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Hoping to move to NL!

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Zaq

1/16/2011 18:11 EST

I am a 29 year old professional artist in Denver Co. US. I have been working nearly my entire life and after a long year of feeling like this place which has always been my home, I find myself needing, (not just wanting) to leave this place. I love the landscape and weather, but the people and the way everything is structured is a huge point of discourse for me. I honestly feel so stuck that I need to take a leap and get out of this funk. My best friend, his wife and their 3 kids moved to Amsterdam a couple of years ago and they love it, so I am beginning the research for myself.

I know that my friends there are probably my best resource for this venture, however neither of them work in the same field as me and I am sure they make more money than me. I would like to feel a little bit more secure about this trip in April and have some questions answered before I even begin any visa requests et al.

What I am wondering:
-Does anyone have any tips and advice on the art community/creative fields in the NL? I am currently a preparator at the best gallery in the midwestern US and have been very good at what I do; assisting in the design of exhibitions, installations, working with artists, graphic design, shipping and receiving of works from around the world. I have been with this gallery off and on (mostly on) for the past 6 years and have installed about 50 exhibitions with artists such as Judy Pfaff, Ann Hamilton, Bernar Venet, Chen Wenling, Christo and Jeanne-Claude and so forth.

-I am also a crafter and helped a couple of friends open a craft store that has done incredibly well. Is there any market for a craft community in Amsterdam or Rotterdam? Anywhere else? I think it would be awesome to think about starting something akin to our shop here but there because it has been such a great business to build from the ground up.

-What is the best area for art and art sales in NL?

-I am also an avid gardener and interested in furthering my education in horticulture and garden knowledge. Does anyone know of somewhere where art and gardening/flower culture collide or a part of the country that I should look at for living to explore that?

Just a few thoughts I had on this chilly Denver afternoon.

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giantjackie

1/17/2011 03:43 EST

Hi there - My family and I moved from Colorado to the Netherlands not long ago (from Superior)! I can totally relate to loving it there but wanting to move at the same time.

I live in the Hague (Den Haag) now and LOVE it! And in fact, Amsterdam really wasn't a town for me. Den Haag has a very large expat community, a lot of art enthusists, really nice museums and endless art shops. It's a little more mature, professional, and less busy than Amsterdam (I think it's probably cheaper to live here as well).

Other Advice: Learn a little Dutch, I experienced some culture shock when I first got here because of that.

Let the adventures begin!

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ennairam

9/16/2011 09:11 EST

Hi there, we live in Dutch Venice Giethoorn) in a beautifull farm with the possibility to create a great galery. It's about one hour from Amsterdam. During the year there are thousand and thousand visitors from all around the world so you can use the galery for selling art. As you understand this farm is for sale because we want to move to Portugal. For more info
http://www.zuka.nl/koopwoning/Overijssel/Giethoorn/7295217-Ongeveer-1-uur-vanaf-de-randstad.html.

Maybe this is what you like. Best regards Marianne

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Juklina

9/23/2011 00:16 EST

Hey Zaq! You are very lucky with choosing NL for your future purposes.
I've been living in NL for one year and I was amazed with all art opportunities they have. We lived in The Hague. It is really quite and peaceful place to live.
I could advice you American Book Center. They always orginize such things as exibitions, meetings with writers or artists. Well, it is that small what I've learnt myself. Maybe it will be helpful for you.
And most important advice it's to learn Dutch ofcourse. If you have time till april you could start learning it now.
The Netherlands for me it's best place to live if you are an artist:)
Good luck!!!
Juklina

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