My Dutch sux, mostly due to working for international organisations and having no interest in learning it properly, but I can hold a social conversation, read newspapers / books and fill in my own tax returns, so that's enough for me.

Gawd, it's my big dream to get to Level Sux...

Hi,

My name is Leena and I originally come from Finland although for the past 30 years I have lived in the UK. Due to the severe recession, my British husband and I had no choice but to let out our beautiful, large, gorgeous house back home with a massive garden and come over when he was offered a job - something that had eluded us since March last year.

I am terribly home sick. This is a massive culture shock. I feel things here are the same as they were in Finland in the 80's and can't get my head round how bureaucratic everything is. I thought that since most Europeans are in the EU, there was no need for all this paperwork nonsense. Not a bit of it, I even had to list the place and country of birth of my parents. This is doing my head in! Also, we have encountered ruthless estate agents and landlords, are being exploited rentwise. At home we get more or less the same rent for our 180 sqm house as we pay here for a 40sqm shovel of an apartment. No oven provided, no white goods. Toilet so small only a tiny person can fit in. Cannot cook anything as no work surface area. I know, we had a choice but cannot afford anything bigger. I am really close to tears here, please offer some confort!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As to the 30% ruling, I thought it meant that the first 30% of your salary was tax free. Oh no, you get 30% off your tax! Also getting a SOFI number seems to take a month or so. If it wasn't for my husband's company's understanding attitude we would have left. The tax man is quick to take your money even without a SOFI number - I mean, how can they charge you social security payments without a SOFI but still tax you 52%??????????????

Another thing I hate is people spitting everywhere, even girls? Maybe I come from a very polite country but this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable in the UK. How long does it take to get used to all this? Shops closing early even on Saturdays, closed on Sundays? What kind of service is this? Did anyone else have these feelings of disappointment when they first came here? i am at the end of my tether so please offer advice. Finding a job seems impossible. I am a qualified TEFL teacher but because I wasn't born in the UK I got turned down by this obnoxious British agency. I am stuck in this hellhole day in day out and slowly going stir crazy.

It will only get worse and the restrooms will stay small. My advice is: get out of this hellhole as fast as you can!

Oh dear,

And I didn't think it could get any worse, but to have to learn the language, to get a residency... I think I would have scarpered.

Has anyone else found people to be two-faced? Can somebody explain the Dutch character; what makes them tick and how they think? I feel I am making blunders all the time.

Oh dear,

And I didn't think it could get any worse, but to have to learn the language, to get a residency... I think I would have scarpered.

And thanks for your kind words, wesley, will PM you when I am less depressed. Had a couple of incidents during the weekend when people were either rude or totally ignored me. Not used to that.

Your point about spitting is interesting. I live in the West back home and in my area it is frowned upon.

Has anyone else found people to be two-faced? Can somebody explain the Dutch character; what makes them tick and how they think? I feel I am making blunders all the time.

Oh dear,

And I didn't think it could get any worse, but to have to learn the language, to get a residency... I think I would have scarpered.

And thanks for your kind words, wesley, will PM you when I am less depressed. Had a couple of incidents during the weekend when people were either rude or totally ignored me. Not used to that.

Your point about spitting is interesting. I live in the West back home and in my area it is frowned upon.

Has anyone else found people to be two-faced? Can somebody explain the Dutch character; what makes them tick and how they think? I feel I am making blunders all the time.

Yeah, but doesn't that go with living in a foreign country?

I didn't think learning something new was ever a bad thing...

Best to treat people as individuals rather than "the Dutch"...I don't (and wouldn't) like people to assume all Canadians are the same...

Has anyone else found people to be two-faced? Can somebody explain the Dutch character; what makes them tick and how they think? I feel I am making blunders all the time.

Howdy ho neighboritos! (sorry, watched the Simpsons yesterday...)


I live in Sprang-Capelle if anyone wants to get together!

Oh don't I know it. We're all guilty of it...We think it helps us make sense of things that don't seem to make sense...And some characteristics can be cultural...

But for every Dutchie I meet that is a walkin', talkin' stereotype (Wanna meet my SIL? Trust me, you don't! )...I know one that breaks the rules.

And I try to remember that when I'm being knocked around Amsterdam Centraal during rush hour...

I miss going out with friends, just a nice shopping day out ending with drinking a cappuccino or a late Saturday night out in a club. I am 28 living the life of a 50.

Erhm...you don't know many 50 years olds, do you?

I didn't know you were THAT old!

we are all on our personal road to OAP-ship...

What do you mean - many people die off before reaching 50?????????????????????

No, I didn't say "many" people die off before reaching 50. I said "some never make it that far" in response to emilio's post that said, "we are all on our personal road to OAP-ship"
My mother never got that far...

I was being flippant - as OAPship seems so far away (at the moment...) but some people do leave this earth too early and I am sorry about your mum, I lost my mum when she was still very young. Just a daft comment about becoming 50 and over - hard to imagine being ''pensioned off'' at the moment.

