Honest Review: Living in The Netherlands (As A South African) | Living Abroad Diaries

As for socialising, just a bit of a tip: please slow down your speaking ! It is said, that the Dutch understand Afrikaans easier than the other way around. But your high tempo isn't helping. And no offence intended if you did that already, but have you socialised with your neighbours yet, of with the staff or the bars/restaurants you and your husband visit? Since you like your sports, have considered joined a "vereniging" on running, or climbing? The social hours in the bar afterwards can reward you with lots of friends... Sport in the Netherlands doesn't end with the end of the physical efforts!

On the weather, even for the Dutch, the last 5 months have been unusually wet. And 'normally" we have a 'hot' spell in late April of middle May with temperatures rising to 25+ degrees C for some days in a row, but this year it hasn't happened yet. Anyways, in a week's time I'll be off the the south of France to enjoy hopefully some better weather! Bur realistically, you can't have good weather years if there isn't the odd bad year inbetween. Just bad luck for you to date...

Well done! Especially your conclusion: it's not just what you experience, but more importantly how you deal with it (with setbacks)! For anyone emigrating to another country, building a social network will take the most energy. But that social network will also (be able to) help you the most when things get tough! This will be easiest with people from South Africa, because you have the same frame of reference; you share the same background. With other expats you share more the same goal, what you want to achieve in the Netherlands. Then you will see that a greater diversity of people or groups of people (nationalities), will offer more opportunities and more possible solutions. With people from South Africa you are still in the same bubble and share the same solutions. You also share the same (South African) people and that group will always be smaller than the group of other expats. The Dutch are more reserved and don't have the same problems you/you face. But if you, like you, show that you want to make something of it (learn Dutch) then there will be few people who do not want to (can not) help you if you have a question for help :-) For example, ask me! Also: if you live closer to the coast, you have more sun hours and less rain. And, check out the Ardennes (Belgium/Luxembourg) for nature and climbing :-)

My daughter's boyfriend is originally South African. He has had Dutch nationality for a few months now. He's from Johannesburg. He has told me a few times that life there is simply dangerous. He lived in a gated compound with a large fence and cameras. He and his parents and his brother and sister actually fled to the Netherlands when his parents (highly educated) could get good jobs here. His grandfather still lives there and he calls him every day. He himself really never wants to go back.

Hey Marté, it's good to see you both are getting settled. 👍 Like you said, there will always be challenges and changes in life. We have to adjust and make the best of it. Wishing you both all the best. Love your vids, btw. Greetings from the Hague 👍

Good vid again. Regarding the weather, we have seen exceptionally bad weather in the last half year. Normally we do have our share of rainy days but not so much as these months (since November last year).

Depending on what interests you, there are lots of great events in the Netherlands all year round. Get informed, you will hardly have to be bored for another day. You can also buy a good car used. You could also consider sharing or renting a car. The Netherlands is a small country, which is why nature is not as grand as it is often in much larger countries. An advantage is that our small size allows us to quickly visit foreign nature. Where I live, I can reach the Eifel or Ardennes within an hour by car. Furthermore, within an hour in Cologne or Brussels, for example, and within a few hours in Paris or London. Try to speak Dutch as much as possible, even though it is not the easiest way, especially in the beginning. For example, I have been to England many times for my work. Despite not being a native speaker by far, I kept finding myself dreaming even in the English language within days. That was because I simply didn't hear anything around me other than the English language.

Great. Freedom and feeling safe are extremely important in life.

Nice that you visited my home town Den Haag (The Hague). Yes, the Netherlands has beautiful beaches (just not nice beach weather) and Scheveningen is one of them. Scheveningen has a nice marina with many dining options around the harbor. A large boulevard with restaurants and many beach bars, there are also many small eateries on the Pier. So you're in the right place when it comes to dining options.

As to cars; one of things that amazed me is that though the Netherlands 'only' has about 550 cars per 1000 inhabitants, it has one of the highest car densities per km2. Apart from the micro states that is. Some 230 cars per km2. Just imagine that

For mountaineous areas you could visit the ardennes Belgium/Luxembourgh within a 5 hour drive or go to the Harz in Germany within 6 hours. Nature is scarce here. It's a fact. But both the Dunes along the coastline, the islands and the Veluwe should be able to give you some semblance of escape ;) enjoy!

