MOVING TO THE NETHERLANDS! 🇺🇸 → 🇳🇱 (american expats in the netherlands)

In this very special episode, Michelle and Alex tell the story of their recent move from the United States to the Netherlands, how they brought their two cats with them, and share what it takes to get a resident permit (long-term visa) with the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (or DAFT).
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Why We Moved
02:11 Kop van Zuid
03:11 Selling our house
03:33 Getting the residence permit
04:09 Moving our stuff
05:28 Moving our cats
08:49 Finding an apartment
10:32 All of the appointments
12:18 Conclusion
We're Michelle and Alex, also known as buncharted, an American couple living as expats in the Netherlands, with an affinity for travel and snacks. Subscribe for new content 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

[@enemy-rogue]

Funny detail: you are standing at hotel New York, the current cruise dock site - which used to be the place where people left the Netherlands for a new life in America (Holland - Amerikalijn).

[@bentels5340]

11:37 The KvK is very much like the Chamber of Commerce, in fact. To be exact: Dutch | English Kamer | Chamber Van | Of Koophandel | Commerce 😉

[@rmyikzelf5604]

You beat me to it! (By about 2 months) ;-)

[@marijkie9205]

I hope you visit the rest of the country too someday. Don't get me wrong the westside is probably amazing but the rest of the country is beautiful too. Welcome to the Netherlands🙂🇳🇱

[@buncharted]

oh yes, we have big plans coming up! looking forward to seeing a lot more of the netherlands 🇳🇱

[@dewinoara]

010❤

[@Snowshowslow]

Welcome to the Netherlands :) I subscribed to see the rest of your adventures.

[@AaronTremblay]

My family and I just decided we want to move there from the US. We’re job searching but also might take advantage of the DAFT! Thanks for the tips, and wish us luck!

[@HylianTom]

The Zelda “You Got The Item” jingle is a great moment. I was watching/listening to this vid while biking to work, and the other people in traffic got to hear me laugh/scream in reacting to it. 😂 (This video was great. Husband and I are planning a DAFT move in a few years, so this was quite helpful!)

[@dropshot1967]

the youtube channel "soul to soul travels" made the same move and also has a number of videos with information about moving to The Netherlands, specifically Rotterdam.

[@LaurenRyan]

Incredibly helpful video! I’ve been dreaming of moving to the Netherlands for many years now & would like to make it happen in the next few. I’ll be sure to come back to this when it’s time! (:

[@eriktabbers3599]

Only seeing now this video. Alot of respect and admiration for following your heart and taking the chance. Because i would feel anxious/insecure about actually moving to another country.

[@michaelsix9684]

very helpful video, thanks for doing it

[@jandirkvanleeuwen]

Hey Alex and Michelle, a warm welcome to the Netherlands. Although it's a bit late ( you're already 6-7 months here or even longer), I finally found your initial video. I've already seen a few of your vids and I must say that they are very nice, informative and funny. I'm a Hagenees (born and grew up in the Hague) and moved to Germany in 2009. Your doing very well as far as I can tell (what do I know😅) and made the decision at the right age. You both have all the time to settle, I'm sure it will all work out well and I wish you both the best of luck 👍👍

[@buncharted]

thank you for the very welcoming message :)

[@moniquevanlill528]

Lol 😂 Alex Melting to the floor in burn out - i know i should not laugh but I actually started laughing out loud 😂 so relatable 😞 that is where we are now 🫠 Thank you Alex & Michelle, your videos are very inspiring 📝 & encouraging 💕 ❤ i love the inserts of the kitties 🐈‍⬛ 🐈 ❤

[@JohnZoetebier]

Good idea to travel around the world. It opens your eyes for new opportunities. One suggestion: have a look around in New Zealand as well. We live there since 1993 and would not want to change it for anything in the world. James Cameron lives here, and he bought two farms in the Wairarapa with a small lake in between. His latest Avatar movie is in the cinemas this December. Many Americans are moving to New Zealand and for a good reason. Just see it for yourself.

[@willvangaal8412]

welcome too the Netherlands Michelle and Alex .

[@shepardjune4472]

Welcome to Rotterdam, excellent choice you guys! Greetings from a fellow Rotterdammert

[@BenjaminD84]

Hey welcome to our beautiful city of Rotterdam! I live around the Central Station area (Agniesebuurt, near Schiekade). Hope you have a great time...

[@vogel2280]

Impressive you found a place to live. I that will be the biggest hurdle for anyone trying to live in the Netherlands (the Dutch included).

[@petrahartog5934]

Yes , for people living in Rotterdam it's impossible to find a house or appartment . We work and live there and would like to move , but are trying for five years without result .

