MY BIGGEST MISTAKES | Moving to Amsterdam - Netherlands as an Australian expat

[@TheEvertw]

About choosing Amsterdam: IF you can afford to live there, it is a great place. Other cities are less metropolitan, but you will definitely not feel out of place in the neighboring cities. The Netherlands as a whole are pretty diverse.

[@ericscott5224]

This is the first time I have ever heard the 30% Ruling talked about in an expat vlog. It is a huge benefit that I received for 10 years.

[@soumyopattnaik6787]

Wasn't the benefit for 5 years, how did you get 10 years?

[@ericscott5224]

@@soumyopattnaik6787 no idea,, except that I did receive the 30% ruling for 10 years.

[@LeesaYu]

It used to be 10 years, was shortened to 8 years, then shortened again to 5 years

[@halfexotic363]

What is a high skilled job? How would I know if I qualify?

[@koffiegast]

10 years or heck anything longer than 1 year is extremely unfair. The local population doesnt have any such benefits but are expected to pick up the tab. Young local folks cannot buy a house or even rent as immigration keeps soaring...

[@Entraidhi622]

This video is gold! Nobody, literally nobody talks about these things!! Thank you!!

[@LeesaYu]

🥰 glad you found it helpful!

[@sjoerdmhh]

My subjective perception is that this video is 80% about climate and 20% about how the Netherlands is not the same as Amsterdam. Of course the weather can be quite important for your mood, especially if you feel like it is impossible to go outside if the sun doesn't shine. So it can be a big thing! (Personally I think it is physically possible and can even be pleasant to have a walk on a grey winter's day. Give it a try!) But to get back to the point: these things are not really specific to the Netherlands, they are just about temperate climate zones.

[@hamster4618]

As for your arrival time (autumn): perhaps the following summer seemed great(ish) because you survived your first grey, wet & windy autumn and winter before, allowing you to fully appreciate spring and summer. Had you arrived during summer, you might have thought “brr what an awful summer”, only to have it followed by an even worse autumn and winter. Tip: try and take a holiday at a sunny destination somewhere between October to march, it will make autumn/winter seem less long, less depressing. Also make sure to go outside on sunny winter days (and check vitamin D).

[@LeesaYu]

Yes that’s true! I hadn’t thought of it that way. I guess there is a bright side to everything :) both very good tips, thanks for sharing!

[@tessiegril5736]

Firstly, I'm obliged by city duty to recommend people to live any place other than Amsterdam. The housing prices are even worse than the rest of the country. Rotterdam is quite ethnically diverse and has "unique" architecture. Utrecht and Leiden are beautiful and every time I go there, I find interesting events to come back for. (However, my brother keeps being happy about how unhip Leiden is so that might be a plus or a minus depending on your perspective.) Gouda is a great place if you want something more like a small town but still have amenities and have fast public transport to the rest of the Randstad. About the shoes, heels are less common here but I think that has more to do with the weather and a culture that favors practical and casual clothing given what women in southern Europe wear on *hilly* cobblestones. I wore heels daily when in school (because all my classmates were so tall) and once you learn how to, riding a bike in no big in heels. While I do agree with you recommendation of moving to the Netherlands in the warmer seasons if you're coming from a hot place. The country is a whole different place when you can skate on "natuurijs". It doesn't happen that often anymore but when it does people take time off and just spend whole days on the ice. To give an idea about the skate culture, the past years the national tv and their news app pretended that an iceskating event that happened a quarter century ago was happening, putting the whole thing on tv and updating the app as if it was happening in real time. Strict Christian people who don't do any sort of sport on a Sunday will skate on a Sunday.

[@LeesaYu]

Thanks for sharing your perspective and experience! Of course, I absolutely love Amsterdam but I agree that it is overpriced and that there are other beautiful cities in the Netherlands. It’s been so cold these days - I wonder if we will see more ice skating this year 😍

[@StevanOutdoor]

Sounds like solid advice. I have worked and lived in Amsterdam for years but happy to have moved to The Hague. I think that The Hague actually might be more diverse since we have a large Indonesian community also but also a lot of people from Latin America. All the government is here including most embassies and consulates, the international criminal court, etc. so we do have a large number of expats living here. And we are right at the beach. In winter I wear normal shoes (or work shoes) but in summer I change to flip flops as much as I can.

[@LeesaYu]

I've only very briefly visited The Hague to renew my passport, but I found it to be a really lovely place! Hopefully can visit again properly as I heard the beach nearby is really nice there :)

[@StevanOutdoor]

@@LeesaYu Yes indeed the beach is very nice. Scheveningen but also Kijkduin. From my house in The Hague city center it's about 20 minutes by tram and I'm on the beach. But the city is very nice also. Less tourists as Amsterdam maybe but still enough. A lot of diversity and expats also. Many different restaurants to choose from. I like it better here then in Amsterdam. Housing is also cheaper.

[@ashutosh5890]

Literally the best content I have come by on youtube for tips for living in the netherlands!!

[@LeesaYu]

Makes me so happy to read this comment 😍

[@rulifaller8474]

The weather is just very changeable during every season. Autumn and winter can be very rainy and chilly, but also the most beautiful days for going outside. Autumn colors are great and a frosty and sunny day is just so refreshing. However, the days are always short at that time of year so that gives it a much darker feeling.

