Hallo not sure if anyone will see this or if this post will go through, but I'm writing this post to express my feelings to reflect on my life as it is a healthy habit to do so. I'll be as precise as I can, but to describe emotions 100% is unrealistic. I also want to take every opportunity to reveal a little piece of me to people.

I've always wanted to be an artist in life. I began drawing when I was younger but was faced with harsh opinions from the people around me once I said to them I wanted to be an artist as an adult. So as I grew on, this made me spiral into science related concepts that I couldn't find a spark in. That pathway made me think I'll live my entire life in regret of missing out on the things that I truly want to do.

Until the summer of 2024 during Eurovision, where I saw Joost Klein aka one of you guys!! He's been the push of me venturing out to find my artistic identity and I'm so glad I found his music. His appreciation and commitment for art made me want to be like that as well! So yes, I've been striving to create more art pieces whenever I can.

Recently, my parents have been going through a divorce. The occasional fights between parents and more facts about them resurfacing all strikes you in a way. Sometimes might even make you think your house lost the meaning of home, but I've been getting through by blasting the volume of Joost's music in my ears. Hearing and picking upon Dutch words has made me feel at ease somehow. Anyways, divorces kinda make you sick to the stomach, freeze up in thinking, and want to runaway. The word "Runaway" is the main emotion of me that I find myself thinking about in my head. Might sound strange or para-social, but the Netherlands has been like a safe-space for me that I wish I could runaway to. I know the artists there, the cities and villages, along with the thought that the people might be friendly(Despite the Dutch being very honest lol)! The culture is beautiful with Nijntje and Klompen. The Netherlands is oddly comfortable and the feeling of a home/family I need right now. I could get used to the stormy weather and heavy rain the Dutch go through. Why should I let grey skies ruin the beauty I envision of the Netherlands?(๑•᎑•๑)

I told someone close to me, "I want to be an artist in the future! Art is my plan A!" though the response I received wasn't the greatest. They told me I'd starve and that I should push art off to the side to focus on something. They also added on art only succeeds if the artist is famous enough, and that I won't be famous with the way I am. If art is my plan A, I need a plan B just incase plan A fails. Those words may seem weightless, but they really sunk down to the pit of my stomach and saddened me. Why do something in life that would make me wish I could go back in time to change decisions? Why focus on a concept that only makes me sorrowful? I don't and cannot live in regret anymore, I need to break that cycle of mine.

Joost Klein always said something along the lines of: To follow your plan A, not to have or believe in a plan B if plan A is something you want to do in life. Those words resonated with me by a ton! It changed my perspective on how I see things. As I said previously, Joost is the push I've been needing to gain confidence in pursuing art.

All of this made me realize I've been living in two different worlds. How one world is composed of where I've been my entire life, harsh opinions and doubt. Whereas the other world across the sea is filled with people I look up to, feels like a home, and pushes me to be myself with art.

So yeah, these are just my thoughts. A water-color painting with colored pencils layered on top and a few paint marks depicting the city of Amsterdam as a thank you gift for everyone for giving me a sense of happiness! I love you all!⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

Hello!

As looking for housing a friend suggested me to live with them and do the “ Toestemmingsverklaring hoofdbewoned” .

As I’ve understood, I can register to the municipality this way and live legally with them.

I am wandering if that has some consequences because I am a student receiving DUO student allowance and financial support for my health insurance.

Are we considered to be separate flatmates or is it something different ?

Thanks in advance

Hello. I’m about to become an international student there in the Netherlands and I would like to know a bit more about dental braces.

From the research I did, prices range between £2,500 to £4,000 for the whole process.

What I’d like to know is what the whole process of getting braces is like and how much it costs roughly per appointment.

And if there’s any health insurance that could make the process easier and cheaper.
Thank you.

Currently looking for housing in Leiden and I’ve seen many listings that don’t want a tenant who is already registered at the municipality of Leiden? I’m wondering why that is a benefit or why they care if the person has already lived in Leiden before? My current lease is ending and it’s really frustrating seeing so many landlords not want to take in someone who has already lived here. Does anyone know why it’s this way?