[@debbee18]

New subscriber here! Catching up on your videos. Just arrived last night in Rotterdam. Will stay at the Cube hostel Stayokay in the near future. What amazing architecture!

[@buncharted]

enjoy rotterdam!!

[@ra9r]

More information about the DAFT would be a great video. In particular what kind of business was accepted and what profitability is required to maintain the visa.

[@buncharted]

planning on getting around to this eventually :)

[@VenturesOfTimTim]

@@buncharted yes- I agree that would Be super helpful. Would you mind sharing your immigration lawyers contact information?

[@kacperm3281]

Good luck in the Netherlands and with the new chapter of your life! I lived in Rotterdam for one year and for me it is the best city in the whole world. Also very good location. I would recommend you to try rollerblading, it is such an amazing experience in this city. I was the only man who have been doing it in winter :D If you wanna go to the pub you can visit Irish Pub in the centre, great atmosphere.

[@michellezevenaar]

Wednesday night skate night in Rotterdam is awesome!

[@forkless]

I hope changing the Austin heat for Dutch rain won't be too much of a shocker ahahaha. That said, enjoy no longer having to deal with car-dependent sprawl.

[@rachelvanegas814]

Hello again guys.. Watched your video for the 4th time just to refresh, soooooo much info that I appreciate. We will be arriving September 1st and we can't wait. If possible, can you tell me how it went with finally moving your belongings? Also what moving company did you guys use.. Thanx for all your awesome videos and information. 🤗

[@buncharted]

we don’t recommend using our moving company, so won’t be sharing their name here 😂 the move overall went well, it was just kind of a mess communication-wise. just remember: it’ll take a long time and be really expensive, so only bring the absolute essentials!

[@HYTELES]

You should do a video about the rental costs and a tour of the flat.

[@sacroyalty]

Great video! Might be me and the family soon

[@Nitzpitz]

3 months? 😱 wow! You are fast!

[@Thametownguy]

Hi guys. Really good video. I have subscribed. I look forward to being party to your adventures. I am a us citizen who has lived in the UK for the past 30 years and I have long been a dual citizen. I am fascinated by the bike and walking transport that is built into Dutch life. I would love to see your take on this. If you are not already aware Not Just Bikes is a Canadian transplant to the Netherlands and they cover quality of life comparisons between Dutch/us/Canada. They would be worth getting to know. I look forward to following your story.

[@buncharted]

thank you! i have a not just bikes reference in the video (it’s subtle, haha). we are big fans of their channel.

[@Thametownguy]

When I heard it at the start of the video I wondered if was intentional or not.

[@havenotdohave]

1:20. You made me laugh so hard that you got a new subscriber :). O, and welcome to the Netherlands!

[@buncharted]

thank you :)

[@bailey.in.alignment]

OMG! Just moved to Utrecht a couple of weeks ago for school from Canada. I agreed though that travel day was probably the most stressful ever. I had organized all my paperwork including pretty much every document I had given and recieved from the school and immigration and was still stressing that I somehow missed something I needed. And definitely need to get a new version of my birth certificate because apparently I brought the wrong one... On well, super excited now to start my schooling and dutch language lessons. Are you required to intergrate right away?

[@buncharted]

we've been using duolingo and memrise to get a basic understanding of dutch as quickly as possible. for permanent residence, you need to have a B1-level understanding of the language which is pretty advanced, but we have 7 years to figure that out :) (2 years for initial DAFT + 5 year renewal)

[@ronaldderooij1774]

How can you get a wrong birth certificate?

[@bailey.in.alignment]

@@ronaldderooij1774 because there are different types of birth certificates. Some have more information then others on them. In Canada you have a “long form” and “short form” certificate. Im not sure if this is the same in other counties.

[@tamaraurbas8229]

@@bailey.in.alignment Yes in USA and in Poland they have long form and short form

[@AndreUtrecht]