[@EvainValencia]

usually its just gray all year round

[@HugoLoLxD]

I can relate to you cuz I moved during this autumn and celebrated the holiday season alone as well. But even with the bad weather and lockdown I'm loving the city! And looking forward to the next videos 😊

[@LeesaYu]

Hope you are settling in nicely! Absolutely agree with you there - even during the hard lockdown of 2021, I still loved it here and was so happy with our decision to move to Amsterdam. It’s so beautiful and plenty of wonderful green spaces to explore too!

[@hplc123456]

@@LeesaYu But, you have to give it to us, you can laugh your ass off when you see one of our european spiders, and the most dangerous thing in the water is another human.....admit it lady!, you no longer feel a need to shake your shoes, do you? :) .....and its easier to find a pot of gold than a snake here

[@LeesaYu]

LOL yes I have to say that the wildlife here is not scary at all 🤣🤣 your spiders are tiny!And no cockroaches either!

[@deneshae]

Been here 7 years and yep - October to April, you find me inside until we come out of hibernation! And I have worn heels about 3 times in that time..oh..and Utrecht, Leiden and Rotterdam are also great cities.

[@LeesaYu]

It’s definitely hibernation time now! I’ve not yet been to Rotterdam but hope to go some time soon!

[@clusterpain2000]

If it is true that one can learn from one's own mistakes, as well as from mistakes that other people make, then just now you have spread a lot of wisdom.

[@LeesaYu]

I hope so! Thanks for your comment 🥰🥰

[@rondotexe]

First time viewer here. Lots of helpful tips in this video. I look forward to checking out the rest of your videos!

[@LeesaYu]

Glad to hear!!

[@yaningzhao8445]

My partner and I moving to Netherlands very soon. I am so glad I watched you video. It is so helpful. Thanks for all the dos and dons. Some of them really make a huge impact!

[@LeesaYu]

Really happy to hear that my video helps you! It’s why I started this KZbin channel ♥️ Good luck with your move!!!!

[@flower_power]

As a Dutch women, i do wear heels! And in the summer I do wear the shoes you show. And you can bring other shoes to the destination and change.

[@LeesaYu]

Good to hear! I have to say I’ve never seen anyone in heels except in the office. But of course there are exceptions. I personally love not feeling the pressure anymore of wearing heels all the time. If I wanted to wear white sneakers every day, that would be totally fine. The fashion style here is much more up my alley.

[@hamster4618]

@@LeesaYu I think that may also be corona. I have a couple friends who would wear high heels; staying working/home wearing “sloffen” for 2 years kinda eliminated the high heel. But, I guess they’ll reappear again.

[@superlynnie]

A note on the 30% ruling, the government can change it anytime. If you have it now and they decided to change the law to shorten it within your 30% ruling period, you could possibly lose it. There is a court case against the Dutch government atm on this exact situation.

[@LeesaYu]

Yes indeed, it is always fluctuating! It used to be 8 years, and has already been shortened to 5 years. Now it has been capped.

[@daviduyaban]

I'm moving there soon.. And your videos are honestly some of the most useful ones I've found!! Thank you so much! ☺️

[@LeesaYu]

Ahhh so happy to hear that!! Good luck with your move!

[@haribageski3327]

I did exactly the same main 3 mistakes you mentioned. Thanks for sharing.

[@LeesaYu]

😂 at least I’m not alone… I think our ‘mistakes’ are quite common ones!

[@hamster4618]

If you want to get to know people, join up some sports association, like a field hockey club or start rowing. In these types of (team) sports the “third half” is quite important. I also know a number of people who joined the website “nieuwe mensen leren kennen” (you can search it), it’s used by (Dutch) people who want to meet new people, for example because the moved, or came out of a relationship. They do all kinds of activities.

[@LeesaYu]

This is a great tip, thank you!

[@LizzyBu]

Girl!!!! You saved me. I was just going to apply for a partner mvv tomorrow, was also going to work as an engineer later. Changed my plan to try to get the ruling. Thank you so much!! 😍

[@LeesaYu]

They are more expensive because they are convenient and also still have fun things to do! 😉 i think that’s often a priority for people who choose to uproot their lives and move to a different country

[@vpnconsult]

Don't fear making mistakes!

[@viviviviray1658]

Thank you for sharing, Leesa! This is very helpful!

[@LeesaYu]

Glad to hear that!

[@TheEvertw]

About the weather: last summer was pretty dismal even for Dutch standards. Two summers before that we broke our temperature record: +40.7° centigrade, with hot weather from May to September...

[@LeesaYu]

Hoping for a better summer this year!!

[@abigailbrookes7721]

From the weather us Brits have the same problem. But you can still wear your cute footwear. Two things: the weather app on your phone is your friend. And with practice, you’ll get to know what shoes to wear for the day.

[@LeesaYu]

Agreed! I think it's just a mind shift and learning to favour practical clothing more

[@JohnMcGovarin]

Such a helpful video. Looking at this based in Perth and intimidated by the costs of Amsterdam, even though it's where all the video jobs seem to be. I'll be looking in the surrounding area. All the best!

[@LeesaYu]

Good luck!!

