Wanderlustingk

Expat Life

What to know about buying eyeglasses in the Netherlands as an expat

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It is the worst feeling realizing that you finally need to wear glasses. As someone who stares in the depth of my computer screen for hours on end daily, I had an inkling that it was time to get glasses. I had glasses some years ago in the United States, but this was my first experience with the Dutch system for eyeglasses. I include tips for buying eyeglasses in the Netherlands, information on how eyeglasses work with your health insurance in the Netherlands, and the average cost of eyeglasses in the Netherlands.

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An expat’s guide to buying a home in the Netherlands

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Thinking of buying a home in the Netherlands as an expat? Having recently purchased my dream home in the Netherlands, I have compiled some useful tips for those seeking to buy a home in the Netherlands as a foreigner, extra costs to consider, and key steps in the Dutch home purchasing process to be aware of. Firstly, the practicalities and then onto the fun of finding your dream home. Good luck or Veel succes!

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Tips for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Scheveningen and the Hague

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Happy New Year! This was my first New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands in a bit and it was lovely celebrating it in my current home of the Hague. New Year’s Eve in the Hague, like most of the Netherlands, is something akin to a war zone and this year’s bonfire in Scheveningen was certainly one for the books… I include tips for spending New Year’s Eve in the Hague as well as the best events for New Year’s Eve in the Scheveningen/Hague area.

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What nobody tells you about being a digital nomad

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It’s been about a year since our lives descended into chaos and we didn’t have a permanent address in any continent. We had just exited the Schengen area as our work visa was up. Within the span of a few months, we had traversed Albania, Belgium, Romania, France, and the Netherlands (3/5 with a cat in tow). I kept wondering what the hell we were doing with our lives. There’s a simple answer: We had become digital nomads.

Maybe now that we’re back in a stable place, I’ve had time to process this hellish period that I put behind me and rarely discuss. These are some thoughts about our time as “digital nomads,”  the culture surrounding digital nomads, and how to be a responsible digital nomad. I don’t expect everyone to agree, but it’s based on my experiences.

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The Ultimate Guide to Apartment Renting in Amsterdam

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I LOVE Amsterdam and I’m so glad that I moved to the Netherlands.  Finding expat housing in Amsterdam is hard. When I moved here, I didn’t know how to find an apartment although I’m now on apartment #3 already.

Hopefully this helps others find a room or expat apartment to rent in Amsterdam!  I include rental housing information that you need to know, a free download to keep track of applications, the best neighborhoods to look in, and strategies for finding housing. 

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Easy Surinamese-inspired Savory Chicken Tacos

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I’ve been experimenting a lot with my cooking.  As Jacob often goes climbing on certain nights, we only have thirty minutes to cook dinner. 

This easy recipe for savory tacos draws inspiration from both Tex-Mex as well as Surinamese cuisine.  It’s the perfect mix of savory and spicy for anyone looking for something different.  The best part: these tacos are done in thirty minutes flat.

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Our post elopement party: Tips for holding a reception after eloping

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As many of you know, we eloped last year. It was perfect in its own way, but not being able to celebrate our wedding with our families bothered us.  We were saving up for a wedding in the States, but eloping threw off some of this. 

Our elopement was small, intimate, and romantic, however I knew that I still wanted to have a proper reception and a ceremony despite eloping. I’ll include some lessons learned from our post-elopement party, which was planned from abroad.

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Expat life in Amsterdam: What it’s like to live in Amsterdam

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It’s been about three and half years since I moved to the Netherlands and until this time last year, I lived in Amsterdam.  I’d like to think that this has given me a bit of perspective on what is unique about living in Amsterdam and what is more typical for the rest of the Netherlands.  I came into this process fairly blind, so I hope that this can help others determine if living in Amsterdam is the right decision for them. I say this as someone who is a little less biased than the average Amsterdammer. 

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How to make new friends as an expat: Tips from 3+ years living abroad

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It’s funny: It’s been over three and half years since I moved abroad, however restarting my life last year multiple times in two cities (Paris and the Hague) reminded me how isolating expat life can be. I don’t always write about my personal life, but it’s hard making friends as an adult, especially as an expat. I’ll be including some tips for making friends as an expat.

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