Posts

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Genieten—go enjoy yourself!

On a recent trip to Suriname, the only Dutch-speaking country in Latin America, I come to appreciate the word ‘genieten’ (verb). As a foreigner, you often hear this word from the Dutch but I seem to take it for granted because the word itself…
New Year's Drink 2018
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New Year's Comedy Night & Drink 2018

Join the Haarlem New Year's Comedy Night 2018 and/or the expatsHaarlem New Year's Drink 2018 on Friday evening, 26 January, in the gorgeous ancient building of the Societeit Vereeniging Haarlem. New Year's Comedy Night Attend the funniest…
interview expat
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Interview of the month April 2017

While supporting people with integration and languages, I interview expats each month, revealing personal stories, tips and advice.  How is the life of an expat, and how can one feel ‘’at Home’’ abroad. Challenging,  or not? This…
Interview of the month
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Interview of the month March 2017

While supporting expats with integration and languages, these interviews reveal personal stories, tips and advice. Arriving in a new country is a big change and how to feel 'at Home' can be a challenge. [Or not?] Interview with Sagar from India…
Funny Dutch Words
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15 Funny Dutch Words

On your journey on learning Dutch (yes it is a journey, a rather large one) you will come across some ‘funny’ phrases and words. Why beat around the bush when you can be direct like a Dutch person? Here are 15 funny Dutch words I have,…
Interview month
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Interview of the month December

In my goal to inspire people, I write these interviews, revealing expats’ personal journey’s. Arriving in a new country and feeling ‘’at Home’’ is a challenge.  So how do you integrate easily? This month I introduce you to…
Interview Alessandra
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INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH OCTOBER 2016

In my goal to support people with confidence and languages, I take interviews and hope to inspire you to fulfill your goal. This month I introduce to you  Alessandra from Italy! Interview with Alessandra Murmura Original country: Italy Expat…
interview month
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Interview of the month September 2016

Arriving in a new country is such a change, and  how to feel ‘’at Home’’ can be a challenge. How can an expat integrate easily? This month I introduce you to Sukhada Parkhi Interview with Sukhada Original country: India Expat…
Interview month Cara Crisler
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INTERVIEW OF THE MONTHS JULY- AUGUST 2016

Arriving in a new country is such a change, and how to feel ‘’at Home’’ can be a challenge.  How can you integrate easily? Every month, I interview expats, willing to share their story with you. You will find their personal stories…
Interview
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Interview of the month June

In my goal to support people with integration and languages, I interview expats. Each one reveals personal stories and advise about moving or living abroad.How to feel ‘’at Home’’ can be a challenge. Let me introduce you to Lisa as…
Interview month Vahe

Interview of the month March

This month I introduce you to Vahe. From Armenia to the Netherlands for a "normal life". As my mission is to help people integrate in new cultures or new languages, I take regular interviews with expats, revealing personal stories,…
interview
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Challenges of Expats – Interview of the month February

This month I introduce you to Nadia, from South-Africa to Weesp and soon to Hoofddorp. In my mission to help expats integrate, I take interviews regularly, and reveal great stories and advise for you. Arriving in a new country is such…
Interview
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Challenges of Expats – Interview of the month January

This month I introduce you to a wonderful English lady, named Alison Mills. From London, England, to now living in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Enjoy her true story ☺ Each month, I write these interviews, revealing great stories and advise. If…
Interview

Challenges of Expats – Interview of the month October

In my goal to support expats, I take regular interviews, which reveals great stories and advise. Whether you are an expat or thinking to become one, you can enjoy these stories. Arriving in a new country is such a change, and  how to feel…
Interview month

Challenges of Expats – Interview of the month September

In my goal to support expats with their transition, I take regular interviews with Expats.  They reveal true  stories filled with challenges, issues,  joy, but also  TIPS and advise for newcomers. Arriving in a new country is a big change,…
SELF-ESTEEEM

THE FUNNY MISTERY OF LE PETIT ROI AND THE DUTCH SELF-ESTEEM

Since I moved to the Netherlands I developed a theory: the autochtones have a lack of self-esteem and they react to this showing how secure and proud of their country they are and how great and beautiful it is. If this unconscious self-esteem…
The Dutch Healthy Food ABC: the E
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The Dutch Healthy Food ABC: the E

The Dutch Healthy Food ABC: the Dutch alphabet as source of inspiration for Dutch Healthy Food ingredients and recipes. Every week a new letter and a new healthy food ingredient description and recipe with that ingredient. This week: the…
The Dutch Healthy Food ABC: The D
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The Dutch Healthy Food ABC: the D

My name is Birgitte, I am a Dutch nutritionist and sport biomechanist. This is my fourth article on expatsHaarlem.. and surely not the last one. I have a project for you: The Dutch Healthy Food ABC. I will take the Dutch alphabet as source…
Circus Tricks - How do you juggle ex-pat life, children and still try to follow your dream? (Illustrations by Sarah-Leigh Wills and copyright Rembrandt & Kiki 2014)
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Circus Tricks - How do you juggle ex-pat life, children and still try to follow your dream?

Jane Archer-Wilms, British ex-pat, explains how she puts pen to paper, publishes and promotes in between the pooey nappies, playdates and pick-ups. Breed. This was the standard answer if you asked the 16 year old me what I wanted to do…
How about learning Dutch? Things I hated and loved
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How about learning Dutch? Things I hated and loved

I’ve always thought that one of the best things of moving to a foreign country would be to have the chance to learn a new language. Then I moved to the Netherlands. Guess what? Here they speak Dutch. Dutch language To me, the Dutch…
The Dutch Healthy Food ABC: the C
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The Dutch Healthy Food ABC: the C

My name is Birgitte, I am a Dutch nutritionist and sport biomechanist. This is my third article on expatsHaarlem.. and surely not the last one. I have a project for you: The Dutch Healthy Food ABC. I will take the Dutch alphabet as source…
Book Review: “Rembrandt and Kiki Move to the Netherlands” / “Rembrandt and Kiki Verhuizen naar Nederland”
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Book Review: “Rembrandt and Kiki Move to the Netherlands” / “Rembrandt and Kiki Verhuizen naar Nederland”

This new book on the bilingual block is the first of a planned series written in both Dutch and English. It tells the story of red headed twins, Kiki and Rembrandt, who move from England to the Netherlands. They have a Dutch mother and their…
Dutch language required for social security: "no Dutch, no welfare" (Picture: RTL Nieuws)
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Dutch language required for social security: "no Dutch, no welfare"

Who doesn't speak and doesn't want to learn the Dutch language, will lose his welfare within a year. The law "no Dutch, no welfare" should be applied from next year. This is a bill that State Secretary Jetta Klijnsma of Social Affairs sent…
So you want to Speak Dutch - It is Possible! (Photo: bol.com)

So you want to Speak Dutch - It is Possible!

A lot of people that I have met over the years show a lot of interest in learning Dutch at first but soon become very unmotivated because no matter how hard they try it seems that everyone always answers them in English... even if they try…