[@8alakai8]

being here sinds i was 3 years old form australia i like the summers with the long light and i like the winters to bundel up a thome and be warm and cozy boht have there thing

[@H1SCOTTY]

Utrecht less than an hour, it’s probably a 20 minute ride. Rotterdam is the most diverse, but Amsterdam is so much more beautiful.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

The winter tip, I totally agree! It's a rough start...but if you can get through that, then you know you're good 😊 It is typically easier to meet people even in the winter when we aren't locked down because there are expat events through meetups and things like that. I'm so sorry you didn't get to hace that experience! For the shoes, there are waterproof sprays which I use on most of my shoes so maybe it could help for some shoes that aren't waterproof. I still wear sandals in the summer time and I don't worry about them too much. I figure they are nice to have on those perfect days (and vacations 😁). Regarding diversity, there is a large Asian community in Amstelveen and it's so well connected, especially to Zuid! It's known to have great food, as well. These videos are so helpful to prospective expats because learning from our experiences give more information into the mix! I think the 30% ruling is a big deal for so many and probably most moving here will want that. We didn't get it as local hires, but I try to see the silver lining and just say that we fe more local because of it 😂 and I can't imagine with the time was up to just lose 30% of your salary 😳 That sounds so scary! Awesome video and I loved all the green 😉

[@LeesaYu]

Great tips and thanks for sharing your insights! It is nice to have at least one nice pair of summer sandals when travelling to warmer sunnier countries 😂 I wore my summer wardrobe in Spain as much as possible last year!

[@caroln63]

Love the hair cut :)

[@LeesaYu]

Thank youuuu! 🥰🥰

[@billmcmatt3107]

happy new year. thanks again for a very informative....and a little girly episode :) Loved it as usual!! ciao

[@LeesaYu]

Happy new year to you too! Hahahaha hope you enjoyed seeing my shoe collection 🤣

[@user-yv8cn3ot4g]

Great video. Love your plants.

[@LeesaYu]

Thank you - we love our plant babies too ☺️😍

[@ninieunic1968]

Thanks for this content! It was really useful! 🌟

[@LeesaYu]

Yay, happy to hear that!!

[@gailalbers1430]

I lived in the NL and font really agree with her shoe advice, other than stiletto high heels; the first pair , s clog csn eafiky be worn biking snd walking across cobbles.

[@LeesaYu]

I guess it comes down to what you’re used to and what feels more comfortable!

[@lissaprado718]

Leesa, first of all I just wanted to thank you for all this great videos! They are so informative and are helping me so much to make a more accurate decision about moving to Amsterdam. Do you happen to have any video about the language difficulties? I'm from Brazil and I speak English very well but I'm really concerned about moving without speaking/understanding any dutch at all ... Any tips? 😊😊

[@LeesaYu]

Hey Lissa! Glad to hear my videos are helpful! I don’t have a video like this but I can tell you now that you will be 100% ok if you speak good English ☺️ everyone here speaks excellent English, and in Amsterdam it’s incredibly easy to get around. Almost all announcements have Dutch, followed by English. In the beginning it feels a bit intimidating because all the road signs and supermarket signs are in Dutch, but nothing Google Translate can’t help you with and over time you start to even learn quite a few words :) I do recommend doing a basic Dutch language course when you arrive though - it helped me at least understand a few basic words, and also numbers which is good when you’re on the tram/train. So don’t let that be a deterrent for coming! 🥰🥰

[@Snowshowslow]

Hey :) Have you decided yet? I just wanted to add that, if you plan on moving outside of expat circles as well, it is actually very helpful to learn a bit more Dutch for social situations. Yes, most Dutch people speak decent English and you can always ask for directions, and yes, Amsterdam is a very international city where you can definitely get a menu in English or something, if you want to make friends here it really helps if you can carry a conversation in Dutch. No worries if you can't right away, but I would invest in learning to at least while you're here. Most people will be willing to speak to you in English, at least for the first while, but conversations happening next to you will still probably be in Dutch and some people who are less confident in their English will probably feel more comfortable speaking to someone in their native language rather than to you in English. I am not trying to scare you off :) You'll be fine. But people who come in believing they won't ever need to learn any Dutch tend to find out after a while that they aren't really able to participate in everything they'd want. By the way, a good way to make Dutch friends is to join a sport club or other hobby association ('vereniging') as people tend to see each other there every week and people tend are often more open to hanging around for a drink or something there. I hope you'll have a good time if you do come here!

[@sayuritube]

Can you please make a video on dressing for the weather in Amsterdam? I'd like to know what fabrics/garments are the best for the rain, any brand recommendations, and how different you found it to Sydney weather? :)

[@LeesaYu]

I’ll keep that in mind! I feel like I’m still also working it out myself. The weather is so different - I feel like in Sydney when it rains it pours, but when it’s sunny then it’ll likely be that way the whole day. Whereas in the Netherlands it’s normal to have 4 seasons in a day, or just non stop continuous rain. Plus it is so so windy here too. The main thing to invest some money in is a good rain jacket that will also keep you warm. Best to buy it when you’re in Amsterdam as Sydney won’t really have what you need. I’d check out Rains, Elvine, Fjallraven, the retail shop We Are Labels for something that looks nicer, or if you only care about the functional aspect then Bever, Decathlon, UNIQLO!

[@sayuritube]

@@LeesaYu Ahh amazing! Thank you. I'll add it to the spreadsheet! :)

[@MarceldeJong]

👍 for the greeness of the video… and yes the weather in my country is horrible. My very Dutch mom loves open shoes. But she’s used to our weather obviously. If our summers are too cold, then yeah I can understand not wearing these types of shoes. Be aware though that a lot of people in Amsterdam are either expats or tourists. So a part of the “Amsterdammers in Amsterdam” will very likely be foreigners.

[@LeesaYu]

Yes I guess Amsterdam definitely has its own style, due to the diversity of its population (as you mentioned, a lot more internationals living here)!

[@TheGiulsofOz]

Thank you! That was realy helpful again. 💜🥳 Happy New year.

