When I first moved from Australia to the Netherlands back in 2002, a condition on my partner visa was that I needed to take Dutch language lessons and sit an integration exam. In 2006, the rules changed, and you now need to study for and sit a language and integration exam BEFORE you come to … Continue reading Naar Nederland
If you are planning to study, work or live in The Netherlands it is important to consider your health coverage as you are possibly required to apply for health insurance. When is Dutch health insurance necessary? A health insurance (in Dutch: zorgverzekering) in The Netherlands is mandatory as soon as you start working in Holland … Continue reading Health insurance in The Netherlands: how does it work?
One of the most popular articles on this website has been the "Quest to gain a Dutch Passport: Kelly & Nathan's story". Unfortunately, I have lost touch with Kelly & Nathan, but if they are reading this, or you know them, please ask them to contact me, would be great to hear if they made … Continue reading Need help with Immigration Law: Dutch Citizenship?
Hi Renee, I'm so glad I discovered your blog and FB page! I am an Aussie who has a dutch partner (met in Indonesia while travelling 2 yrs ago) and we have recently moved here so Bas (my partner) can have a bit of Dutch time with friends family work etc. Most of our past … Continue reading Moving internationally with children – my personal experiences
Another visit to IKEA Delft today, where we are now regulars and supporting the wage of at least several staff members I think! Bas' two brothers came to help us install more of the light fittings and curtain rods, and put together the new couch. Though his brother is super tall (over 2 metres), he … Continue reading Day 28: another trip to IKEA
Today my Dutch Australian friend Kristen came to visit. She lives about a half hour drive away, is Australian and like me, has married a Dutch man and had two little Dutch Australian children! We met here in The Netherlands back in 2003 via a 'Aussies in Holland' only forum and have stayed in touch since. … Continue reading Day 27: A day with other Dutch Australians
Today we had an adventure - a tram trip into The Hague City Centre. There is a great "International Desk" there at City Hall. When I first lived in The Netherlands (from 2002-2007), I spent several years as a volunteer with ACCESS, a wonderful organisation that supports english-speakers in The Netherlands. During my time with … Continue reading Day 26: A tram trip to The Hague City Centre
I am writing this blog post much later. Today was the day we moved into our new house in The Hague. However it took us a month to get the internet connected! This was actually a huge stress, not only did it interrupt this daily therapeutic process of blogging, but I really felt quite isolated. … Continue reading Day 25: Our new life in The Hague
As appreciative as I am to my schoonouders (Bas' parents) for having us stay for almost a month, I am looking forward to getting our little family into our own place and we move tomorrow! I can't drive here at all yet either and am missing my independence. Though an Australian driver's licence is valid … Continue reading Day 24: Last day at my schoonouders
Big day - got the keys to our new house! We left the girls in North Holland with Oma and left around 11am. We first dropped by TU Delft to see if any of Bas' old colleagues were around, but they were all on lunch break or on summer holidays. Then we went to check out … Continue reading Day 23: The big day – keys to our new house
Dutch Australian 