@@buncharted Apparently Dutch is the easiest language to learn for Native English speakers.... you'll probably will do alright.... but only if you will speak it daily.... 😀... The Dutch are quick to speak English to you if they hear you are not Dutch, don't let it happen to you. And expats find it difficult to make Dutch friends and then end up like most expats with other expats. Apparently this happens to many expats all over Europe and then they blame the local people and culture for not being open to friendships, they're not sociable, they're rude etc etc.... When people know you are there to stay for like not a long time, then this can be a reason for them also to not open up so much, I guess?. And know the Dutch are not Americans. The Dutch like to plan (They plan sometimes a date to go see a film in like one or two months time). Just be prepared for this. Plan with them. Then you will be fine. Don't expect for most Dutch to like spontaneously go somewhere right there on the spot on that day. Of course there will be exceptions. And the younger they are and the more free time they will have the more flexible they'll be. But even then.... the planning thing is a cultural thing. For example if you show up at 18h (6pm) at someone's house and they are having dinner, don't expect to be able to eat dinner with them. They just made enough food for the people they cooked for and did not plan on having guests. And this still happens with kids who are playing at the home of school friends and that family is starting to have dinner, if it was not planned for the guest kid to also eat with the hosting family most of the times he or she won't eat with them. Again, exceptions to the rule exist. It is really possible to make Dutch friends, just plan outings, going out for a beer, to go shopping together, to go to the beach, cooking together etc etc via your planner, your agenda, your calendar. Then you'll be fine. And watch Dutch tv.... you have public national tv (the three NPO channels) and the commercial channels (the RTL channels, SBS, Net5 etc)..... NL has like daily talkshows at night where they talk about politics, culture and current things happening in the news.... it is like late in the evening (Op1, Jinek)..... many Duchies will now say they are like rubbish talkshows because they like one or the other or none. But it is more about hearing the langauge daily in your home. Even when you don't understand it, you'll hear the rhythms of the language, the sounds, the melodies.... it will help. Or watch the daily gossip show RTL Boulevard on RTL4 around 18:30h (07:30pm), they'll also talk about stars in Hollywood, Dutch 'stars' etc. Or the daily soap at around 20:00h (8pm), also on RTL4, called Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden: it is a soap opera, not much substance but again: it is just to hear the language in your home. And turn on the Dutch subtitles on Netflix... ah and find some Dutch artists on Spotify who you might like (lots of them sing in English but also some in Dutch. Perhaps you'll like S10, Spinvis or quite some other singers also. And Rotterdam is part of the Randstad area. Use the Randstad in its entirety I would say (but also to Groningen, Maastricht or even Antwerp in Belgium is not very far. Especially from Rotterdam you're quickly in Antwerp or within like 3 hours in Paris by the fast train). Of course Rotterdam has a lot to offer but public transport is most of the time excellent and the distances are very short. Get like a reduction plan also at the Dutch Railways: the NS. You'll get reduction on your tickets if you meet the rules of the plan you bought, for 1st and 2nd class. And with that card at most stations in NL you can rent for very cheap an OV-fiets (OV stands for Public Transport (Openbaar Vervoer) and you can bike in any city to your destination. And perhaps get a Museumkaart..... you pay like 60 euro or so for one year.... and it will give you free access to most museums in the country or you'll get like a reduction at special exhibitions. Ah and don't forget to go to the Wadden Islands in the north (my favorite is Vlieland, no cars allowed on Vlieland only for the people who live there). In summer lovely but the Dutch also go there with like bad autumn and winter weather. But summer's are lovely there. IF there is good summer weather. If you plan a summer holiday or long weekend on Vlieland or one of the other islands, already plan it now for next year. In summer the islands are often fully booked. But most Dutch plan their holiday for next year already before the end of this year. This year we had like a long sunny summer. But there are like bad summers in NL where we won't have much sun. Ah yes the weather: be prepared for like the autumn and winter months: lots of grey months. With continuous grey clouds in the sky. Perhaps I exaggerate but I feel it is like grey 24/7 from October to like May. NL is nicest in spring and summer. But perhaps climate change will be changing this also. Enjoy your time here. Will be nice to follow your videos on here.

[@estrangednetwork]

Love your channel! Can you tell me how the cats did locked up for the 10 hour flight? Sounds like they might be used to traveling? You mentioned the vacine requirements for the cats, but what about for you guys?

[@buncharted]

thank you!! they were good on the flight but obviously very antsy, especially closer to the end. so were we! they have traveled before but i wouldn’t say they’re used to it - pants has flown once before and sashimi twice. lots of time in between. i’m actually not sure of the current vaccine requirements for the netherlands. we’re fully vaccinated and we brought our paperwork with us but i’m not sure we ever had to show it?

[@royklein9206]

A very hearty welcome zelda-fans! Hope you guys have a great time over here :)

[@Centurion101B3C]

Welcome and enjoy!

[@fransezomer]

Welcome to the Netherlands! Tip #1: Buy a (cheap) bike! (with a good lock.)

[@hollyc3838]

How many days can you travel out of Netherlands with the residence visa? Can you travel to other Schengen countries freely or do you need to abide by the 90 day restriction? Thanks.

[@henrimessinghausen5185]

Fijn dat jullie hier zijn....

[@ShanuWral]

HELP! What company did you use to move your stuff to the Netherlands?

[@spilln01]

Welcome to our tiny country!

[@ChristopherDH]

I have mixed feelings. Welcome and I love that people appreciate our culture.. On the other side: we are overcrowded and have a huge housing crisis.