[@LeesaYu]

Glad to hear! Happy new year to you too!! 🥰

[@AmazingOracleThird72]

The last time I commuted from Amsterdam CS to Utrecht CS was about 25 minutes :) and I live in Utrecht and have worked for 5+ years in Amsterdam (behind the Rai) and/or Arenaboulevard (zuid-oost) and always commuted by car (fastest for me) and that took an average of 40 minutes (single)... Also Utrecht is the 4th big city in the Netherlands (Part of the Randstad (=Amsterdam, Rotterdam. Den Haag and Utrecht)).. Though Utrecht is not so massive as Amsterdam it's well diverse enough with Asian area's too and less tourist like and feels like a small village. But each to their own choice of course.. Welkom in Nederland en veel plezier!

[@Ethaara]

About the 5th: wherever you move, the locals don't recommend to live in the capital (or if it is big, in the center of the capital), at least this is what I see around the word, and the reasons are always the same "tursits, expatcts, high rent" and yet, cities are full, all the time. 1 think many don't consider is the availability of services (Yes, food delivery included), at least where I live, you can't even get a normal food delivery in the outer districts for example, or it is way more expensive

[@LeesaYu]

Yep definitely! To be honest it is a bit frustrating when people immediately put down Amsterdam or other bigger cities in the Netherlands. It’s such a great city and there’s always something fun to see or do. Quality of life is not measured by rental prices alone :) we all have different needs and lifestyle preferences, and some of us just really feel more at home in bigger cities (and like the tourists/expats/chaos ☺️)

[@Ethaara]

I agree, I am currently planning to move from a city of 2.5 million to Amsterdam, I considered Almere for example, but I ended up looking apartments in Amsterdam only, and I am not bothered by the price/size ratio, I never had anything bigger than a studio for myself. I don't feel at home in a quite family friendly place, yet, I am much more comfortable in the "chaos" :)

[@arcelitaliquete2476]

Try to move to Canada with their severe winter climate. And let see how you can compare to the weather here in The Netherlands.

[@LeesaYu]

Well safe to say I wouldn’t cope very well 🥲

[@EvainValencia]

Amsterdam is great for a weekend trip. After that get out asap :p. I used to live there btw

[@LeesaYu]

Hahaha ouch! I get it... Amsterdam is not for everyone!

[@EvainValencia]

@@LeesaYu It's more that the Netherlands is overall not a great place to live. If you have to live there than Amsterdam would be the best place. I lived in the Netherlands for 35 years and now moved to Spain :) way better

[@ramonlucasm]

Hi Leesa, I live in Rotterdam as an expat and I just love the city. The city doesn’t have many tourists as in Amsterdam. So here, I felt like a real expat. On the other hand, every time I go to Amsterdam I felt just like a tourist and nobody see me like an expat. That is kind of frustrating. I used to love Amsterdam before move here, but now I can’t stand.

[@LeesaYu]

Lots of people showing love for Rotterdam in the comment section here! I’ll definitely be visiting when it is a bit warmer ☺️☺️☺️

[@catherineogh2440]

Heyy ! Also live in Rotterdam. Used to live in Nijmegen before and I have to be honest I am quite disappointed of the city. Just overrated… The people are much colder than in other cities such as Eindhoven, utrecht or Nijmegen. I like the sky view and the architecture but that’s all… However agree that Amsterdam feels less like the Netherlands

[@LeesaYu]

Oh nooo that’s a shame! I guess everyone has different tastes. I also really want to visit Nijmegen!

[@Arjay404]

Rotterdam is a good alternative if you still want to big city atmosphere, but don't want the tourists, all the touristy stuff (overpriced stores) and high house prices, there are other good "big" cities too like Utrecht (lots of students and you can very easily catch a train to anywhere since Utrecht is like the center of the train system and almost all trains pass through it.) or Nijmegen (very close to the German border, so you can very easily go for a daytrip or to go do some shopping.)

[@catherineogh2440]

@@Arjay404 Agree, I would say Utrecht and Nijmegen are my favorite so far

[@alinciocan5239]

Thank you so much for all the information ❤

[@FrankHeuvelman]

Our bad weather makes us appreciate more the many beautiful days in a year we have. We're just not spoiled and take sunny days for granted. There's not a lot of joy in that. Our weather, combined with cycling to school has build resilience among our children. Just as it build resilience among us when we were kids. It makes us stronger as a nation.

[@LeesaYu]

Very true!!

[@CharleneDandelion]

Amsterdam is a great city, but as a Dutchie I don't find it very representative of the Netherlands at all. Other big cities as Rotterdam, Den Haag, Haarlem, Utrecht, Groningen are more Dutch I find. Amsterdam is just its own little bubble regarding types of people, culture, attitude etc.

[@LeesaYu]

That makes sense!

[@margotbasson8635]

thank you so so much for your videos, really enjoy them. it has helped my husband and I so so much before moving and also now being here, so much. keep going! would love to meet up for coffee sometime. :)

[@LeesaYu]

Só glad to hear that!!

[@macmartin86]

There is plenty of people wearing Converse All Stars too, (man and women).

[@yayitsmelody4948]

Thank you so much for sharing, I wanted to move during winter and my fiance decided to move it to summer, now I understand why. thanks also for the shoes advise as I also com from a very warm country in latin America and I don't think my shoes can handle it after summer LOL. You have been super helpful! thank you!

[@LeesaYu]

Hahaha yes! Winter can be very miserable here if you are not used to it 😅 good luck with your move!!!

