Things That Were Hard At First But Are Easier One Year Later
Netherlands Recycling- • Recycling in the Nethe...
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Intro (00:00)
Getting Cam Settled In School (01:31)
Understanding Product Labels In The Stores (02:25)
Learning How To Pay Our Utility Bills In A New Format & Language (03:12)
Learning New Ingredients For Cooking & Baking (03:49)
We Can't Find The Post Office! (04:24)
Recycling Is Very Complicated (04:40)
Getting Health Insurance Settled (05:37)
It Took Some Time To Find "New Normal" Stores For Us (06:12)
Finding New Favorite Bath, Body, Beauty & Hair Products (06:58)
Learning How To File Taxes (07:56)
Are We Happy We Moved Here? Has It Been Worth It? (08:10)
Cam's Challenge (08:56)
Outro (09:58)
#LivingInNetherlands
#Netherlands
#USANetherlands

[@marcusfranconium3392]

All things are hard before they become easy . its the hard things that are easy to master and never forgotten.

[@frankgeurts3912]

Dordrecht 📸☀️☀️☀️

[@maartjewaterman1193]

I have a friend who at the age of fourteen migrated from Poland to the Netherlands and now has a PHD in child psychology. So it might not be easy for children to have to go and live in another country and go to school there too but at the end they will do fine.

[@hunchbackaudio]

Yes it can get pretty hot 🥵 in the Netherlands and often the hot weather comes with mosquitoes 🦟 (muggen). Luckily it never lasts more than 1 or 2 weeks before it cools down again. Good to hear you guys are getting comfortable here.

[@nicovantol7363]

My wife is from Surinam witch was a Dutch colony untill 1975. So they speak Dutch,but when I was living there in 2010 it was verry hard. Since 2011 we live in Holland and untill this day my wife doesn't understand everything. Post office is mostly in stores like Ako or Bruna bookstores. In Surinam it's like it was in Holland 50 years ago !!! That was what my mother told me when she a my dad came over to our wedding in Oktober 2010 in Surinam. But sometimes it's still a bit strange for me.

[@lncomer]

I really appreciate how you asked Cam how his experience has been. My husband and I are moving to the Netherlands with our daughter who will be 6. I'm nervous about how she'll transition, but seeing Cam's experience has made me feel better.

[@jan-willemgoedmakers3430]

This video mirrors EXACTLY my experience moving from the Netherlands to the US. It took me quite a while to figure out what groceries to buy and in the beginning it was a big adventure. It does create quite some stress and until you have figured it out, you don't really feel comfortable in your new country. I am glad you have most of this behind you now.

[@FacelessJanus]

A) what are the "new" food things you never heard of ?? (Hint video idea ?) B) there are no postoffices as such anymore. Go to a jumbo supermarket, the service desk/cigarette kios, doubles as post office.

[@mariadebake5483]

Regarding post offices: there are very few of them. Mostly in the supermarkets you can find (often, not in every supermarket) a special counter that serves as post office. For example, my neighbouring Jumbo has one, the neighbouring AH has one too. So you can deliver your mail there. So best go and check out supermarkets in your neighbourhood. Also other shops can have them, but mostly supermarkets.

[@antiqueinsider]

I hope you found out already that many magazine stores like Primera and Bruna will put your mail into the system (also sell stamps, weigh packages etc.). You should be so proud that Cam continues to flourish with speaking Dutch and making friends. Perhaps you'd like to buy a book called 'The Undutchables'. It's an expat humorous guide to the country with parts about history and traditions etc. but written from a light-hearted point of view. It's now in the umpteenth edition because so many expat people have contributed to it over the years. It could also be a useful resource for thinking of what you might talk about in future videos. I hope your pregnancy is going well. All your fans are 'thumbing' for you! (We don't cross our fingers here!) I know that US citizens have some extra 'tax issues' (supplied by the US not NL), but really so much will be automated in the coming years that it will get MUCH easier moving forward!! (Actually the US system is MUCH more complex and primitive, and in NL you can feel free to ring the Belastingdienst which is usually pretty good at helping!

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Thanks so much for letting me know about the book! And thank you for your continued support. I actually just saw your comment on my previous video about you being an herbal farmer which is so amazing! Do you have something that you would recommend while i'm pregnant? Also, anything for after giving birth that would promote my milk production? Thanks again♥

[@annebetvanmameren-new2nl]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! And great that Cam may transition to the regular school. My offer to help you figuring out the schools still stands (see my email from a while ago). Good luck!

[@josphineogugua]

This video is so inspiring. It's amazing to see how time can really change things. i'm so glad Cam is getting along better.☺️☺️

[@starbase218]

Especially when you do this for the first time, it can be difficult. It may sound silly, but I remember feeling sort of relieved when I found an Albert Heijn (Dutch supermarket) when living in Antwerp. But I loved my time there.