[@rachelvanegas814]

Hello and thank you for all the helpful information. Do you have the name of the Attorney you guys used for the DAFT??

[@buncharted]

daft.amsterdam

[@rachelvanegas814]

@@buncharted Thank you! 😊

[@starfishrescue]

Hi thank you so much for this. My husband and I are from Los Angeles and have pretty much sold or given away everything. Our plan is to go to the Netherlands in a month or two and apply for the DAFT visa (held up due to a problem getting his birth cert from New York, long story)--but anyhow wondered who your realtor was? Thanks again!

[@buncharted]

we compiled all of our contacts (and a bazillion other helpful things) into a guide here: buncharted.gumroad.com/l/help-me-move-to-the-netherlands

[@starfishrescue]

@@buncharted yes we just purchased--great info, will read even more carefully tomorrow

[@taylorsabbag6962]

My wife and I are planning on moving to the Netherlands in the near future and will attain employment there as the primary means of getting a permit. We have two dogs, and even without them, would still want to ensure we're doing everything right, so might I ask which law firm you guys used?

[@buncharted]

our attorney specialized in DAFT, which is a permit based on self-employment. if you’re looking for regular employment, it might be best to just find a company to sponsor your move here. they will typically have people to guide you through the immigration process.

[@taylorsabbag6962]

@@buncharted Thanks for the reply. We will look into those law firms.

[@TP-meyer]

Thanks so much for all the great information. I also do tech work. I can't figure out if the DAFT visa would restrict me to taking contract work only from Dutch clients? I would have many more options if I could contract with US businesses and just do the work from my new home base in the NL. Also, you must have felt pretty sure you would be granted the visa (?). We've dumped all our physical possessions and uprooted the family to foreign destinations already, but it seems terrifying to make a rent commitment and then possibly be rejected for the residency permit!

[@buncharted]

there are no requirements to have dutch clients. and yes - that was a huge source of stress for us during the move! but if you work with an immigration attorney here and make sure you have your paperwork prepped (apostilled docs mostly), everything is pretty straightforward. getting the renewal after two years is a bit more nuanced (we haven’t gone through that yet).

[@TP-meyer]

@@buncharted This is incredibly helpful. I will be calling your recommended immigration attorney tomorrow! May I ask if you have a tax/accounting firm you're using there? I got a name from Soul to Soul but would always prefer to have options to compare.

[@buncharted]

@@TP-meyer we're using kees de boekhouder

[@thedonatelo]

Hi, is there a way to check what the current wait times are to make the registration appointment in each city (ie. which cities have the shortest wait times)? Thanks!

[@buncharted]

no, not all together - you'd have to check each gemeente's website

[@ecfont94]

So how difficult was it to be eligible for a visa/residency? I'm seriously considering moving aboard and considering a few countries and getting so overwhelmed with all the different information online. Probably stupid question but I'm just curious, thank you in advance! Hope your living your best lives!

[@buncharted]

it wasn't difficult at all, as long as you're willing to start (or re-start) your own business in the netherlands :)

[@laurenlindsey]

hi! my husband and i are planning on moving to amsterdam and applying for daft next june. i’m pretty confused on the rental process. originally, we thought that we could stay in an airbnb or serviced apartment for the first couple of months and use that address to start the DAFT application process. but now, it seems as though we would need our permanent apartment before we start the application process.. in order to get a BSN. my confusion is- how would we rent an apartment without a residence permit? i guess it’s possible but it just seems weird/ like a catch 22. i would just think you would need a residence permit to rent! like they would want to verify that you are allowed to stay in the country for the term of the lease. also if you don’t mind me asking, how much did y’all spend on a rental agent/ where did you find one? we will probably end up hiring one because this process seems so stressful/ almost impossible to do by ourselves. very informatice video, thank you!

[@buncharted]

you can definitely get a serviced apartment to start off with. that's what we did! just make sure they allow you to register there. and be aware that they are very expensive compared to a proper apartment.... they're priced similarly to full service hotels. also, we were able to get our apartment without the permit. you're right that it's probably a concern of the landlord, but you can typically offer to pay a couple of months rent up front or something. our agent cost the equivalent of one month's rent, paid upon moving in. our agent worked for orange homes. they're great!