Welcome! You know, most people would consider it evident to speak the language of a country in order to find a job in it... Maybe you should have learnt the lingo before coming here? I'm curious to know why you (and some other English speaking natives) think differently. You can't seriously think everybody in the whole world has to speak your language because you only speak that one, do you? Isn't that a little bit arrogant? Fortunately for you, many Dutch people do speak English (with a funny accent though!) but I wonder what would happen to you if you would have emigrated to, say, Greece or Belarus!

Yikes, you're grouchy today, emilio. If it weren't for us arrogant people, you'd be talkin' to yourself on this forum, Sweetie!

It would be fair of the Expatica members that participate in this thread and did not introduce themeselves to do so. Many others have done it. That is what the name of this therad suggests, doesn't it?

Hi Everybody
My name is Tracey and i arrived here 3 weeks ago from the uk and along with everything else still trying to work out how the site works. So apologies to Wild Rose for not introducing myself.
I am Scottish like a drink (goes without saying) came to the netherlands from england as my husband got a job here. Dont have any kids thank god got a dog and hes bad enough. At the moment he keeps trying to commit hari kari by falling thru the ice in the lake dont think hes liking it much. Would love to get a job but dont have any real qualifications best i could maybe hope for is a wee cleaning job ha ha. Not a manic depressive as my reply earlier to Leena would indicate, trying to keep chin up just had a low moment. Love a good laugh and would like to hear from you.
Anyone stay anywhere near Amstelveen?

Hi rockchic,

My circumstances are exactly the same as yours. We, too, couldn't get out fast enough. Now, we couldn't get back in fast enough. What's more, there appears to be no Health and Safety regulations, or, if there are, they are ignored. When renting this place we had no idea it was going to be a building site for moths. In most countries, including Spain, a building has to be approved by buildings regulators that it is safe for people to move in. Not a bit of it here! They are renovating downstairs, Romanian builders, and they have no idea of anything. Keep banging the front door, despite hubby politely asking them not to, banister was missing yesterday while they were painting the walls - no warning that it was fresh paint, I just happened to be there at the time - a gaping hole in the middle of the patio.... I cannot begin to mention everything. And, what annoys me the most about this country, no cards accepted. The other week we got caught short as had hardly any cash and salary hadn't gone in.

Then there are the telly channels.... Found R5, mostly in English, but more adverts than programme. The advert interrupts the programme, can run for up to 15mins (= 30+ adverts, counted once) and when the programme returns, it will have jumped as it was left running. Like Ready, Steady, Cook - missed out vital chunks. Can't wait to get a satellite dish and go back to the likes of Corrie and Eastie.

I disagree with the person who said we should all learn Dutch. For a start, would have constant sore throat and also, since it is a minority language I think the Dutch should start to think in international terms and adapt to being in Euroland. Finnish is a minority language and consequently we don't expect our international workforce to speak it but most people speak English instead. It is only polite. Hubby and I worked there once so I know what I am talking about. And I thought Finns were known for their rudeness... they have a long way to go, compared with the Dutch.

Can anyone explain the lack of hygiene? Asked our landlord to have a basin fitted in our new place. His reply was that there was no need as people have kitchen sinks. WHAT????????????? I don't believe that they carry all the germs from the toilet to the same place where they wash their dishes!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Kisu
Well got up this morning in a better mood. Decided that i just need to stop having a shit fit and embrace the new culture maybe it has something to do with it being friday and i have the crunchie feeling and also a lot to do with the response i have had from the posts i made yesterday. When you meet one asshole you then meet some nice people that cheer you back up again. Its the same everywhere i guess. As for speaking dutch when the guy said it to me i thought well if i learned dutch you having already learned English would have been a total waste of your time! ha ha i know that is not the correct attitude and by no means am i being arrogant as i know us brits are shy on learning other languages but the goverment are to blame they dont introduce it early enough in schools so there! Thats nothing i have now discovered why Ikea sell seperate toilet brushes in packs of two. If your poo poo is not sitting on the ledge like a mr whippy its sticking to the toilet like shit to a blanket been going thru loads of bleach. I know what a toilet brush is for but i like mine to sit in its wee holder all nice and clean and basically not be used for the purpose that god intended it for. I did hear that they have the ledges as the dutch like to inspect it after dropping of the kids and the trick is to put a bit of toilet paper on the ledge before doing so then it all slides away nicely afterwards hHhm. Anyway the only thing to do is keep our chins up and get on with it. I keep thinking one small step at a time (usally 3 back) and i think of all the smash and grabs i am going to do to frog land in the summer to purchase case loads of red wine hee hee

Can anyone explain the lack of hygiene? Asked our landlord to have a basin fitted in our new place. His reply was that there was no need as people have kitchen sinks. WHAT????????????? I don't believe that they carry all the germs from the toilet to the same place where they wash their dishes!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some say I am CRaZy!

