I bought an inflatable kayak in 2020 and I discovered the question I had to ask myself was not "where can I kayak?" but "where can I not kayak?" as the answer was much shorter.Perhaps you also have an inflatable kayak, or you have a Canadian canoe and want to know where you can use … Continue reading Canoeing and Kayaking
This post examines all the many ways one can swim outdoors in The Netherlands, and how to do it safely. Outdoor Pools To start off small and simple, there are plenty of outdoor swimming pools across The Netherlands, 28 of which can be found here. The simplest way to find one close to you is … Continue reading Outdoor Swimming
Water water everywhere, but can I use a boat?The Netherlands is full of water. Famously, parts of the country and even below sea level. To control all this water there are endless amounts of irrigation ditches, rivers, streams, lakes, and various other bodies of water that the Dutch probably have a specific name for. But … Continue reading Dutch Waterways
No matter where you are coming from, you will end up at a Dutch supermarket. But what is the difference between them? How do they compare to supermarkets in other countries? What are their equivalents in other countries? Here, I try to break it down. Dutch Supermarket chainsStarting in the simplest way, the main supermarkets … Continue reading Dutch Supermarkets
Finding housing in The Netherlands as a student can be tricky. Demand is high and availability is low. When I was looking for a place in Maastricht for my Masters, I was already living in the country, but even still I found it tough. I went down for a weekend to look around and I … Continue reading Student Renting
Student accounts differ to regular bank accounts in The Netherlands so I wanted to cover it separately, although more information specifically about studying I cover [here - link pending]. So what is different between a regular account and student one? Well, in short, student ones are free, although they are usually only valid for students … Continue reading Student accounts
Welcome to The Netherlands. You've arrived in the country, by plane, train, or boat (for the purposes of this I am assuming you have not driven over from a neighbouring country). But how do you get to your final destination? Here we will discuss how to take public transport in The Netherlands from the moment … Continue reading Public Transport
The BSN. The Burgerservicenummer. Perhaps the most important number you will have in The Netherlands, after your PIN. But what it is? You will have received one when you registered with the local municipality. If you have not, you should get right on that. If you ever hear someone call it the sophie nummer, they … Continue reading BSN
When you move to a new country or a new city, or even just out of your parents house, you will most likely start by renting. At one point or another we all probably rent our accommodation. But how do you do this in The Netherlands? What are the pitfalls? N.B Students should check out … Continue reading Renting
Registering with the city council (Gemeente) is one of the first things you will have to do upon your arrival in The Netherlands. How else will you get post from the government like taxes? Even if you are only living briefly in the country, registration is necessary. This includes if you are coming over to … Continue reading Registration
Being Dutched 