[@laurenlindsey]

@@buncharted amazing, thank you so much! we have actually already booked a couple months at Htel which is a serviced apartment just outside of Amsterdam- they allow you to register. It is crazy expensive😅 which is why I was hoping to stay in an airbnb we found for a month or so while apartment hunting (it’s half the price). Did y’all hire your agent before arriving in The Netherlands? I wonder if they can view and secure an apartment on our behalf while we’re still in the states? I keep reading at the moment that it’s best to secure your housing before leaving due to the housing shortage. We will have our cat with us as well, and if we find an apartment before we leave the states we will also bring our dog. If not, we will have our dog sent to us after finding an apartment and being approved for daft. so stressful man

[@buncharted]

@@laurenlindsey yeah, it's super stressful, especially with pets! yes, you can find an agent that will work with you abroad. ours offered to do virtual showings for us (pre-recorded or over facetime) while were in the US. looking back, i wish we had gone that route, but we did not understand the extent of the housing shortage before arriving 😅

[@laurenlindsey]

@@buncharted yes we will probably do that then. honestly, one months rent isn’t bad at all and is cheap compared to getting there and having to stay in serviced apartments for months + risk not finding housing and having to come home. thanks!

[@fransezomer]

The prerequisite for applying for your BSN is that you need to be formally registered with the Amsterdam municipality with an Amsterdam address. It doesn't matter if that is through an AirBNB or other type of renting contract. But keep in mind that because of the short term type of stay of most AirBNBs, landlords do usually NOT allow people to register on their addresses. An address registry with the municipality will have tax implications for the landlord, that's why. So, you need to get a formal approval/agreement with the landlord for registering with the municipality in your rent/lease contract. After the BSN has been issued you can move to any location in the city, or in the country even. You can then change your address with the municipality online. So, your first accommodation does NOT have to be your permanent accommodation for your entire DAFT stay.

[@BabzV]

I love how much you love your furry felines, I have two myself(Black and a tuxedo). 😊🌷

[@maidenekker]

Nice video! Lovely cats and welcome to you all. I am curious, what kind of work do you do that makes it possible for you both to emigrate? You own a business , i got that, but what kind? I hope you still like it here after some time, it is quite a difficult time for a lot of people at the moment, especially finacially.

[@buncharted]

i’m a freelance consultant in tech! and thank you for the kind words!

[@rabiezife5060]

Hi Alex, I really like your videos and you inspired me to move to the Netherlands as well, I work in the IT field as well. What kind of IT consulting are you doing? that would be helpful to know. Thanks

[@HeatherFarris]

We are planning our move to the Netherlands right now. We just started the process because my company is a lot more established here in the US and we want to ensure we get the 30% ruling so we aren't just going there before getting the company and 30% ruling in place first. Our biggest hurdle is going to be housing I'm afraid -- like most other people too. I can't remember, did you say you used a service to help you find a place?

[@dutchladylover]

Housing (especially in the west part of the country and the major cities, who mostly are located in the west) is mayhem at the moment. Not impossible, but absolutely not easy. There is an American couple living in Rotterdam who ,I believe as part of the DAFT agreement, have started a company on helping people like yourself with all the questions you have about moving to the Netherlands. They have a YT channel as well. Soul to Soul travels. Good luck with the move. 👍

[@buncharted]

yep! i highly recommend using an agent to help you secure housing, even if renting. they aren’t miracle workers (they can’t make housing appear where there is none), but our agent knew all of the other agents, and that helped us get showings and helped us negotiate when we were putting in offers. they can also do virtual showings for you while you’re in the US.

[@HeatherFarris]

@@buncharted do you have an agency you preferred? I emailed 3 last night to start that relationship.

[@buncharted]

we used orange homes!

[@Koen030NL]

My girlfriend and I are renting out and appartment in Rotterdam on a really good location by octobre next year. We use "Rotsvast" agency, maybe they have some houses on offer. House market is crazy so prices are quite high.

[@jjakjjak5231]

Good luck!

[@Michael154]

My partner and I are planning a similar move in the next year or two. Could you provide the name of the attorney and real estate agent you worked with (if you recommend them)?

[@buncharted]

daft.amsterdam for the attorney. and we used orange homes as our agent!

[@FilmverzamelaarVincent]

van harte welkom :)

[@mariskavandasselaarofficial]

Welcome to the Netherlands! The east of the country is very beautiful. ;)

[@assasain999]

Welcome to the Netherlands, i was born here and moved to Georgia, USA in 1995 and moved back to the Netherlands (currently in the province of Limburg) in 2012 , i love it here.

[@starsparkle5369]

May I ask why you moved back? I am thinking of moving to USA

[@SALVATl0N]

Subbed. What advice do you have for finding an immigration attorney?

[@buncharted]

ooh good question! i can’t imagine there’s much difference since it’s a straightforward process, so maybe just look for one with the best price?

[@buncharted]

UNLESS you have specific requirements or concerns, then i’d talk to a few of them and see who is most knowledgeable about your circumstances. but if you’re following the same path as us, it’s pretty straightforward so anyone can help!