Hi Canucky Woman

Thanks for the cuddle yesterday it worked a treat. As for the rock chick bit well maybe i have given the wrong impression it was the only name i could think of, although i do like a wide and varied selection of music and i must admit i am partiall to a bit of Willy Nelson. Will defo check out the Volksuniversiteit (once i find out what it means) for dutch lessons. Now i really must go do a bit of cleaning inbetween emailing and smoking countless amounts of B & H
Thanks again
x

Will defo check out the Volksuniversiteit (once i find out what it means) for dutch lessons.

Hi Rockchick Not sure if you mentioned you were in Amstelveen (or maybe it was another poster), but I went to Amstelland Volkuniversiteit for the beginners Dutch course last year and really enjoyed it. Not least because most of the class spoken English and there was a mixed age range (and Marijke, my tutor, was a great teacher).

Here's a link - it might still be possible to catch up with the first couple of weeks of the course.

Thanks Osita
been and had a look at the website going to go during the week and see if i can sign myself up for some dutchy lessons. I dont suppose you know a good dentist/doctor in Amstelveen i live in Kastanjelaan
Ta
Tracey
x

I wish you luck with your move - but do you know how very difficult it will be to start working in Holland? I'm not sure of the procedures but I believe you have to be sponsored by a partner before you can move here. People are losing jobs rapidly in Holland, as the rest of the world, and people are being laid off weekly. I don't want to put you off, just give you a realistic heads up.

Hi Elyana

Nice to see another expat moving into haarlem. haarlem is pretty difficult to get yourself a social network because all of us who live hear say its a little cold. But!! Hoerraaaa ... lucky for you my mate is that there are about 15 of us english here and meet up everyso often and have a beer ...... ha ha ha ..... forget that !! we have a lot of beer and a great night out.

Haarlem is great really, a very safe city with little trouble. You are near the beach/am,sterdam and schiphol so you have all the delights any one city can offer. If you need help with anything; please feel free to get intouch and if I can advise or help I will. andybarker14@hotmail.com.

Take care Elyana and enjoy the adventure // Andy

Poor thing.

Dutch is a terrible language to learn my mate but don't be put off. Everybody understands you when you speak english, so think about it matey ( where do they speak the most english ? ) Schiphol!!! get yourself down to the recruitment agency at Schiphol and list yourself with about 4 of them, guarantee within two weeks you'll have a job. If not, I'll give you some addresses for schiphol and try and get you in !!! There is always a bright side to life you just have to find it. Good luck and enjoy ...... Andy

Hi Everybody and welcome to all the new people.
Its funny i have only been doing posts for the past week but dont feel that new anymore ha ha.
As penfold says i am sitting here fag in mouth emailing as usual. God i need to find a good hygenist soon my teeth must have turned a nice shade of brooon in the last couple of weeks. I think the thing is to try and not stress too much about everything. I am planning on taking lessons got some good advice from Cantucky woman on where to go so going tomorrow to find out about it absolutely crap at languages but hey ho good way to meet people. Andy when you were saying to go to schipol to register did you mean the places were in the actual airport and do you think they will have some nice easy jobs for woman maybe part time as i wouldnt want anything to interfere with my smoking and emailing oh and walking the dug, cleaning and thinking of things to make for dinner no mean feet when you can read any of the bloody labels.
Penfold where do you live i am in amstelveen maybe we could meet up for a blether.
Tracey
x
p.s sorry about the atrocious spelling does this thing do spell check anybody?

hey rockchick

You're right, the spelling is terrible!! But if you are serious about looking for a job ( part time/full time ) Triport 1 at schiphol holds 5 / 6 recruitment agencies and I know the ground handlers are well short of people at the moment .... Try it mate and it might get you away from the telly ........ thats just ' maybe ' ................. Good luck matey

Hi there Tracey

I live in Ede nr Arnhem. I have exactly the same kind of life it seems - trying to think of different things for dinner & often buying the wrong stuff from the supermarket 'cause I can't quite be sure of what I am buying some of the time. This Nigella domestic goddess thing ain't all it's cracked up to be.

I had a very busy, stressful full time job in the UK which dare I say it, I do actually miss - never thought I'd say that ! : ) Would be good to meet up sometime to have a moan together! Just finsihed my ironing yawwwnnn so off for a well deserved smoke now. Thank goodness for Skype so I can chat to folks back in the uk. Speak soon Sue

Girls girls girls

Keep on going peeps ...... get out and have a great night out!! yr free so exploit the fact and party!!! When you're working again yr going to wish you were free again .... I'll find some addresses for companies in schiphol where I know they need people and also some good agencies!! I'm gonna get you out of this misery women .... see ya // andy

OK, man of my word.

3 ground handling companies that I know need people ..... avia partner/ postbus 75629/wl 1118 zr schiphol - tel - 0031-20-4067230

menzies avaition / website / www.menziesaviation.nl / tel - 0031-20-4466435

Servisair / website / www.servisair.nl / tel - 0031-7952700

Check em out ladies, don't be put off if they say you need dutch or this education etc etc ...... just find out where to send your letter and cv and post it !!! they need people so give it a try.

Now cheers yourselves up and start living. // see ya // andy

Thanks Andy