Hi, I’m from South Texas, an area considered “poorer” than national average, and my husband is Dutch.
Pros:
Honestly, I think we have it pretty good here. The cost of living is ridiculously cheap. We paid off our home last year (it took us 4 years to pay off), we don’t have have great jobs yet we can still save up lots of money. Even if we find jobs at Walmart we can save up at least 1,000 a month easily. We’re currently taking a sabbatical this year traveling around the US from all the savings and I want to spend 3 months in Mexico too. Also, I really love the food down here (Mexican food galore and you can get a box of 20 mangoes for $4 bucks), I like the people, how friendly, family-oriented and chill everyone is (sometimes my badass neighbor helps me mow my grass for free), and most importantly: my family is here and I’m used to seeing them every week and have BBQs (carne asada every week). Also, the proximity to Mexico allows for daytrips for cheap dental and medical procedures plus cheap flights.
Cons:
Well, it’s still Texas! The politics, the heat, machismo, the ignorance, and stupidity of some people really bug me. Although I got to say that this area is 90% Mexican and I personally think there’s a difference with Latino conservatism. It’s not really pretty and secluded and the rest of the nation. Not much to do although not nearly as bad as living in bumbutt, Kansas. No nature around, just ugly streets, stroads, and infrastructure. Car dependency, etc.
Why I want to move:
It’s honestly me. my husband says he doesn’t want to go back but it can be discussed if I really want to do it. And honestly, I don’t know if it’s a smart choice. I’m aware of the housing crisis in NL that’s why I’m also thinking about other EU countries. I want to know what it feels like to work and live in another country, fully experience another culture, and also I want to experience this “European lifestyle” everyone keeps talking about. I also speak Spanish and French (not fluent but I can get by an understand everything).
Concerns:
Although what concerns me the most is the worry that we won’t be able to find housing, save up as much money (hence no more constant sabbaticals), and having to live check by check, or if I’ll be exposed to racism since I’m not White, or feeling super lonely, etc. Basically end up with a lower quality of living.
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I can guarantee there will be no good tacos in NL
Have you even visited?
Try it first.
I would never move somewhere without visiting.
Obviously there will be +/- financially/culturally - but you’ll have to see first.
Exactly 3 months visit first
Yeah. Don’t just go for a week or two to see tourist spots and all the pretty stuff. Get a feel of the reality, look at taxes and cost of living, use the time to start searching for an apartment in case you want to move so that you can also get a feel of the housing crisis.
I’m American & have been living in Switzerland for 5 years. I do think living abroad is something worth trying— and you can always come back. I think the question is when to do it? Maybe now is not the right time.
I concur.
Switzerland is a totally different prospect than NL from a financial and QoL perspective though.
Yes, but living as an expat is not solely about QOL. It’s about experiencing a new culture.
I wouldn’t go to NL for the culture.
Is it though? They’re both rich, expensive countries with meh weather and an insular culture. The biggest difference is topography.
Yes. We are talking twice as much after tax.
Just travel to Netherlands on some trips. Fun! But you may not like living there, and Texas is a pretty darn good place to live. But we never know that until we try others. Traveling there for longer trips can give you a good sense. You’ll likely not make many friends there. People stay within their orbit and not interested in becoming friends with foreigners—most of Western Europe is like that.
I wouldn’t spend the money on 3 months in Mexico. Use that money to experience Europe instead. You’re talking about NL but also have other European countries in mind. Make a list and try to visit those countries(with your Mexico money) and see how you feel. If you find a country that feels right, go back there again. And then again for a little longer to find out how everything works with housing, jobs, bureaucracy, social life, hobbies etc. You won’t be able to find out exactly what it’s like to live in another country until you actually live there but you can do a lot of preparation.
Right now is probably the absolute worst time in recent history to try move to the Netherlands. Especially with the recent elections and riots slowly seeming to pop up all over europe. I’d say wait it out 5-10 years for the housing market and things to chill out at least a bit so people are more hopeful and save up until then.
