expat

Tips for renting an apartment in Amsterdam for first-timers

May 13, 2022 by Karen Turner 50 Comments

I absolutely 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 past apartment #5 already. Hopefully, this helps fellow expats find a room or an apartment to rent in Amsterdam! I include tips for finding an apartment in Amsterdam, 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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How to work abroad: Professional jobs to help you move abroad

May 27, 2017 by Karen Turner 19 Comments

Wondering how to become an expat? You need to find a job abroad! Here is a list of careers and advice to help you find international jobs! Finding jobs abroad is much easier if you’re a professional with significant job experience and/or have a Masters/Ph.D. Depending on your career, living and working abroad with the right work experience is possible if you’re trying to figure out how to move abroad. Keep reading for tips from real expats!

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An expat guide to living in the Hague, the Netherlands, including the cost of living in the Hague

May 1, 2020 by Karen Turner 35 Comments

Considering moving to the Hague, the Netherlands? The Hague has been my home for some months now and after having some difficult decisions on where to live in the Netherlands, my husband and I chose to move to the Hague.

Living in the Hague was right for us for a number of reasons, in particular, its low cost of living (for Holland), central location, and its international community. I got into the cost of living in the Hague, how to find housing in the Hague, the best neighborhoods in the Hague, and what the expat community in the Hague is like.

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20 tips on how to survive biking in Amsterdam by a resident

March 6, 2018 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

One of the most common questions that I get about the Amsterdam is about biking. Bicycling in Amsterdam is the best way to get around, however biking can be terrifying for people who are used to leisurely bike rides in the park who haven’t done city biking before.

Keep reading tips from a Dutch resident on what to know about biking in Amsterdam, without a tour, before your trip to the Netherlands! This guide to cycling in Amsterdam includes Amsterdam bike rules to know prior to biking in Amsterdam for both tourists and residents.

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Where to find the best American food in the Netherlands

September 1, 2020 by Karen Turner 19 Comments

As an American living in the Netherlands for a couple of years, I’ve been missing American food a lot. More of a passion project than a real project, I’ve been compiling my favorite places to buy American food in the Netherlands to help other American expats living in the Netherlands satisfy their cravings.

I’ve been living in Amsterdam and the Hague, so I’ve done my best to include other places, however, please let me know if you have any other favorites for me to add to this list!

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30+ Things To Know Before You Move To The Netherlands

December 8, 2017 by Karen Turner 50 Comments

We just moved back to the Netherlands. After living in Amsterdam, moving from the United States, we moved to Paris. It didn’t work out and we’re back living in the Netherlands hoping to stay permanently, now in Zuid Holland.

Moving to the Netherlands for the second time has gotten me thinking in terms of stuff we didn’t know when we moved here or that I wish knew how it worked, so I hope you enjoy this remotely useful guide to things to know before you move to the Netherlands.

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Expat Advice: Moving Overseas for a relationship

January 6, 2016 by Karen Turner 12 Comments

If you’re considering moving overseas for a relationship, you might be wondering is this a good idea? Read this expert expat advice on if you should move overseas for a relationship and if you’ll be happy when moving to a new country for love.

Doing your research is quite important when considering moving to a new country with a Significant Other. These are the questions I thought most about prior to moving and the ones that were most important in my decision to come along.

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7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Living Abroad

April 18, 2016 by Karen Turner 19 Comments

Before we begin, let me say moving abroad is not easy and although everyone loves to write about the benefits, it’s not a fairytale. It’s especially hard if you’re moving to a country unemployed like I did, but whether you can get a job depends on a lot on your field, qualifications, visa, language skills, and the country itself. These are the seven things that I wish someone had told me a year ago to make moving abroad easier. …

The Cost of Living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

November 27, 2017 by Karen Turner 9 Comments

After living in Amsterdam for over two and a half years, I was surprised how many questions that I’d get about the cost of living in Amsterdam as an expat. I’ve broken down our monthly expenses in Amsterdam from rent to phone bills in the Netherlands, so hopefully this will help you decide if living in Amsterdam is for you.

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