Conortje's plan to spend a year in the Netherlands has stretched to nine and here he gives some reasons why this came to be. Read on for this Irishman's humorous views on some aspects of living in Holland, some of the everyday things that can take getting used to, and why he thinks it's generally a good place to be.	Conortje

-Where were you born?
Co. Kerry, Ireland

-In which country and city are you living now?
The Netherlands, The Hague (or Den Haag, La Haye, La Haya - it really depends what language you speak)

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Well I am neither alone nor with my family. I live with my occasionally better half.

-How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
Nine years

-What is your age?
I began my second youth this year when I turned thirty.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in the Netherlands?
I was doing a four-year science degree in Galway, Ireland, and realised about two months from the end that I actually had incredibly little interest in science - apart from experiments that produced smoke but I figured I could hardly base a career on that. Weighing up my options I decided to do a TEFL course and travel around a bit teaching English until I figured out what to do with my life. I picked The Netherlands to begin this journey because I knew two people there and planned to stay a year. Still here nine years later and still not entirely sure what I should be doing with my life. I was never very good at sticking to plans.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
It took me a full year to get my residents permit despite being an EU citizen. I was living in Brabant in the south of The Netherlands at the time and I don’t think they really believed foreigners existed. I remember going to the alien police and they said that they couldn't do anything until the town hall had issued me with a registration. When I subsequently went to the town hall they informed me that they couldn't register me until I had a permit from the police. The whole process certainly helped pass some of the quieter winter days. The funny thing is that an EU citizen doesn't even require a permit.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
The Dutch are very well organised. I'm not sure I even knew health insurance existed until I came here and then my work sorted everything out for me.

-How do you make your living in Holland? Do you have any type of income generated?
After dabbling in many different employment areas, see here, I finally got a job teaching English for two years in Vught. After that I moved to The Hague to work in the Training Section of an International Organisation.

-Do you speak Dutch and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I speak Dutch to varying degrees of success (often depends on how much I've had to drink). The problem here is that everyone not only speaks English but desperately wants to speak English. It is exceptionally difficult to find any Dutch people who will willingly speak Dutch to you. The reasons for this are debatable, the outcome is that it is virtually impossible to fully integrate here.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Of course people are the thing that I miss most. Thankfully Ireland isn't too far away and visits and visitors are easily arranged - some people simply need more reminding than others.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
A return to Ireland is on the cards. I seem to have misplaced the cards though, so who knows when/if it will happen.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I live in what has been described as looking somewhat like a New York loft apartment. I've never been to New York but I love this description. It makes me feel all chic and impossibly cool. This is probably why I seem to think that I am living in a sitcom.

-What is the cost of living in the Netherlands?
Some things are much cheaper than in Ireland like food and drink. Bailey’s Irish Cream for example is cheaper here than in Ireland which is quite silly when you think of it. Anything involving services though is more expensive: hairdressers, taxis, etc., are frightfully dear. I tend to cycle everywhere with long hair.

-What do you think about the Dutch?
Every second person in The Hague seems to be a foreigner so sadly it's nothing exotic. All the Dutch friends I have made are wonderfully warm and fun people.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Holland?
Because it is such a small country with so many people crammed in, society can become slightly agitated and ill mannered. There is very little (if any) sense of community.

That also means however that you can do whatever you want without anyone bothering you (sometimes this is called tolerance). Except put your bin bag out on the wrong day. I did that recently and was fined 280 euro!

It is generally a great place to be though. Always lots to do. Wonderful museums in every city and it's so easy to get around as the transport system is fantastic.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in the Netherlands?
Make sure you celebrate Sinterklaas properly with surprises and poems, etc. It's great fun. Oh, and if you happen to be in Den Bosch be sure and drop in to Plein 79, my favourite bar in the whole land.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about the Netherlands?
www.dutchnews.nl and www.expatica.nl for Dutch news in English.
http://conortje.wordpress.com for my own blend of Dutch courage.