[@TheTemplar1962]

People visit held alway,s Stroopwafels of Bokkenpootjes in huis

[@expat8460]

I am in New Braunfels Texas right now and want to get out of here lol. I receive government pension so won’t need to work. Wonder if I can do it

[@HollandHiking]

Welcome to the Netherlands. Did you already consider learning Dutch? You really will need it if you want to stay here for a long time.

[@mariodriessen9740]

Welcome!

[@roonekoos6146]

Hi welcome to our country, I hope you like it. Tip: watch jovie’s home youtube channel, it is an American that moved here with tons of info. Visit our country sides you will love it 😉. Cheers ❤️🇳🇱

[@toddboothbee1361]

Can you rent if you have a large enough bundle of cash, or do you have to have steady income providing at least 3x your rent?

[@buncharted]

i think you should be OK with proof of savings but be ready to lose out on some places, since they’ll commonly be looking for steady income with 3x rent. a real estate agent can help make your case.

[@karinschmidt4588]

What is the tax situation? Paying both in The Netherlands and US?

[@buncharted]

as a US citizen, you'll have to file your taxes in the netherlands and the US, but your taxable amount in the US is after your Dutch tax payments. it's more of an annoyance (and another set of fees) than anything else.

[@macmartin86]

KvK is the litteral translation of Camber of Commerce: Kamer = Camber, van = of, Koophandel = Commerce.

[@franswiggers601]

In 12 months time from now I want you guys to make these videos in perfect Rotterdamish lingo, hoorrrrr!!!

[@aislingbooks]

I was just curious, did your cats travel in storage or onboard with you? You 13-year-old seemed to have adjusted nicely.

[@buncharted]

onboard. we got lucky since KLM allowed pets to travel in the cabin with us. we probably would have done a more annoying route if we had to though. we didn't really want to put them through a day in the cargo hold.

[@aislingbooks]

I wouldn't want to either. I've always had pedigree cats and wondered what they'd have to go through if I had. One of my friends brought her exotic Tabby and Persian to the States through cargo and had no problems. I would've worried with squish nosed cats, myself, which I luckily don't have.

[@moos127]

Welcome to my town Rotterdam! Nice to see this, for me it's the opposite: I want to move to the states someday. I was born here in Rotterdam. It sure is a great town, lots of cultures, lots to see, lots to do. Good luck here and maybe we meet someday!

[@MikeFromMaine]

Great video. I'm an American with an online business so I think the DAFT visa could work for me. However my wife is Turkish. Have you heard of anyone being married to a non-American citizen using this visa to move there. Thanks!

[@buncharted]

great question - i have no idea though! you should definitely speak with an immigration attorney that specializes in DAFT.

[@MikeFromMaine]

thanks...any attorney that you recommend? @@buncharted

[@geneholden6645]

What sort of business qualifies for the DAFT treaty?

[@buncharted]

any, pretty much! from dog walking to building an app to consulting to opening a coffee shop… all would likely qualify.

[@marceldevries1366]

Welkom and behave. !!

[@davidc.w.2908]

Make sure to check out the channels of “Soul to Soul Travels” of an American expat couple who live very close to you and “T and T Go Dutch” of another American expat couple who are also from Texas!

[@clyubove]

I have several question. How much did it cost you to hire an image ration lawyer, an agent to help you find a flat and the costs of getting the cats to the Netherlands?

[@buncharted]

can you message us on instagram? happy to talk through the details more there :)

[@regntonne]

Do you have some American Analog Set on vinyl?

[@buncharted]

i have a big vinyl collection!

[@regntonne]

@@buncharted American Analog Set is from Austin i believe, or at least somewhere in Texas. If you don't know them, check 'em out, they're a really cool lo-fi band.

[@buncharted]

ooh! thanks for the recommendation!

[@nomirrors3552]

My son named one of our cats Pants.

[@lienbijs1205]

Oops, it seems a new thing and rising that Americans are moving to the Netherlands, it is actually worrying me since the Netherlands is already overcrowded, housing problems and so on.

[@spoonwinnipeg2021]

Check out T & T Go Dutch. They're from Austin too and live in Leiden

[@spoonwinnipeg2021]

And Soul To Soul Travels live in Rotterdam also. Lots of ex-pats making good content on KZbin from The Netherlands.

[@spoonwinnipeg2021]

I love Rotterdam's architechture. It's an amazing city all around. My father was born there and it's one of the places in The Netherlands I'm considering for retirement.

[@TAndTGoDutch]

👋 fairly close but Houston. Welcome to The Netherlands Buncharted!

[@buncharted]

👋

[@koolklem7889]

Ready for the Dutch winter months ? ☔🌨

[@buncharted]

we lived in seattle for a while, so i think so! guess we'll find out soon :)

[@koolklem7889]

@@buncharted OK then, you're good to go 😅

[@peppapotato]

Wonderful! What is your agent name/compnay? Love to know thank you!