[@theindiejurnee]

You are helping me so much in thinking ahead of what issues I may stumble upon there! I had my son watch Cam's part...he's both excited and anxious

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Glad I can help! Tell your son he will absolutely love it😊!!!

[@tonp2284]

If you have an Android phone, you can take a picture of an unknown product in the store, choose Google Lens, edit>translate and Google Lens will translate all legible words for you. Don't know about Iphones. Works like a charm, also on the street. Takes he fun out of experimenting, though.😄

[@ruudvisser712]

Great on the language, Cam! Now you can watch for instance 'Het Klokhuis' and 'Het Jeugdjournaal' without any problems (and also read 'Kameleon' books like generations of Dutch boys did at one time or another at your age... 😉

[@lw2554]

There are no post office like it use to but at Albert Hein you can post your cards ect Some Bruna to. Make a trip to “Kellys” expat food 😉 in Amsterdam/ Den Haag / Wassenaar

[@BOSExperience]

When you learn the system even better you will see more benefits from living here. Plenty of American expats that already moved here and you can get advise from and also plenty Americans that want to move here and you can give advice to.

[@chriskwakernaat2328]

IBAN is a recent thing in The Netherlands. , i had a hard tme getting used to it too , lol no offical post offices for a long time. usually shops have one at their service desk (like Albert Heijn) or copy shops. look at the stickers on the shop door for a postNL sticker. you can send mail and packages there.

[@nimwey7701]

Most of the Primera stores have a postoffice or Albert Heijn

[@renekuipers4563]

Amerika is i think digital 15 years behind.The last time i vised a bank was 10 years ago.

[@annebetvanmameren-new2nl]

Great to see how you have overcome most of your challenges. Regarding post offices, there aren’t many places actually called ‘post office’ anymore, but there are many places from where you can send your mail. When you buy a postcard, you can also ask for a stamp and then you just throw the card in one of the orange mail boxes on the street. For bigger items, you go to a PostNL desk at supermarkets, tobacco shops or book stores. You can find them here: www.postnl.nl/locatiewijzer/?q=Dordrecht%20&address=Dordrecht%20#/Dordrecht

[@TheExplorder]

Great advice!

[@lukkask]

You can translate labels with the Google translate app, choose camera in the app.

[@MrVanmarle]

I also don't have AC so I use a fan and have cooling elements attached to it. In terms of shops, I can recommend Action (at the Zwijndrechtse bridge)... a kind of Walmart. I also like to go to Avantage (Wielwijk). An Arab supermarket has so many Arabic logos but they are happy to help you (and good hair products too). I don't think an old-fashioned post office exists anymore. But we have service points. I always go to Gifts and More (Wielwijk). Pay attention to which shipping company because not all service points work with every shipping company. LY

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Thanks, Bernhard!

[@KevinRoddy]

What a delightful channel! I have dreamed of moving to the Netherlands for many years, and it's getting closer...patience! I am glad you are settling in - I would say the most important thing to do as a new resident is to learn the language. I know you can get by with English there, but ya gotta keep up with Cam! =] All the best, and I look forward to your impressions of life there.

[@hildelouisevrijs774]

Hi Fiona, do you regularly watch Dutch television? This can be very useful for the language and, moreover, there is advertising between the programs with offers of products from various supermarkets and, for example, the Kruidvat. Glad you feel more at home in the Netherlands! And if you want to know something about language, just ask Cameron! Are you physically okay now?

[@livinglife.digital3399]

I do! Thank goodness for Cameron😅 I'm still not feeling good but definitely a little better than I have the past couple of months! Thanks for asking, Hilde❤

[@erikaverink8418]

For sending cards find those red postbussen (Mail boxes) , or go to mostly a book/cigarette store where you can get your packages. About the taxes, next year will be easier. Loved the video.

[@alexandergrofics1885]

The last few decades those mail boxes have been orange (PTT = red, TNT/PostNL = orange).

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Thank you, Erik🤗

[@sarspof88]

Great video! Would you consider making a video about finding employment and how y'all moved there? Always curious about the logistics. Did you ship anything over, how'd you find a place to live? I have a young family and would love to move abroad, but thinking about it gets overwhelming.

[@nuuwnhuus]

I had typed out a whole thing about the ways in which you can use the app from your postal system but it won't post here, sent it to your FB instead.

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Thank you, Dionysus! I'll head over to FB to check it out.

[@starbase218]

Btw, when I was Cam’s age, if we would had an American kid join our school, I think we’d be super excited. Just because there is so much cultural influence from the US. Movies, music, everything.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Post office? Try Bruna or one of the supermarkets might have an agency , posting letters? Red letterbox nearby?