You are right, it's time for the summer, icecreame, sitting on a terras drinking a beer, BBQ etc. Groetjes.

Hey Marté! About the weather, of course you moved here in the most miserable month of the year, January. :p You'll see that the rest of the year is much better, even December at least has Christmas decorations going for it. Also regarding the cost of cars, have you looked into renting instead of buying? There are several flexible and affordable plans available and even if it doesn't entirely work for you, you could use it to find out what kind of vehicle best suits your needs.

My upstairs neighbors are from South Africa as well. Great people, much improved from the people before. We've had drinks and made plans for a braai (I have a garden) once summer actually arrives this year! 😅

Well I think you prepared yourself really good before moving to The Netherlands! You got a mature view on your life and I like it! I moved from the Netherlands to Belgium (And now you might tell me: Ehhm that's barely a change..) Butttttt... It actually was! So I definately can relate to some of your points. Being less connected to your closest family and friends is a real thing. Experiencing a gap to the local community is another especially because I work remotely in European territory. Less colleagues to connect to. And there is a difference in culture, words, way of life. More than I expected. But I got used to all that pretty much and now I am already over 20 years in Belgium/Flanders. Good luck and lots of fun living in the Netherlands!

He Martė, maybe you got this tip earlier but hiking/mountainbiking is very nice in the Belgian Ardennes and Luxembourg. Have fun.

There are no mountains but the light and the skies are often beautiful. Painters know. What I understand it is all the water, the flatness and that in the middel of the country lies IJsselmeer, the former Zuiderzee. It reflects the light. Mostly in spring, summer and autumn. Long greyness in winter can be depressing.

@ 8:45 far away from S.A. but still in the SAME TIMEZONE ! yep......

I am so sorry you had a death in your family! It must be very hard not being able to be there with your family during that time. I am impressed by your video editing skills! And you are a busy attorney while you make time for this! Absolutely amazing. I have also been here for 4 months. I am closer to family here than I was in SA. I've seen my sis 2x! She lives in the UK. Parents have passed. I have other family who also emigrated to other countries. I left little in SA regarding family, yet a few good friends. Regarding the "infiltrating" the dutch... I think be careful of thinking that the Dutch are a certain way. We've made good Dutch friends, and it came forth by being really open-minded and vulnerable. It came by me telling them I'm so sorry I seem so strange I realise I must look quite stupid and then I explained I just arrived (back then I was here for 1 month only). The result of this was us being invited for tea. And I got to learn how the Dutch drink tea! 😂 It left a very big impression on me. I drink my tea differently now. So just ... Think less of it as infiltrating the Dutch and more of just being transparent and having things flow from there. Speaking as much Dutch as possible! I love the Netherlands. It is more my home than South Africa was. I recently got diagnosed with cancer here, also. I've been in such situations that I really needed the very best to fall back on. It is through being in such a situation and yet to see how lucky you are to be here that it kicks in. I'm sure it is different for everybody, but I saw in this short time being in a difficult position just how much being here has counted in my favour. I've had to communicate in Dutch in so many and frequent ways and settings and due to the need to rise above I believe it has actually benefitted me. My oncology surgeon wrote in my medical file that I also speak good Dutch😂 If you're backed into a corner and determined to come out on top then it speeds up your learning, I guess. Ik ben dol op Nederland. Ik heb alleen maar thuisgekomen. Dat is hoe ik me voelt over Nederland! Oh I wanted to mention you can ask your huisarts to test your Vitamin D levels if this is a big concern for you. They will help you and might even refer you to a dietician or psychologist if you are having a battle to get your levels normal. My doctor tested my levels and thankfully it was normal. My iron levels did drop though which could either be due to eating less meat here or perhaps due to the cancer as I am anemic now, but my medical team is on top of it.

Interesting to see that the language-barrier from your experience will be different from the reverse : as a Dutch it is fairly easy to read Afrikaans (no problem at all) So it must be harder to read and understand the other way around ? Tip : if you dive in Dutch history of art, you might begin to feel an appreciation for the gloomy weather (especially during autumn) Dutch art and architecture is a very distinct feature of taste and surroundings. At least in many historical areas and towns... Good luck to you 🌹⚘️