[@buncharted]

orange homes!

[@peppapotato]

@@buncharted thanks so much!!!

[@coricostagliola2503]

I know this is an older video, so I hope you see this question! Which documents did you need to have apostilled? Birth certificates and marriage certificate? Anything else?

[@buncharted]

just those two!

[@markleeman6775]

Welcome

[@meganpillay4598]

What is your plans for summer?

[@buncharted]

probably will end up moving to a less expensive flat somewhere in the netherlands. and lots of travel - just not sure where yet! 😄

[@meganpillay4598]

@@buncharted 🤣 yes was shocked to hear how much you pay

[@ladystefanigebo5697]

22 Months and we will be joining you. With 2 cats & 2 dogs

[@therocketsummer]

Recommendations for how to find a good immigration lawyer/service?

[@buncharted]

we used daft.amsterdam

[@Wielie0305]

Welkom in NL!

[@RivMark643]

Did you fly with your cats on a one-way ticket or did you have to get a return ticket?

[@buncharted]

one way - we ain’t goin’ back 😄

[@RivMark643]

@@buncharted LOL that's awesome! We are also moving with our cats in a few months, and we were worried they would turn us away if we showed up with one-way tickets! Good to know.

[@80Mrblueeyes]

Welcome in the netherlands

[@franciscoorozco9695]

want to move to rotterdam. what is the easiest job that americans can get in netherlands? thank you

[@buncharted]

starting your own business of some sort

[@franciscoorozco9695]

well i tried to figure out ways to make it work. i actually overstayed my tourist visa and got penalized. not able to return couple years. but i have been in a serious relationship with a dutch national and she wants to apply for a residency permit relationship based for me. have you met americans that have gone that route of meeting a dutch national and then living together and applying for residency. from what i understand if we get accepted for residency permit i can go back to netherlands and not have to worry about the entry prohibition. @@buncharted

[@franciscoorozco9695]

i also looked into the DAFT but you need so much money in the bank to make that happen. I see that you sold your house in texas. i wish i had a house in america and i would have done the same. as you mentioned about healthcare and the more calm pace of life here. your videos are really amazing and i hope you get really popular on youtube :) @@buncharted

[@ozymandiascakehole3586]

yes i have a question, why the netherlands?

[@buncharted]

we talk about it in the video! but the short version is: we love the netherlands :)

[@fandavidbeckham]

Frankly speaking, I do not understand a young couple living in Austin who have moved to The Netherlands. I have lived in Congo, South Africa, South West Africa (Namibia) and since I am living in Brussels. My girlfrind Brigitte Blé who sings Piaf would like to move to Spain. I have been travelling in a lot of counctires during my life and always enjoyed being in several countries. For the cats, I would have just made a last BBQ in Austin. Only pulling your leg. But perhaps you have moved to the Netherlands because they have Max Verstappen. Yes a am a big fan of F1 saw my first race of F1 in 1962 in East London (RSA). But when you have left your home country what about your family, parents, sister or brother, etc ? I wish you all the best but wait when it will be raining?

[@buncharted]

austin was only our most recent home in the US! it’s been a while since we’ve lived close to family. and we’ve lived in seattle for a bit as well so hoping that means we’re accustomed to the rain :)

[@MrHaagsesjonny1]

​@@buncharted despite the mediocre Dutch weather ; undeniably the Dutch have humor and know how to party!!(Tgjeee what will happen if the Dutch squad win the 2022 World Cup football in Qatar ? this winter period - 20 Nov- 18 Dec)

[@fandavidbeckham]

@@buncharted When we lived in Tsumed (Namibia) and It would rain we were getting crazy and everyone would be so happy. When. At the age of 7 I had already visited 22 countries World Tour from Durban(RSA) to Europ via Canal Suez Venezia etc till Antwerpen (Belgium). All the best to you and hope that you will always be happy to have moved from US to The Netherlands.

[@fandavidbeckham]

@@MrHaagsesjonny1 World Cup 2022 in Qatar. I don't see The Netherlands or Belgian team win this world Cup. It's going to be hot, hot, hot. Now the Red Devils could do something because a devil should be used to hot weather. I would rather bet on a second title of Max then the Dutch Suad.

[@Shotime231]

do you have to show you make a certain amount monthly i know you have to put up the 4500 euros but do you have to have proof you make a monthly income?

[@buncharted]

there isn’t a set monthly amount that you need to make, but you do need to show that your business is making some money.

[@Shotime231]

@@buncharted before you move to the Netherlands or after or both?

[@buncharted]

after. DAFT basically is about you moving to the netherlands and starting a business. so showing that your new business makes money is what matters.