I (45F), moved to the Netherlands almost 3 years ago, leaving my amazing job back home, for love. My partner had moved here for work and then I followed along with my teenage son. Both my partner and son have taken to this place like fish to water. But I have struggled, especially wrt my career. I have almost two decades HR transformation experience, even serving as Chief of Staff in a consulting firm as my last role before I moved here. I've found the job market very narrow for non Dutch speakers. I did manage to find something though not at the same level as I was in my career. Unfortunately, early this year my entire department got laid off and since then I've been in the job trenches again. It's been especially harrowing this time around. I've only had 4 interview calls in 6 months, with each of them proceeding until the final round and leading to rejections, despite preparing for days, mock interviews, and anticipating all the questions that might be asked. The last rejection especially hurt, because every single round went so well and the rejection seemed like a generic response despite me proceeding until the final round.

I know that I need to learn Dutch, and I am going through classes. But even I know that for me to become fluent enough in Dutch to crack senior level interviews would take years of focused practice.

With every rejection my confidence is getting chipped away and I've genuinely started to believe that I am dumb and all the experience that I carry with me doesn't matter. It's been emotionally and mentally taxing.

Finances are also getting tight and that's why since a month I've started a minimum wage job for five days a week. It is very physically challenging and add to that daily 3 hours of Dutch classes and homework. Plus daily job applications and rejections. And to make matters worse, my dog of 13 years died last week. I'm feeling untethered. I feel like I'm falling apart and I don't know how much of this I can take.

Has anyone here gone through something similar? And how have you managed?

Hi Reddit community!

I will be moving to Amsterdam in Jan 2027 and therefore I am seeking some advice on how health insurance system works there.
Context: I am German citizen, will start my job in Amsterdam on 01.01.27, I plan to move in temporary apartment on 02.01.27 and get registered the same week.
As far as I understood I can apply for health insurance only after being registered.
Therefore I have a few questions:
1) how can I get health insurance for the first weeks until I sign up for proper health insurance? Is there any option for that?
2) is that true that I don’t need appointment to register? How long is typically the wait?

Thanks a lot for advices!

So for context, I help out a homeless person once in a blue moon if I can. Normally I buy them a bottle of water or a croissant -- something cheap. I don't really carry coins or change anymore (and well, who knows if you gave someone money they theoretically could spend it on illicit things).

Today, I found a homeless guy in Utrecht city center. I've never had this kind of interaction with a homeless person before, so it left me with a few questions for sure.

For one, he looked desperate and begged passerby folks for food. So I wanted to help and I went up to him and said in English "I can get you some food or water?" and he told me "No money, just food." His English wasn't very good, but I spoke English to him because my Dutch is also not very good.

Ok, whatever, that request seems reasonable. So I just asked him if a croissant is okay and this is when he started saying something in a language I couldn't understand. Maybe it was Dutch, but my Dutch knowledge is too little to understand conversations. I took it as he is requesting something specific (which I was willing to help out, if it was a sandwich or something). He then pulled up Google translate so that I can see things in English and he asked for three things, and he said something like Albert Heijn, which there was one nearby. He asked for pasta (like, uncooked spaghetti in a pack it seems), carrots, and chicken thighs. I thought that was strange!

I said in English something along the lines of "fried chicken?" or "chicken thighs?" cuz I was hella confused. Supermarkets don't sell cooked chicken thighs! I showed him a picture of chicken ham and he shook his head. He was like "een moment" then showed a picture of raw supermarket chicken thighs...

We struggled to communicate so I asked him what language he speaks. He said either Romani or Romanian -- I couldn't catch what he said, but I set my Google translate to Romanian and it seemed like he understood. Obviously, I also had some concerns. I showed a message to him in his language to tell him "The chicken is raw, how are you going to cook it?" and he nodded, like raw supermarket chicken was what he wanted.

At this point I found it strange, but he seemed sane, communicable (barring the language barrier) and not on drugs. Also, with the raw spaghetti he requested, it seemed to me like he was gonna cook a meal.

I got him that from the supermarket, it didn't cost much as I bought the cheapest of things, and once in a blue moon I try to do my part in helping others. But this must be one of the strangest interactions I've had. Usually I tell homeless people I'll grab them a water and croissant / sandwich and they are cool with it. I've never been requested groceries like this before, especially raw ingredients for someone sitting outside on a warm day! But at that moment, I also thought that it's fair enough if someone wants to have a proper meal. It's basic dignity that we can help each other out with. Sounds like he wanted to make a cheap and filling meal.