To say you’d be unhappy, struggling and feel extremely isolated due to language barrier/social barriers caused by dutch people blocking out their own time extremely hard… It just would be an extreme understatement.
Yes same thing with Germany. I completely agree
I was just going to say, I would think twice after they elected a literal piece of garbage as their PM.
Definitely a piece of garbage. But Prime Minister is not an elected position in the Netherlands. We don’t know yet who the PM will be.
Good point
Come to Europe for holidays, else there’s really no reason at all to nuke your current life and go through 10+ years of integration effort which might be for nothing in the end.
Sounds right, but 10+ years of integration should pay off something in the long run right? Or?
Sounds right, but 10+ years of integration should pay off something in the long run right? Or?
Sounds right, but 10+ years of integration should pay off something in the long run right? Or?
The grass is always greener - in this case quite literally 😂 - as for the Netherlands - The housing situation sucks, the food is unremarkable, the language is hard, the weather in the winter is super shitty and depressing and making friends is difficult. I love the Netherlands- the country has been good to me. But given the choice TODAY of leaving TX for NL - knowing what I know … I’d give it a hard pass. Spain on the other hand may be a great fit ! Visit both. Be sure to do both summer and winter visits. Good luck (from a fellow Texan )
Yes, especially the weather. It’s awful, grey skies and rainy days for months and months. It’s almost depressing.
It’s super depressing for someone with SAD. Coming from a dutchie with SAD
Omg, so much this.
Moving to a new country is hard. Cultural differences and habits, language, reference points, education. Zero network and everything is unfamiliar. Even if you come from the worst hellhole and move to a country that has everything “by the book”. You will still miss the place you knew and your family. Some people thrive, others sink. You don’t know until you try!
Why don’t you have these sabbaticals in Europe? You can enjoy the ambience without making the financial commitment.
I’m Latina and have Portuguese citizenship and live in North Texas. Europe is great to travel, not to live or save money.
Why don’t you try it for a year or two? Keep your house in Texas and if you don’t like it over there come back and get jobs at Walmart if you can’t get your old job back!
Would second this. Also no reason why you’d have to move to the Netherlands.
This. No need to make a ‘forever’ decision. Try it. Go see Europe. Meet some people. Make sure you can work in the EU. If you are on the organic side of things, try wooffing if you dont have much to spend. Otherwise, you’ll probably have to Airbnb it for a bit and pick up casual jobs. There is a staff shortage in most areas so if your visa allows, you should find work that is equivalent to Walmart no problem. Have an adventure!
Good luck on your decision.
I’m from the USA, spent most of my life in the Bible Belt.
I want OUT (1) so I can retire earlier and (2) to escape the fucking Bible Belt.
Good luck.
Don’t move to Europe in this case at all, it is a bit shitty at the moment, especially in Germany. People are miserable robots and housing in the Netherlands is just as bad as it is in Germany post pandemic and this Ukraine bs. Instead book a trip for 3 months to Holland or wherever in the EU and see if you can live there for three months with your husband without any issues. In the US you have a lot of conveniences that you won’t find in the EU, like banking. Banking in Germany is ass backwards, that is if they even let you open an account. They will lock accounts by accident, horrible customer service, no one cares, etc etc etc … you have to wait for letters to be mailed for months. I know an immigrant working in an ICU and 2-3 months there he’s still waiting to get his bank account but that’s in Germany. Holland might be a bit better but housing there is a mess also. Give it a shot for 3 months and see but don’t sell your house in Texas.
Well if you are concerned about the conservative view in Texas, the Netherlands is possibly falling down the same road after the last elections.
I am well aware of Party for Freedom’s platform but I still feel like its not even comparable.
Wilders is determined to fake the Netherlands out of EU (Nexit) and fighting immigration. It’s likely that things will get much harder for people willing to relocate there in the next years.
Money wise it’s definitely different, but keep in mind cost of living is also different. So a 1000 bucks might not get you far in the US, but will get you further in Europe.