Dutch Americano: A Blog about Living in the Netherlands
Struggling with Dutch culture one day at a time.
Today is September 7th, one full year since I moved to the Netherlands. One full year since I arrived at Schiphol airport with no intention of going back. The Netherlands, a country with lots of water and mills. A lot as happened since then, and while I can't recount every single thing in this post,... Continue Reading →
You know how there are some things that feel so right that you get used to them immediately? Like, if you had roommates and then you live alone, maybe it's harder to go back to sharing your space with someone else after a while. I absolutely feel that way about some things the Dutch do,... Continue Reading →
Okay, so I moved to the Netherlands to experience the Dutch way of life. The typical Dutch lifestyle with "gezelligheid" (coziness). And the Netherlands is still a very cozy country, but will Dutch culture withstand the changes brought on by the infamous coronavirus? I know you're thinking the same thing about where you live right... Continue Reading →
Two and a half months later on June 1st 2020, cafés and restaurants could now open again in the Netherlands. The country was united in waiting to reclaim this bit of freedom. At the same time, violence in the US has sparked outrage around the world. The Dutch are not ones to stay quiet. I... Continue Reading →
Lately, I've been thinking about my move to Utrecht from Amsterdam. For those of you who aren't as familiar with the Netherlands, Utrecht is a smaller city about 20-30 mins from Amsterdam. Utrecht also just LOOKS like a mini-Amsterdam. Bikes along a canal in Utrecht. Canals of Utrecht with pretty buildings and big windows. When... Continue Reading →
Before my first trip to the Dutchlands four years ago, I thought that the whole country was nothing but the city of Amsterdam, which comprised solely of the red light district, weed, and the "I amsterdam" sign. You can imagine how shocked I was when I found out that wasn't the case. What was I... Continue Reading →
Cafes and "terrasjes" will be open starting June 1st. After more than two months of being closed down due to the COVID-19 crisis, I, along with the rest of the Netherlands, will finally be able to enjoy a good coffee outside of my own home. For those of you who don't know, the Dutch word... Continue Reading →
Ah, Amsterdam, the city of lovely canals, museums, and old buildings that will knock your socks off. The city is hot on the maps, and even right now when travelling isn't possible due to COVID-19, Instagram is still filled with old pictures of people who have travelled there in the past. Amsterdam canals, houseboats, and... Continue Reading →
Here's the crazy thing. When my girlfriend Sara first told me that biking in the US was a living nightmare for her, I just didn't get it. Biking isn't BIG in the US overall, but it is gaining popularity in many American cities. How different could the Netherlands really be? To be fair, this was... Continue Reading →
When my Dutch girlfriend told me that her friends in the Netherlands owned boats, I was shocked. I checked with her to make sure she wasn't trying to say "row boat" or "canoe" instead. Nope, she means actual freaking boats with motors and everything. It's not that boats are particularly expensive— I mean, they can... Continue Reading →
Like many people who like to travel and experience different cultures, I absolutely LOVE knowing more about how people live. It was no different when I would visit the Netherlands. Especially in big cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht, it was amazing to get to see the lives of hundreds of people all at once. Because... Continue Reading →
If you talk to an American about Europe, at some point, you will talk about one of two things: how old and beautiful the buildings are in European cities, and how the cafés in Europe are just fucking adorable. Why do you think I moved to the Netherlands? The Nieuwegracht in Utrecht, lined with old... Continue Reading →
My friends were so shocked when I told them that I was moving to the Netherlands permanently. Sure, I had talked about moving to Europe, but no one was prepared for when it happened. Least of all me. This blog is obviously about my experiences abroad, but I haven't yet written about my journey to... Continue Reading →
Recently, I've had several conversations about the renting process in Amsterdam and Utrecht with people who're looking to move to these cities. My partner Sara and I have looked for several short term places in Amsterdam, and last year, I had to look for my first permanent rental as an expat. At the time, Sara... Continue Reading →
This is a topic that's very personal to me. As those of you who've read my blog before already know, I'm gay. I mention it like literally in each post so it's not a secret, even though I wish I could have this post be some kind of grand coming out to the internet. But... Continue Reading →
A large number of expats want to live in Amsterdam. And a large number of expats end up actually living in Amsterdam. It makes sense, there are a ton of jobs there, everyone speaks English, and you can make friends with other expats. But since the prices have been rising in the Dutch capital, it... Continue Reading →
When I dreamed about moving to the Netherlands, an image that would come to mind without fail were those of the beautiful Amsterdam canal buildings. I've lived in the US for the last 12 years and I had never spent more than 2 consecutive months in Europe. Living in the Netherlands now is a dream... Continue Reading →
Dutch Americano: A Blog about Living in the Netherlands 