[@moniku4866]

Your videos are very informative! Thank you! What are some cities you would consider moving to outside of the city?

[@LeesaYu]

I considered Utrecht and Haarlem, as they are both really lovely and very close to Amsterdam!

[@moose43h]

bro this channel is gold. i just found about the 30% ruling from you.

[@LeesaYu]

It's a great benefit to qualify for. Just keep in mind that it is being scaled back as of next year (30% for 20 months, 20% for then next 20 months, then 10% for the final 20 months). Still worthwhile though!

[@alimarcil3858]

Thanks! 😃 NICE VIDEO AND INFO ❤🤗💯

[@LeesaYu]

🥰🥰🥰

[@3950laura]

Planning to move to NL again, will be wanting a marketing job...thank you for mentioning the 30% ruling!!

[@Talilary]

Just moved to Amsterdam, thank you for the video 🙌

[@LeesaYu]

🥰🤍 welcome to Amsterdam!!

[@jn6405]

Great tips!

[@wolfuros]

You are so lovely, i miss Australia... wanna get back!!

[@LeesaYu]

I miss Australia so much these days too, even though I love the Netherlands and Amsterdam very much also. Borders are open now... hope you can visit Australia someday soon!

[@dmang0]

Thanks for making this video.

[@sophielalonde4060]

What neighbourhood do you live in? My husband and I and our 2 young adult children (18 & 20) are moving to Amsterdam this spring and are looking for good areas to live in for Canadian Expats.

[@LeesaYu]

We live in Oud West, but don’t have kids! Our apartment is only 50 sqm, and I think many are around the same size here. Love this area though - plenty of expats, has a quiet suburban feel even though it’s only 15-20 min walk to the central area, and also a fun area too with lots of restaurants and bars. Not sure what your budget is but another area that expat families seem to really like is Amsterdam-Zuid (South)!

[@macmartin86]

It's not very windy in the Netherlands, it's very windy on the coast, and Amsterdam is a coastal city, thus, windy.

[@jamesday7344]

I recommend the Midwest (minus winter). I find the cornfields very relaxing and beautiful. Ps if you enjoy coyote hunting winter may be OK

[@Merveye]

My husband will come netherlands at june but i am and my little girl are planning to come at january but i am rethinking now thank you for your video

[@LeesaYu]

Good to hear! Keep in mind it’s also not the end of the world to come in January since by that time winter is halfway over. But I’d still choose other seasons if I could do it over again :)

[@n3ph3li3]

Hello Leesa, your video is very informative. Do you think UGGs would be suitable for Dutch weather? Thanks!

[@LeesaYu]

I see a few people wear them outside from time to time but they aren’t waterproof! So I don’t really think they are suitable. And in Australia, it’s kind of not really standard/acceptable to wear ugg boots outdoors 😂 we see these as indoor shoes :)

[@sweetsoysauce9823]

Rotterdam is 55% immigrants❤️ It’s a big difference when it comes to seeing a more diverse make-up of people.

[@LeesaYu]

Didn’t know that! I’m very curious now to see what Rotterdam is like :)

[@koffiegast]

Amsterdam is more diverse in terms of different nationalities and ethnicities. Rotterdam is just 55% immigrants because lots of Moroccan and Turkish immigrants reside there...

[@tetianatrofymets7940]

When our family was about to move to the Netherlands, we had two options to choose from - Amsterdam or Rotterdam. And we preferred the second biggest city. It was easier to make this decision because we'd traveled to both places before. So I would say, it's a good idea to come here as a tourist first before actually moving. I'm satisfied with our choice, and what I discovered and was surprised - that it takes 25 minutes to get to Schiphol from R-dam Centraal, while it is 20 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal. So basically, I wouldn't say that this airport should be named Amsterdam's one :D Still here are lots of expats and great infrastructure. And city center might remind you Sidney as it is full of skyscrapers. You may come to check it out someday :)

[@alcidesforever]

Rotterdam has got an airport too

[@LeesaYu]

Totally agree about visiting beforehand to make more informed decisions! Sadly we didn’t have that opportunity because of the pandemic but it would have helped us understand the personalities of each city so much better. Rotterdam sounds awesome - I really want to visit in 2022!

[@tetianatrofymets7940]

@@LeesaYu Cool! I'll be happy to meet you here :)

[@Dija-says-freePalestine]

That is the Intercity Direct train you take to get there (Schiphol) in 25 min, otherwise it's 51 min with one layover (so you have to switch trains) at Leiden Centraal (my hometown...must visit if you already haven't). Because you travel with the Direct train you have to pay €2,70 extra on top of the regular price. But it is a good deal though!

[@LeesaYu]

Good tip!

[@woutervanr]

It's not actually that wet in the Netherlands. Wetter than Australia, sure, but you can perfectly own a pair of suede shoes, heels, etc and wear them (Uggs were extremely popular like 5-6 years ago). Cycling with heels is difficult for sure, but not impossible. Also, public transport is pretty fucking good in NL.

[@LeesaYu]

Hahaha I am definitely not going to attempt cycling with heels! But you are right, I have seen it before. Yeah the public transport system is amazing!!

[@woutervanr]

@@LeesaYu Yeah, I guess you might as well just bring an extra pair of normal shoes when you want to wear heels, but also cycle somewhere. How hard can it be compared to walking in them though ? If wearing heels ever becomes fashionable for guys I'll find out. I like challenges.

[@EvainValencia]

It's wet in the Netherlands all year round Wouter what are you talkin about haha

[@HemaDarshiniSelvaraju]

can you make a video on your resume, cv and/or cover letter that helps you get job abroad ?

