This is sort of a followup to a post of a couple weeks ago. Once again the folks at EV.com answered a question about the Netherlands, and I thought it worth reprinting. 

D.W. in Arden, NC, asks: My daughters are planning to move to the Netherlands by the end of this year to finally be able to live year round with their husbands, who are both Dutch. Do you have any advice regarding: (1) the process, (2) what to expect as a new resident there, (3) necessity of learning the language/assimilation, (4) ease of finding work (both are currently pastry chefs) and (5) general does and don’ts?

(V) answers: The rules have changed since I came. According to this website, you have to pass a Dutch language test BEFORE you can get permission to live here. In the past, the Dutch were pretty open to immigrants, but those days seem to be over. The exam is intended to make it difficult to come. In daily life, the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker all speak perfect English. So you may have to learn Dutch just to pass the exam. Also, if you get in and want to work, most small companies operate in Dutch. My guess is that in a commercial bakery or restaurant, most people speak English and if there is a shortage of pastry chefs, it won’t be a problem. If there are many applicants, probably a Dutch-speaking person will win out. I simply don’t know that job market, but Dutch people do love pastries. There are stores that sell only pastries (banketbakkerij), like a patisserie in France. These are different from regular bakeries (broodbakkerij). Note “ij” is one letter and is like a “y” in English. If you see “bakkerij” as “bakkery” you can probably figure out what business they are in. Learning Dutch is probably a little easier than learning German.

When you get here, you will discover that housing prices have gone through the roof in recent years. Nearly all houses for sale and apartments for rent are on Funda.nl. It is partly in Dutch, but “Koop” means “Buy” and “Huur” means “Rent.” Pick one and enter a city name to see what is out there. Do this while sitting down. You are not going to like what you see. In the center of Amsterdam, you can rent an apartment of 800 sq. ft for €3000/mo. On the outskirts of Amsterdam, you might find 1000 sq ft for €2000/mo.

Don’t get a car if you are in any city. Buy bikes and a sturdy chain. The only crime you are likely to run across is bicycle theft. Public transit is extremely good. Uber is available everywhere in most cities.

Telling people that you are a Trump refugee will win you friends quickly. [Emphasis added—JT]

Be polite and respectful to people. For appointments, be on time. Coming at 15:05 for a 15:00 appointment is VERY late. (Forget this a.m. and p.m. business. Nobody has a clue what that is.)

Find a G.P. (huisarts) quickly. Ask people. The entire medical system is based on them. Medical care is probably better than in most of the U.S. All doctors speak excellent English.

Once you have all the permits, open a bank account with ABNAMO, ING or RABO. These are the biggest banks and have the most offices. However, practically all banking is done online. The normal way to pay your dentist is to wire him the money. Wires are free and take 5 sec. to arrive. Checks were abolished 30 years ago as being obsolete technology. Cash is going the way of the dodo. The normal way to pay in stores is electronically, using a bank debit card. Very few businesses take credit cards except in tourist areas. Debit cards work only if you have enough money in your account.

The country is very bureaucratic. Don’t fight it. If you fill in all the forms the way the bureaucrats want, everything works pretty well. Don’t bother giving a sob story to any bureaucrat about why you didn’t follow some rule. It won’t work.

It snowed last week for the first time in years. It is never hot and never cold here. Think: Seattle.

If someone invites you to their home for tea or dinner, bring a small gift (wine, small box of chocolates, flowers, etc,)

Internet at 1000 Mbps up and down is common in cities, but not everywhere.

The quality of life here is very good.

I guess it’s time to start learning Dutch! I had been thinking Canada, but the never hot nor cold sold me!

Anyone know a good Dutch language teacher?