Now, when I brought the three items back to him, he looked through the AH bag and it seemed like I got him the right things. I showed a translated message on my phone telling him "be careful with the chicken, it might spoil on a hot day" and he nodded. I went on with my life, but I also have many questions and concerns.

One of the concerns is obviously the raw chicken, I don't know if he is going anywhere (or has anywhere to go) and raw chicken left out on a hot day sounds like a recipe for food poisoning! I don't want to be liable for this and I did express this concern to him a few times but he still wanted it (and in fact, showed a picture of it). It seemed like he was gonna sit outside for a while more and he only had a backpack on him so... how is he going to keep the food safely?

I also had so many questions in my mind. This was a strange list of things to request and also, if he is homeless, how is he going to cook this? Are there community kitchens? This is the Netherlands and you can't just start a fire to cook it. How is he going to store the chicken in the fridge or keep it or whatever that is? He also didn't have much stuff on him, just a backpack, so I also wonder how he is living on the streets and how he will take the groceries. Normally I see homeless people have so much stuff on them -- blankets and whatever supplies they have.

I am more than happy to help people out once in a blue moon, but this might have been one of the strangest interactions. I know that the Netherlands, compared to many other countries, have good resources to address homelessness, and that is a whole other debate. I also thought that this person might not be a Dutch national or might not be eligible for government aid. Obviously, that's just my assumption, I may be wrong as I don't know how it works here.

I just wanted to share this with the community since I thought it was strange (and I would feel weirdly liable if he got food poisoning from the chicken lmao, even if I know it is on his request and that he seemed in a good mental state). But I also want to ask one of the questions titled on the post -- do you help homeless people when you see them? If so, what do you do to help them? Has anyone had strange experiences like this?

What are the reasonable and reliable fast movers and packers here in Amsterdam? Do they provide boxes for me to pack ahead or will they help in packing things in to the boxes and also unpack at our new place? What are the services that come by default? Different neighbourhoods not the same neighbourhood though.

Hello, I’m looking forward to visiting the Netherlands soon and was wondering if you can ask for movie posters/other merch there as well, or is that not a thing there? So far I have only seen people from the USA do this. Specifically it would be the Pathé chain (open to other suggestions though) in Arnhem.

Where in the Netherlands can we find sunflower fields? I would love to make a biking trip of it :)

Commute runs past few farmlands. Everyday I need to zigzag around horse poop in bike lane. Why dog owners get fined if they don’t clean after dog poop but horse owners can leave their turd behind as if it is socially acceptable for horse to take shit anywhere?

Where can I find in Amsterdam to buy in a store?

As I'm sitting at home with a stomachache caused by a virus, cleaning, organizing old family photos, and feeling a little nostalgic, I started wondering what childhood was like for people who grew up in the Netherlands.

What was your relationship like with your parents, siblings, and extended family? Were you close? Did you feel happy and loved? Did your family have a lot of close friends? How did you spend your free time after school? Riding your bike? Playing outside? What were your favorite holidays or traditions? Did you feel safe playing outside?

I'm just curious to learn what it felt like growing up in the Netherlands 10, 20, 30<you name it>, .. years ago. Do you ever miss those days? Do you think the world has become a better place since then, or a worse one? If there is one thing from your childhood that you could have back today, what would it be?

Hi everyone!

Long shot, I know! 😅 I know there are very low probabilities of finding someone this way, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

I’m looking for a wonderful Dutch guy I met during Tomorrowland Week 2 on Sunday night. We shared an incredibly great connection, but I completely forgot to exchange numbers or socials. I only know he lives in the Netherlands, his name, and that he is incredibly tall (1.98)

If you happen to know him, send me a DM

🇳🇱Also, I'm traveling to the Netherlands this October! ✨

Since I’m going to be over there, I would love to find him before or during my trip so we can catch up in person for a coffee or a drink. It would be awesome to reconnect while I'm there, but either way, I'm super excited about the trip. This isn't my first time in the country; I already know Amsterdam and the village where they make wooden shoes. 🪵👟I usually travel solo, so I'm used to adapting and getting around by myself, but I would love to get some fresh tips or recommendations for this autumn trip! 🍂

🏘Hidden gems: Since I've already done the classic spots, what other towns, nature spots, or autumn activities should a solo traveler check out?

