Born in Hong Kong and raised in Singapore, Jules now lives with her husband in The Hague in the Netherlands. Living abroad isn't something new for this young Asian expat, and some of the lessons she has learned from living in other countries are proving to be useful to her now. Here, Jules gives a sneak peek into her life in Holland, and shares some tips for adjusting to the local practices and culture.

Jules C.

-Where were you born?

In Hong Kong, my dad's from there and my mom's a Taiwanese. We moved to Singapore when I was 9. 

-In which country and city are you living now?

In Den Haag in The Netherlands. 

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I'm living here with my Dutch husband. My parents and sister still live in Singapore.

-How long have you been living in the Netherlands?

About a year now. 

-What is your age?

25 

-When did you come up with the idea of living in the Netherlands?

Well, my husband has a job here since last year, whereas I was still studying in Australia and Germany. Nothing to lose if I moved. Plus, there's the higher income in Holland compared to Singapore, meaning for the two of us who are just starting up (and might move yet again to somewhere else), the higher income will come in more helpful.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

I was really lucky, it took a month for the visa and just 2 weeks (!!!!) for a residence permit (you have to get an MVV visa* for entering Holland, in order to apply for residence permit in Holland). Heard from other people that it took 3 months for their residence permit applications to be approved. 

* You need to pass a basic cultural/language test to be eligible to apply for the MVV.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

That is the confusing part: You need to have be registered with the city and have a social security number to get medical insurance. BUT, it is illegal to enter EU without medical insurance.

So I had to get temporary travel insurance while I waited for the city to give me a social security number (Burger Service Nummer). 

-How do you make your living the Netherlands? Do you have any type of income generated?

Although most people speak English and many companies' official working language is English, you will find out they also want you to know Dutch. That makes finding a job difficult. Currently I am still trying to find work, through employment agencies mainly. 

Anyway, most people who move here will need to take integration courses (inburgeringscursus); I would recommend that before you start working. 

So no, I generate zero income and my husband's currently the only breadwinner.  

-Do you speak Dutch and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

Thanks to having learnt German for a number of years and lived in Germany, Dutch - being a cousin of English and German - poses little problems for me. I pick it up quickly and am still learning it. Although in Holland it is hard to learn Dutch; people usually switch to English once they detect that you're an English-speaker. Locals delight in showing off their prowess for the English language.

Although almost everyone converses in English with little problem in NL, from what I have experienced so far. But without Dutch it is hard to really bond with anyone here, especially when people here are already more protective of their personal time and space. 

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available. 

It is only natural to feel that way. I have lived away from home for about 3 years now (1 in China, 1 in Australia and 1 in Germany), but I miss how in Hong Kong and Singapore (actually in every Asian state) shops are open til 11pm, supermarkets open every day of the week, there is always something to do (and eat!!!!) in the neighborhood or city at any hour of the day. I also wish eating out in Holland would be cheaper. more relaxed than having to always make reservations (in my opinion it means planning) and available around the clock. 

But if we moved to eg. Singapore, I'd definitely miss cycling safely in Holland.  

-Do you have other plans for the future?

My husband is not a fan of winter so we have tentatively planned for a move to a warmer place. I am happy with winter but not the prolonged one that you get in Holland - sunrise at 8am and sunset at 5pm for about 3 months... quite dampening to the spirits, really. 

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We are currently renting from a real estate agency. If you choose to rent socially (from the city) you will probably find yourself waiting for 3 years before it's your turn to pick a place. Ours is in one of those typical old houses in Holland, taking up half the floor with 2 rooms and a terrace - not as big as it sounds. 

Because we live in the randstad, and really close to the city-centre, in a neighborhood close to all the embassies, for the type of housing we rent it's about 800 euros a month all inclusive. 

-What do you think about the Dutch?

People are in general very nice and at eg. post office or banks, they're much more patient, taking time to really answer customers' queries (sometimes too long). Also they are good-natured, very kind people. 

On the other hand, Dutch are keen on sticking to their traditions. There has to be an appointment for everything, even if you just want to drop by at your in-laws', which makes it rather stifling and not spontaneous. I also find myself having to ask for everything, instead of being asked. For instance when I first got here, rather than asking how am I settling in, they ask if I have done anything fun so far. I realised they conclude my well-being from what I have been up to. They prefer to say, 'if it makes you happy', or 'whatever makes you happy', instead of actually asking what makes you happy or if you are happy. I think the Dutch should realise it is nice to be the ones asking sometimes, because it is not as prying as they think it might be. 

 -What are the positive and negative aspects of living in the Netherlands?

It is a very good country for setting up a family. The living pace is nice in the sense that there is a work-life balance, but on the flip side it is too slow sometimes. If you live in the randstad like I do, life is pretty ok, a little faster but still lack the food & activities around the clock though. 

Although Holland is renown for its high tolerance and threshold, it does not equate to life being easy here. Tolerance for different people and different lifestyles does not translate exactly into harmonious relationships among people.  

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in the Netherlands?

i. patience is a virtue

ii. do not be too easily affected by everything that gets on your nerves or upsets you

iii. remember that in any place there is always something bad about it, especially the longer you stay in one place - if you still can't handle it, pack and leave. It IS only natural that there is always somewhere that not all of us are suited for.