[@nuuwnhuus]

Colourblind? Haha if so I'm going to blow your mind. They've been orange for quite some time.

[@ZIUC_ZoneItUpCam]

Great video

[@carmenjones925]

Fijn voor cam . Goed gedaan

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Dank je wel, Carmen.

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Good luck with your pregnancy, stay healthy! 👍

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Thanks, Jack🤗

[@conniemendeszoon9789]

Stamps you can buy at the supermarkt, Like Albert Heijn, same place where you buy cigarerrets, and check out in your neighborhood, you will find Red postbox If it say (overige bestemming,)there is were the overseas mails goes in...is simple How are you feeling now, hope you are feeling much better now. And so proud of Cameron, he is a Dutch speaker now

[@Retro_Care]

maybe a small thing but i heard that kids here are more independent, can play outside on their own, cycle to school or just feel safe in general.

[@jpdj2715]

Hot in the NL - 90F is 32.2C - is like the counterpart of wind chill temperature. Of course when it's hot, wind chills you, or makes the heat bearable. But, we have relative humidity. With so much water everywhere, relative humidity can be much higher in this "moderate sea climate" than farther inland. So wind equal, it can feel much warmer at 90F in the coastal region than at 90F 60 miles away from larger water masses.

[@iamsuzanne73]

Most regular post offices were closed. You will no find PostNL counters in regular shops or supermarkets. You will recognize them by the PostNL sign/sticker on the windows.

[@aliciasschorra1306]

There isnt a post office in the sentence of post office like in the usa. The post office here are always mix with a storm just look at store who has a postnl sign

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Got it! Thanks, Alicia!

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Shopping, go to lidl or aldi, or to a market for vegetables, and Asian stuff. Go to an indonesian shop or turkish shop..

[@bartvschuylenburg]

Ok, for the post office google for “PostNL Service Punt Dordrecht”. (You live in dordrecht right?) They are small service points mostly embedded inside a supermarket or bookstore. The real post offices have been replaced by those over the past 20 years or so.

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Thank you, Bart!

[@marceldevries1366]

You got a rich life so I here.

[@carolinekahuthia7128]

I move to the Netherlands this year in January and am going to Dutch school 3 times a week.. I am from Kenya and used to live in Norway before and i speak very good Norwegian.. But i can assure you learning dutch it's so difficult than Norwegian.... So for me learning Dutch is a challenge .. Do you speak Dutch already? And did you find Dutch difficult to learn?

[@AkuBuru]

I love your vids! Curious how non-Dutchies find their way in this tiny country. One question, do you follow Dutch courses?

[@livinglife.digital3399]

Thank you, Andre! I actually just graduated from a Dutch course. You may have missed it but I talked about it in this video😊: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIqbeYiPq7d_d7M

[@justincodd9725]

I'm not sure if you've addressed this topic in any of your other videos (I've watched a few, but haven't heard you talk about it), but what has finding work been like? Did you get jobs in the Netherlands or did you move with remote jobs already in place?

[@Frahamen]

You make me curious: which kinds of food do you not have in the US but have in the Netherlands?

[@shootingsportstransparency7461]

Did i just see a proud proud mum "-))

[@RealConstructor]

Fill in your tax forms digitally is easy. You download the form, it is already pre-filled by the Dutch IRS, your salary data, your bank account balance, your savings, your stocks. All employers, banks, stock brokers, mortgage lenders, insurance companies etc. are obliged to give these figures to the tax office. You only have to check if the data is correct and add your deductions if you have any. I always do my own taxes, have never used an accountant. Maybe if you have a one-person-business (zzp), you need an accountant, but a private person? Don’t think so. Doing my taxes costs me four hours in total, two hours on two evenings in a row and I’m done. And don’t forget, you’re the one that is responsible for applying your taxes and be truthful about it, not the accountant.

[@Dutchbelg3]

And all the expats complained about The Netherlands having such bad climate with such a load of wind and rain ;-) 😛

[@livinglife.digital3399]

😂🤐

[@nicoletheunissen7077]

🤍of men are cold in the last days 🖤turn now,for What is the deal if you gain the whole world but still lose your own soul 💉🧬💯☠God will judge the world.Repent‼just like in the days of Noah

[@nienkesijm3788]

To send cards/letters you need to find orange brievenbus: cdn.myonlinestore.eu/73d0cb47-dd6a-4e93-b6a6-5eb6b31d6e75/image/cache/full/b76cbb254c2f03127178330d610e3c41d5b09f87.jpg For packages - go to post.nl punt. You can find here where the brievenbussen and post.nl punten are: www.postnl.nl/locatiewijzer/ On the website/app of post.nl you can also buy digital poststamps for either letters/cards and packages.

[@cloudspecs3864]

The best shop is coolblue.