[@LeesaYu]

It is definitely one of the videos/scripts I have drafted and would like to make soon! Please stay tuned!

[@dutchyjhome]

Yeah, the typical beginners faults, oh well it only proves you're human like we all are, no worries mate ;-) When we'd go to Sydney as an Expat, we'll probably pack our winter clothes as well... ;-) Here is on other perspective on commuting for ya: I used to work @ Schiphol Airport and one of my colleagues lived in Zaandam, just north of Amsterdam and another colleague lived in Northern Ireland. Guess what... it took them both the same amount of time to get home; The Zaandam colleague per car and the Irish colleague per KLM Cityhopper airplane. This takes commuting into an entire different perspective I guess. The Dutch usually call Amsterdam the "Tourist Zoo" and The city where only expats live in... It says a lot I guess...

[@LeesaYu]

That’s nuts! 😳😯Hahaha I enjoyed this story, thanks for sharing!!

[@koffiegast]

I find that extremely unlikely. Zaandam you can get there by train ride from Schiphol within 30mins. I doubt going back to Northern Ireland from Schiphol by flight alone...

[@dutchyjhome]

@@koffiegast Yeah, have you read my added remarks to this subject? I was not talking about here and now and I was not talking about the train but I was talking about the situation where there was only the Old Coentunnel at the A10 per car, where cars would simply stand still for a long period of time in traffic jam every day again in the morning and in the afternoon. Please next time before you react; read the comments;-)

[@imwithjustinbieber]

Can you still get the 30 ruling if you have lived in Netherlands for 3 months and find a job once you’re there?

[@LeesaYu]

Im not totally sure tbh - I think if you and the company can prove you were recruited before you actually arrived here, then it might be possible. But in most cases, I would say no.

[@lynettehorak7678]

Shorter hair suits u very well Leesa..

[@LeesaYu]

Thank you!!!!

[@MuhammadNabil-xl2gb]

If someone completes studies on study visa in netherland, then after getting job on 1 year orientation visa. will he be eligible for 30% tax exemption in job via this route?

[@LeesaYu]

Sadly no, you won’t be eligible for the 30% ruling. It is a different kind of sponsorship.

[@pamalimaity5336]

But do you miss out the fun if you stay in another city than Amsterdam? Only the rent will go down but do you get anything else to do in other cities?

[@LeesaYu]

It’s a good question! The other cities I mentioned in my video do still have their own fun events/activities (esp Utrecht), though probably less so than Amsterdam. Student cities like Maastricht and Nijmegen are also further from Amsterdam but apparently very fun to live in too. I think Amsterdam is definitely the most fun city though! (As most of the bigger cities always are)

[@mattiaho7048]

You should try tax advisor to get 30% ruling, still. I had colleague who did not quality because he moved to her Dutch partner in Netherlands, but tax advisor I recommend him said it is worth of shot and he did quality. They just defuctef time he already spent in Netherlands.

[@LeesaYu]

I think it’s too late for that for me 😅😅

[@mattiaho7048]

@@LeesaYu only if you have been 5 years. My friend applied after being in country over 1.5 years

[@rambler7903]

How to search job in Rottedam?

[@victoriasecret2891]

please make a video about Dutch language, if you really need it at work. I am working in Supply Chain and Logistics and thinking about moving to the Netherlands but afraid that I won't be comfortable in the office or talking to customers. Thank you

[@LeesaYu]

That's a great topic! I have to say that it probably depends a lot on the type of industry you're in/how international the company is/what your role is. My company operates fully in English and all my clients are English-speakers, so it doesn't matter that I can't speak Dutch. But it's a Dutch company, and there have been many times when I couldn't understand all the conversations happening around me. It doesn't bother me but I think some people might feel a bit left out if they're not used to it!

[@annamarianespesna7412]

Hi Tessa :) Love ur vids, could you please tell me where you edit them? :)))

[@LeesaYu]

I use a combo of iMovie and Adobe Premiere Pro! :)

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

On the other hand you could stay in the dust bowl of Australia, get burnt out by bush fires, experience droughts etc. Sure European weather is much cooler than Aus and varied. But the climate of Australia has its challenges as well.

[@LeesaYu]

I’m not saying the weather in Australia is necessarily better. I’m just saying that it’s very different…

[@reve1er382]

Hi leesa, will €4000/month be enough for 2 persons living in netherlands? Not amsterdam maybe north brabant area?

[@LeesaYu]

Hard to say without knowing the average rent or your lifestyle, but check out my Cost of Living in Amsterdam video. That should give you an idea of how much you will spend as a minimum on insurance/bills/taxes/food/rent for 2 people :) also go to thetax.nl to see how much of your gross income will actually go towards government tax/pension.

[@thenieweyoutuber3857]

I am dutch i live there my hole live an ya its very cold and rainy in winter

[@LeesaYu]

Sure is! 🥶

[@marcellagama5664]

Thanks for the video! Love the content you post, really helps to understand how it is to live in the NL :) I know you already posted a video about job hunting, but do you think the process is different for someone who is not living in the NL?

[@LeesaYu]

Thanks for your question! I do think it’s a tiny bit harder but not significantly. It all depends on how you pitch yourself in your cover letter. The best situation would be to link up with a recruiter who can then position you as a worthy candidate to consider, even if you are not in the country!