[@Shotime231]

@@buncharted thank you :) and I assume you got your address for everything once you found a place or did you have to do something temporary to get the paperwork.

[@oudekaas5625]

Welcome to the Netherlands. All the best to you. Greetings from The Hague.

[@AstronautOmar]

Can you shout out the link or the name of your immigration agent/attorney?

[@buncharted]

daft.amsterdam

[@MrHaagsesjonny1]

Hopefully you also will survive here the European energy crisis (due to the Ukraine-Russian war).Good luck in Nederland

[@SpaceMakerMethod]

Wait, you didn't do the Titer test?

[@buncharted]

i don't even know what it is :)

[@SpaceMakerMethod]

I have a few more questions to add (we're moving to Amsterdam soon as well)- How long after moving did it take for you to find an apartment? Did you not have your visas or bank accounts open before getting the apartment? We're also moving with a cat, so I'm curious if you prebooked a place to stay before arriving (and prior to getting an apartment) and if so, how long did you plan for this?

[@buncharted]

@@SpaceMakerMethod we were lucky enough to find our apartment within the first two weeks of being here, actually. and no, we didn't have our permit finalized (we only had proof it was in progress). we did have a personal bank account, but we didn't end up using it - we ended up just transferring the funds directly to the property management company from our US accounts via Wise. we booked the hotel at the schiphol airport for the first night after the flight just to let the cats (and us) relax. the next day, we moved to a serviced apartment that we booked for the first two months, to allow us time to finalize the permit/visa and find a permanent place to live.

[@SpaceMakerMethod]

@@buncharted That's so crazy. It' the rabies certificate that you need to obtain for each cat to enter the country. It costs around $1000 in the states and takes 2ish months to arrive. 😯

[@SpaceMakerMethod]

@@buncharted Thanks guys! We've moved internationally so many times, but only 1x with our cat and it makes it so much more complicated. This is all so helpful! Thank you!

[@peterf1]

So, I'm pretty sure, you're going to laugh off my comment as being way OTT and over dramatic... but this video is life changing for my wife and I. We are from CT in the US, and were 'married' in the Netherlands nearly 20 years ago, and that began my love affair with the country. So, yeah we have been back to NED over and over again and will be celebrating our 20th anniversary later this spring... on a bike and barge tour through the country. Why the life story? Because we've been dreaming of retiring there and YOUR VIDEO has been a huge boost to our ability to believe we can make it happen. My wife's family is Dutch and her parents moved here to the US after WW2. So she's very familiar... but there's a trepidation that comes with being a bit older than you kids, and our 3 cats doesn't make the concept of moving abroad any easier. But again, you guys are so inspiring. I'm an amateur 'student' of the YT culture of what makes a successful channel and I have nothing but compliments. You both are great on camera...funny, cute, charming, engaging... keep it up. Subscribed and truly fans.

[@buncharted]

thank you so much! i'm glad this video was inspiring to you :)

[@UBERKalti]

I would worry too much about my cat(s) to keep me from going all together

[@Mr_Banker222]

Did you have to surrender your U.S citizenship?

[@buncharted]

no, we’re residents of the netherlands. we still are US citizens.

[@ApPot]

Welkom

[@larl07]

The orange and tram... I see u

[@neb502]

Welcome to Rotterdam from "het noordereiland"

[@JulesStoop]

Welcome y’all! I hope you’ll feel happy here and manage to establish (or continue) a thriving business!

[@mikebreen2890]

How are you getting on with filing your US taxes?

[@buncharted]

it’s currently in progress, but it doesn’t seem like it’ll be that big of a deal. just two sets of taxes that i need to file. i’ll post an update video after it’s all said and done though!

[@mikebreen2890]

@@buncharted I would be interested in seeing that video. Many tens of thousands have been forced to renounce US citizenship over this issue. For sure, there is no financial security living under US tax code outside of US borders, the penalties make sure of that, as does the US habit of moving the goalposts for those abroad and ruining them in the process, latest example being in 2017. Oh sure, it's simple enough if you just have a job and earned income, but go self employed, have your own business, start trying to save and invest, need local insurance products, want to buy a home, start receiving local benefits such as unemployment, maternity, sickness....this is where it all goes to hell in literally hundreds of hours of penalty laden reporting and US taxation that can be confiscatory. And don't forget FBAR, failing to comply with that warrantless search by a US criminal investigation agency, if deemed wilful is a penalty of circa $130,0000. I wish you luck, but I suspect you are embarking on another journey of discovery when it comes to a US exceptionalism that has embassies all over the world backed up with renunciation of citizenship appointments. Good luck.

[@frankgeurts3912]

Name of the cats?

[@buncharted]

sashimi and pants!