Expat Life

Your ultimate guide to flying internationally with a cat: Tips & Essentials

January 28, 2019 by Karen 12 Comments

Last Updated on January 28, 2019

One of the most challenging experiences that we had in terms of moving abroad was moving our cat. I adopted Lu in the United States at a shelter. Admittedly, she’s not so keen on traveling, but I knew that when we moved abroad that she had to come with us. Since then, she’s traveled with us to four countries following our various moves around Europe by plane and by train. I include my experience traveling with my cat internationally, some tips for traveling with your cat, and my favorite cat traveling accessories, including an airline approved pet carrier.

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Your independent guide for traveling from Eindhoven Airport to Amsterdam

January 25, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on January 25, 2019

So, you’ve found an incredibly cheap flight from/to Eindhoven Airport… You’re probably wondering: Is it worth it to fly into Eindhoven Airport if your final destination is Amsterdam? This guide aims to help you figure this out. Similarly, I’ll cover the best ways to independently travel from Eindhoven Airport to Amsterdam.

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Prince’s Day in the Hague: Events and Tips for seeing the Dutch Royals

January 23, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on January 23, 2019

As a recent immigrant to the Netherlands, I’m not yet over my obsession with the Dutch Royal Family. They’re so normal yet fascinating. One of the best days of the year as a visitor to the Netherlands or as a resident of the Hague is Prince’s Day as it’s our chance (as plebs) to see the royal family in their splendor in person. This past Prince’s Day, I saw Queen Maxima in person and it was great. These are my tips for attending Prince’s Day in the Hague with a brief explanation of what happens on Prince’s Day.

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10 useful tips for visiting drugstores in the Netherlands

January 22, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

Last Updated on January 23, 2019

Although you’ve definitely read numerous articles about the French pharmacies (and they are incredible!), I’m here to write about the Dutch drugstores. I’ll be including some tips for visiting the Dutch drugstore, including useful products that you might need with some helpful translations, and some money-saving tips for shopping at the Dutch drugstore.

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Best of 2018: A year in review

January 15, 2019 by Karen 5 Comments

Last Updated on January 16, 2019

2018 has a come to a close and it’s been an insane year that has just flown by. I’ve never written a year wrap-up post, but I figured that it might be fun to recap the past year with its ridiculous moments, memorable moments, and silly moments.

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

January 15, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

Last Updated on January 15, 2019

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

January 14, 2019 by Leanne Claire Leave a Comment

Last Updated on January 14, 2019

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

January 4, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on January 4, 2019

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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Renting an apartment in the Netherlands: Your insider guide by an expat

January 3, 2019 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on January 4, 2019

It’s almost my fourth year in the Netherlands. We’re on our fifth apartment in the Netherlands after a lot of moving around. These are my tips for finding an apartment in the Netherlands for foreigners/expats and I hope that they help you find a flat (or house) to live in!

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What nobody tells you about being a digital nomad

December 3, 2018 by Karen 8 Comments

Last Updated on December 12, 2018

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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