[@marcellagama5664]

@@LeesaYu Thanks a lot! Will start to do that. Wish you all the best :)

[@RezzurectionMs]

I have the option to go to Sydney but without my family or i have the option to go to the netherlands because i have relatives in both places, since im from Sweden where its grey & cold and depressing i prefer australia ( sydney) but i dont wanna leave my family behind so i guess it’ll be netherlands with the family. It hurts on the inside but i think it would hurt even more leaving my family behind. Its a huge difference between sweden and netherlands, sweden is nothing like central europe. Scandinavia is really depressing and people are very antisocial.. the cold is just stupid i have been to netherlands many times and i have always enjoyed it but i just know i would Enjoy sydney more but its the thing with the family.. cant you bring the family with you if everyone gets a Relatives visa? Cuz i have my grandparents and cousins over there

[@LeesaYu]

I feel for you! It’s never easy making choices like these. Our families are all over the world too. We both plan to move back to Australia after a few years so that’s our long term plan :)

[@TheCustomer]

I got an offer of €38,500 gross a year to work in The Hague. Any idea if this is good to live comfortably for a single person? I checked online and the apartments are around €1000 without bills for one bedroom unfurnished apartment.

[@LeesaYu]

Hard for me to answer and it really depends on your general lifestyle/how much you eat out and want to travel etc. I’d say that’s considered an average Dutch salary though and if the rent stays around that much, then you should be ok :)

[@koffiegast]

38500 gross is about average salary, but probably not comfortable to pay 1000 rent then.

[@javiermarcialcespedesberne8575]

Hola, como van?, Los mejores y más cordiales Saludos desde puente piedra, lima, Perú, ojalá que puedan venir en algún momento a mi país y que disfruten de la solidaridad, amabilidad, y fraternidad para con la gente que no gusta de la guerra y sus consecuencias, aqui podras difrutar mucho de todo por aquí, con la familia y los amigos, felicidades por sus vídeos y que ustedes y los suyos esten bien, sean bienvenidos siempre.

[@8alakai8]

its funny to my i ride my motorbike like now its -2 celcius and i have summer riding bootts witth airflow in them but if you grow up here you get used to it

[@LeesaYu]

Haha yes it's all about what you're used to!

[@joebloggs2473]

It does not rain a lot. Go to Scotland or Ireland there it rains.

[@LeesaYu]

Well there will always be other countries that rain just as much if not more :) but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it rains more frequently compared to where I’m from (and where many people in the world are from)

[@joebloggs2473]

@@LeesaYu Sorry maybe you come from a dry part of the world. Three years ago we had a severe water shortage because it did not rain.

[@HladniSjeverniVjetar]

I love the winter here, give me more grey.....give me more rain....xD

[@LeesaYu]

😂then you are in the right country! I have a friend just like you!

[@Ken-ph3so]

Hi I wanna ask if 75k a year will be enough for a single person if I am considering Amsterdam?

[@LeesaYu]

I think that’s quite a good salary and yes I think that’s enough!

[@YasminYoruba]

I definitely asked for a coffee shop and had a good shock 😂

[@LeesaYu]

🤣

[@JacksonWallop]

Video idea: have you found any good international food that is as good as (or close to) the home country? South American probably unlikely but I’m curious. I’m hoping theres some legit Chinese, Japanese, and Korean food :) Thanks for your videos, appreciate the info!

[@LeesaYu]

Thanks for the idea! I’ll have to try a few more cuisines before I can comment on this topic but it’s a good idea ☺️☺️

[@MarjoleinNoyceBellingaMobiel]

Only saw this right now. First of all, I really liked the practical video, very helpful. Secondly: I think you do something wrong with biking. You are supposed to put the front of your feet on the pedals. I can bike in stiletto heels as easily as in any other kind of shoe. Most of the shoes you put up as an example of "what not to take" are shoes I wear daily.... If I want to make my summer boots winter proof, I add inlays and wear woollen socks.... Cobble stones are challenging, but also geographically limited. I grew up in Amsterdam, studied in Amsterdam and only left Amsterdam when the spouse and I moved to Haarlem (biking distance) because, being both city people, Haarlem offered the basic necessities for city people like us (theater, loads of cinema's, many cultural hotspots). At the time I thought we would move to Haarlem for the child rearing part of our marriage, but now that the kids are mature and really to leave the nest.... I might like staying here more than moving.

[@LeesaYu]

Thanks for sharing! By the sounds of it, you are probably a more confident biker than I am. I feel like my ‘nicer’ shoes always end up getting creased or scuffed from biking (like when you have to stop, and put your foot down on the ground), but maybe that’s indeed the way that I bike and I just haven’t figured it out! Perhaps I’ll try again this summer ☺️ Haarlem is a beautiful place and I’m glad you love living there!!

[@MarjoleinNoyceBellingaMobiel]

@@LeesaYu I think practise makes perfect, so I hope you'll get there soon. When my Australian family comes and visits they don't bike at all and I think it is such a shame because it makes seeing things much faster and less tiring (walking through Haarlem for 3 hours is nice but really hard on the legs/back/feet.

[@tulysaha5690]

Could you tell me a little bit about Netherlands crime rate ? or is it safe to go there as a single woman ?

[@LeesaYu]

I don't know the exact statistics, but I feel pretty safe here when I'm walking around at night in Amsterdam. I'd say that the Netherlands on a whole is quite a safe country. Keep in mind I do live in a pretty busy area so there have always been people on the street & lots of street lights!

[@dachunyu6887]

Good luck in Amsterdam 2022

[@LeesaYu]

Thank you!

