If all of this above hasn’t convinced you to visit the country, or at least want to know more about it, the stunning imagery in “The Best of the Netherlands” Instagram account might. It’s full of pictures that perfectly capture the essence and beauty of this unique corner of the earth. To find them, all you have to do is scroll down and enjoy!
While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out a conversation we had with digital creator and expat in the Netherlands, Kamil Kowal, aka Wannabe Amsterdammer, who kindly agreed to tell us more about life in this country.
We also reached out to photographer and American expat living in the Netherlands, Amy Harper, who kindly shared her own experience, too.
Kamil tells Bored Panda that there are two main reasons why he decided to move to the Netherlands. “The first of them is that I knew the country could offer me some sort of stability when it comes to me truly being who I am as a gay man. In the Netherlands, we have a strong LGBTQ+ community, which is respected and accepted by society.”
He’s originally from Poland, where the general public isn’t as accepting of his community. Even though he mentions that the situation is getting better, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. “So I decided I didn't want to take it anymore, and since I knew in the Netherlands no one would care how I looked, I moved,” Kamil explains.
“The second reason is less intense. I applied for a job here and got it. This was the happiest day of my life, taking into consideration reason no. 1. I was given the opportunity to start a new, better chapter,” he says.
Meanwhile, photographer Amy and her family ended up in the Netherlands due to a visa mistake. "We are Americans, and my husband's former employer needed his help heading a lab in England. So, after much negotiation, they moved our family there in 2015. Unfortunately, we discovered they'd gotten us the wrong visas 18 months after we'd arrived.
The only solution was to move our family from England for a year and then try to return on another visa. Since our children were almost teenagers and had just lived through England's Brexit vote, we said it would be better to move us to the Netherlands, where the European head offices were, and let us stay there.
So coming to the Netherlands wasn't the original plan, but it ended up being a solution for us that we decided to stick with. We bought bikes, learned Dutch, and earned our swimming diplomas (me included!)," she shares.
Content to have found a safe shelter in the Netherlands, Kamild shared that the thing he loves the most about the country, despite an unpopular opinion, is the Dutch weather. “It's usually gloomy, rainy, and coldish here, which I find just perfect. I'm not the biggest fan of high temperatures and the heat, so I find myself in the best possible spot I could be weather-wise. Don't get me wrong, I will still complain about the rain and the wind (the wind is the enemy unless it's a hot summer day, then we love the wind), but overall I'm content with the weather.”
Another thing that Kamil adores there is how direct people are. “If Dutchies need to tell you something, there is no sugar coating, they will just say what they think, and I personally think it's the best way to communicate. Also, the way they usually do it is so funny, as they don't realize they are that direct, and it might cause confusion if you're not used to this directness,” he fondly told us.
For Amy, the most precious things in the Netherlands are the lifestyle her family created there and the people they met. "We live in a village in the south of the Netherlands, where we can buy fresh milk and eggs from the local dairy. Across the street is the house Vincent van Gogh lived in briefly with his parents, and we have a museum next door dedicated to him.
In the summer, we cycle past ripe strawberry fields that smell like strawberry jam, and we pick blueberries to last all year. In the winter, we decorate a giant Christmas tree with our neighbors for our village. The children cycle to school, and we are within cycling distance of Eindhoven City. We have sufficient affordable healthcare access, and the education level our children are receiving in their schools is very high," she says.
However, not everything is as idyllic as it sounds, she notes, "We've had many challenges and setbacks, but we remain committed to raising our children here because it's such a good place for our family."
Kamil also kindly agreed to give some advice to people who might be visiting the Netherlands for the very first time. Hold down to your seats, as he recommends not to focus on Amsterdam that much.
“The city is obviously great, and if you can, rent a boat, go through the canals, walk the cute streets, and visit a museum (there are so many amazing ones, my fav is Stedelijk). But, don't forget the country has so much more to offer, and because it is relatively small, you can jump on a train or bus, and in no time you are taken to other amazing places.”
He suggests going to Haarlem, with its beautiful city center and cathedral, which is only 20 minutes away by train. “Marken, which is the most charming village (on an island) I've ever visited, is a 45-minute bus ride away,” he adds.
If you wish to see a different side of the Netherlands, Kamil recommends the seaside in Den Haag and the city itself. "Rotterdam, which is more modern and a great contrast to all the cute old houses you see across the country. Zeeland has an amazing history, beaches, and people. Maastricht (my recent favorite) is known as the student city, which is also just next to the borders with Belgium and Germany. And many, many more.”
