About wellygirl

Status:

Expatriate  

Currently Lives:

Niva, Kobenhavn, Denmark

Citizen Of:

New Zealand

Past Expat Posts:

Netherlands

HR/Relo
Professional:

Provider of Expat-Related Services & Products

Some Forum Posts:

Netherlands: 10 Tips for Living in Netherlands:

Develop a very thick skin and learn to be self sufficient. A bit negative I know. Buy a bike and get to know the cycle lanes, it is a great way to get around. Be very aware of the road/cars/bikes/pedestrians. For anyone moving to Rotterdam, see also this website; yourrotterdam.com. I wrote it while I was living in the Netherlands to help other expats moving to Rotterdam. I'm in Denmark now but it is still going.

Denmark: 10 Tips for Living in Denmark:

On the whole I haven't experienced too many unpleasantries, I live 30 minutes north of Copenhagen and the pace is a bit slower. I can only see big differences after having just spent 4 years living in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was taking your life in your hands and literally being walked over every time you left the house. I was so stressed teh whole time and sometimes did not want to leave the house. Very happy to have left it behind! I am only here for another 2 and half years, so take it one step at a time. You can't expect to transfer your own culture and expectations to another, it just doesn't work. It takes more adjustment for you than the country you arrive in.

Denmark: Minimum salary for a family of 4:

I am told the average danish working salary is 400,000kr but I it is expensive here, so that would not leave much of a cushion. A decent salary would be over the 700,000kr mark, plus benefits. Cars are expensive here as tax is 180%. Sales tax is 25%. There is a special tax bracket for expats/internationals that your husband should bear in mind also. The average danish income tax is soemthing like 60%. Edit..sorry got that figure wrong.

Denmark: International School Help !:

Completely sympathise/comiserate with you! We had exactly the same problem. Applied to all schools and they were waitlisted. At 11th hour they were accepted into Horsholm International school and start in August. What age are your kids? Danish schools have a start age of 6 at 1st Oct.

Denmark: Homeschoolers in Denmark.:

Are you homeschooling?

Denmark: Homeschooling...last resort:

Thanks for the reply. At the eleventh hour, we managed to get the boys into an international school in the year they should be. A huge relief. I did find a UK homeschooling network that caters for expat families. In other countries there is no stigma for at home mums, it is a personal choice.

Netherlands: Information on Rotterdam:

For anyone wanting comprehensive information on moving to this city, and the netherlands, see www.yourrotterdam.com It gives you a guide to where to live, how to get around, how to get through the registration/formal procedures etc. There is a Rotterdam forum also. For the family oriented people wanting to meet other families see www.intouchnl.com Is a mum and toddler group but has activities, dinners and events for dads and mums separate from the kids.

Netherlands: Netherlands residency:

Did you ever move to Holland? Based on the cynical advice from your other respondent, it may have skewed your view somewhat. It is hardwork but you do settle in, it takes the first year to really find your way around. It depends on how much effort you make. What city did you move to?

Netherlands: Expats living in Etten-Leur/Breda?:

I live in Rotterdam, which is not too far from Breda but sounds like that breda international group fits the bill. I am in new zealand on holiday for a few weeks but would like to meet up when I return if you would like. I have 2 four year olds, here as expat for another coupleo f years. Yolande

Netherlands: knitting Meet-Up:

I belong to a Stitch n Bitch group in Rotterdam. it is a dutch group but there are non-dutch (like me - expat from New Zealand) also. We meet weekly on Tuesdays. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SnBRotterdam/

Date Joined:

1/18/2007

Total Posts:

18

Posts/Day:

0.00