[@PaulaBean]

The summer of 2023 was not to write home about, either... 😢

[@LeesaYu]

Sadly I agree......

[@love-vy1ry]

I always think: why people always want to go to Amsterdam and not the Netherlands? Amsterdam is very expensive like any other world-city

[@LeesaYu]

True, but it’s such a fun and vibrant place to live in! Some people just like the city life more :) and Amsterdam is still quite slow paced for a capital city so people like the balance :)

[@harrybruijs2614]

Have you already heared that you are not made of sugar 😄. You can realy discover a town when it is cold and raining. Just dress warm and take a storm umbrella. And expect to wear alle your summercloth when we have a normal summer. 2021 was a bad one

[@LeesaYu]

Hahahhaa I have heard of this saying 😂 definitely no point waiting for perfect weather to come because those days are few and far between. I hope for a good summer this year 🤞🤞🤞

[@pvtcit9711]

Imagine ACTUALLY being alone. "spent Xmas alone, with my husband" lol

[@LeesaYu]

You’re right, I at least had my husband 🙏

[@TheTwan85]

Everyone in Amsterdam are wearing Doc Martins? 🤔 I'm Dutch and this is the first time hearing about this 😅

[@LeesaYu]

Definitely - I’m not making that up! Take a look at women’s shoes next time it’s rainy and grey here 😉 4/5 of my colleagues wear docs hahahaha

[@TheTwan85]

@@LeesaYu haha I believe you, it's probably an Amsterdam thing... I'm from Tilburg and haven't seen Docs in like 20 years or so 😅 Maybe it's a vintage hipster vibe..

[@LeesaYu]

I think it is!!

[@TomBilske]

From a fellow Aussie in Amsterdam, I’m so sorry that your first experience of Dutch summer was 2021! It was so cold for summer! There’s definitely been better summers here, I hope we both get a great warm one for 2022 🙏

[@LeesaYu]

I have been reassured by many people that 2021 was a total anomaly so hopefully this year will be nicer 🤞That hailstorm we had in Spring 2021 surely was not normal! 😂

[@frankteunissen6118]

What are you talking about? 2021 was an absolutely standard summer. It was the preceding summers with the heat waves that were the anomaly.

[@LeesaYu]

Oh no…. Well at least I am prepared for that

[@Arltratlo]

i went on a motorbike to the Netherlands in the rain....so i see no problem if its rain, one reason we have green outside is rain!

[@LeesaYu]

@@Arltratlo hahahaha definitely, just put on a rain jacket and alles goed :)

[@SpawnBootcamp]

Move to Eindhoven.. a lot hotter during summer..

[@rido1274]

Why did you choose for Amsterdam? there are so many places in the Netherlands where living is less expensive. Most Dutch speak English and in a lesser degree German. In the east of the Netherlands, we have many old cities and in my opinion more beautiful than Amsterdam. A lot of people from Amsterdam leave their city for the eastern part of the country as it's less expensive and still holds the traditional Dutch culture, not to be mistaken with ignorance.

[@LeesaYu]

It’s true that there may be more beautiful cities than Amsterdam but I guess we are all here because we are attracted to the lifestyle, the convenience, and the fun events that city life has to offer. As an expat, I also feel a huge sense of belonging and it has been very easy for me to meet new people & make friends with others. It’s more international and I don’t feel like an outsider here - whereas sadly I think I’d feel that way more in other places. But as I said in the video, I won’t really know what life is like outside of Amsterdam until I’ve tried it (which may or may not happen later down the line) and Amsterdam certainly is not representative of the rest of the Netherlands

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Netherlands right next to the sea - says an Aus coming from an island surrounded by the .....sea

[@LeesaYu]

Sure! Both are true… but nowhere near as windy in Sydney. That’s the point I was trying to make…

[@somedutchguy2062]

It doesn't really matter in what season you come to the country, if you are ready to accept the climate, the people and the sometimes weird things them do, the language they talk. But they speak English, right? They generally do, they will. Be polite and they will be. But you will not be truely accepted and embraced them Dutch until you start learning the language for real. You'll be surprised actually in that. Them helping you in the proper annunciation and meaning of words and phrases. Suddenly they all change into teachers! "I don't have the money to have Dutch language lessons." That is an enormous insult as well as seen as extreme laziness. A 'then go back to where you came from' attitude arises. Be nice, and you'll get nice.

[@LeesaYu]

I have to say that I don’t think a ‘go back to where you came fromé’ attitude is acceptable under any circumstances - but maybe that’s because in Australia, this phrase is thrown around a lot towards anyone who isn’t white/many generation Australian. People assimilate in different ways, and moving abroad is hard. We may not be seeing everyone’s efforts to integrate into their new home. There may be other reasons why someone doesn’t pick up a language as quickly as you’d like them to :) Semantics aside, I do agree that learning the local language is important and helps one better understand Dutch culture and ways of life here. I’m enjoying the experience of learning Dutch very much myself!

[@somedutchguy2062]

@Leesa Yu Thanks. Didn't want to be or anything like that just wanted to help you along a bit, canna point to a direction one might be going better.. Better, here. Didn't color or or a skin/background came a think of mide when writing the comment. Surprised me actually, it did.

[@Leviajohnson]

how skilled is "highly skilled?" I work in finance and accounting so it's a good field, but I wonder just how skilled you must be to qualify for NL

[@LeesaYu]

A very good chance you would qualify!

[@Leviajohnson]

@@LeesaYu woah thank you for responding so fast! I'm watching a bunch of your videos at the moment. Love the channel!