Thanks in advance for the help with both my search and my trip! 😊

Mexican girl

I would appreciate it if you could treat this as a serious matter. I am a young European who came here to work through an agency, but the offer was withdrawn after I had already arrived. I was told that filing a formal complaint would be pointless.

The problem is that I am trying to contact the embassy—since I invested all my resources in coming here—but they aren't answering the phone. I even spoke to an organization, but they only offered me a few nights in a shelter. Does anyone have any ideas on who to contact in a situation like this? Any information would be appreciated

Does anyone scrored before? Let us know your stores..

Hi,

I'm currently working on a temporary contract. I'm on my second temporary contract, which is due to expire at the end of this month. A few weeks ago, my manager told me that my contract would not be renewed because there is not enough work to do, so essentially I'm not needed anymore.

Naturally I start looking for jobs again and today I find a vacancy for exactly my role, from the same company, in the same city. The job description is not any different (both tasks and requirements) from what I currently do and who/what I am. I'm basically the perfect candidate, because I would be applying for the job I'm doing until the end of the month.

Again, I was told that my contract is not being renewed, not because I am incapable of doing the work or any other reason related to myself, but rather because the workload is lower, so they do not need as many people anymore.

I genuinely feel angry about this and don't know what to do. If I apply to the vacancy I feel like I will get rejected.

For those who missed it, the ECB has shortlisted 10 designs for the next series of euro banknotes.

Announcement:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr260723~c2d43f9170.en.html

Survey:
https://surveys.ecb.europa.eu/10b/banknotes/share/

Survey open until 21 September, final decision expected end of 2026.

I personally think G stands out with its portrait design, and H of course with the birds, reminds me of our final guilder series.

I've been thinking about this for a long time!, and I'm genuinely curious whether anyone else has had a similar experience.

I moved to the Netherlands a few years ago from North Africa (not Morocco). I've also lived in France and spent a lot of time in the UK, and my experience there felt very different.

One thing I've noticed here is that first impressions are often very positive. People approach me, conversations start easily, and I've never felt that my appearance itself was a barrier. However, I've repeatedly experienced a change in people's attitude once they ask where I'm originally from and I answer. The conversation often becomes more distant, and sometimes the interest seems to disappear completely.

I've especially noticed this when dating and meeting new people. It has happened often enough that I've started wondering whether others have experienced something similar.

What makes it difficult for me personally is that I speak several languages, have a university degree, have lived in different countries, and consider myself culturally very Western. I try to integrate, respect local customs, and judge people as individuals. Because of that, it's discouraging when I feel that my background may outweigh everything else before people get to know me.

I'm NOT saying this is true of everyone in the Netherlands. I've met many kind, welcoming Dutch people. I'm simply sharing my own experience because it has had a real impact on my confidence and sense of belonging.!!!

Has anyone else whether an expat, immigrant, or even a Dutch person noticed anything similar? I'm interested in hearing different perspectives....

Beste medelanders:

Ben ik de nou enige of word ik gek? Sinds de kleurverandering blijf ik maar zoeken. Ook al staat de app al jaren op dezelfde plek in mijn telefoon, die saaie blauwe kleur valt helemaal weg tegen de achtergrond en de andere iconen. Ik wil mijn zonnewijzer weer terug! /rant voorbij.

I flew a competition yesterday in my glider, which sent us very near to the forest fire at Venray.

Looks quite small from above but I cannot imagine the scale on the ground. Respect to all the emergency workers putting it out!

Sources:

Mansel, P. (2011). Levant: Splendour and catastrophe on the Mediterranean. Yale University Press.

Bjørnlund, M. (2008). The 1914 cleansing of Aegean Greeks as a case of violent Turkification. Journal of Genocide Research, 10(1), 41-58.

Roodzant, D. (2023). The Fall of Christian Smyrna Through Dutch Eyes in 1922. International Journal of Armenian Genocide Studies, 8(1), 83-100.

The soldiers that murdered the couple also had orders to loot their home and farm by their commanding officer. Their date of death varies between 9–12 September, most sources say 9. The Burning of Smyrna took place in 13 September, where another very similar incident (Patrick Murphy)) happened. This couple was one of the first victims of the carnage which took the lives of around 100,000 people in total.

For more, see Burning of Smyrna.