Need help to be on my way to the Netherlands!

"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit) 10/20/2015 at 12:58 • Filed to: moving help

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A while back !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! about emigrating to another country. I’m absolutely sick and tired and of being stuck with and detest the people I’m forced to hang around with here, I’m sick and tired of feeling like I have limited economic and job opportunities here, and really I’m just sick and tired of being here, period. Not just here , I mean this whole country (especially since Trump seems like a legitimate big political thing now, or for that matter any other Republican presidential candidate). But anyway, I applied for immigration to the Netherlands and it got approved! With one catch - I first have to find a sponsor, whether an employer or someone else (hopefully longer-term than just a school or learning institution, I DO NOT intend on setting foot on American soil ever again through the day I die, so I’m not interested in a short-term situation) so I was wondering if you guys have any help or suggestions along those lines.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 13:08

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The grass isn’t always greener but living abroad could be a great experience. I’ve been looking into Australia myself but I don’t really have the experience necessary to get a good job and therefore a visa.

duurtlang > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 13:09

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What would being a sponsor mean?

Also, what do you intend to do ? I mean, what kind of job/study/whatever are you planning to do with your time?

Also, why the Netherlands? Not a critism of your choice as I’m happy living in the Netherlands, I’m just curious.

If you’re willing to work on my Peugeots I’d be willing to sponsor... a little ;)

Rico > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 13:10

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Don’t have any suggestions except to make sure you hit up the coffee shops. Also do the red light district at least once, I know I will! Good luck and hope it all goes well!

BigBlock440 > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 13:12

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Just hop the fence

Wacko > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 13:16

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dude, try canada first, we are not as far,we are still similar to the usa, and to netherlands. no trump here, but we still get to laugh at him. we even just elected a new prime minister that is young and hip. he boxes, and even stripped for charities.

duurtlang > Rico 10/20/2015 at 13:16

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Two of the most cliche things tourists do.

I’ve lived in the Netherlands for 32 years now, since birth, and have never visited bought anything in a coffee shop nor have I ever visited spend any money in any of the red light districts. I’ve lived directly next to a coffee shop and within a 2 minutes walk of a red light district.

Svend > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 13:17

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I’m an E.U. national but I’ve friends I worked with from Hungary (at the time they needed a sponsor) while in the Nederlands. Most large companies will happily sponsor you if not find a good Uitzend Bureau (work agency) who will do it for you (the one I worked with 15 years ago is now closed so I can’t help in that regards), once you find something and land in the Nederlands go straight to the Belastingdienst (tax office) for a Sofi Nummer (tax number) you will need this as you won’t get anywhere otherwise and get a Dutch bank account (I found several companies don’t like foreign banks), Rabobank I found to be the most helpful but the Uitzend Bureau and the bank will be able to help you with what you need.

If you honestly don’t intend to return to the U.S. (which it’s very early days to say so), it’s worth remembering that while being a U.S. citizen living abroad you are still liable to paying U.S. taxes if you earn over USD$35,000) a year.

Rico > duurtlang 10/20/2015 at 13:19

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I like weed, however in the police state I live in having weed can get you a day in jail at best and the shit beat out of you and a weekend in jail at worst. And I would visit the red light district but won’t be spending any money there.

Svend > duurtlang 10/20/2015 at 13:20

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Lived in the Nederlands for about a year and never went to a red light district. I did smoke a joint once while there but it was only two puffs and went back to my beer. Meh.

duurtlang > Wacko 10/20/2015 at 13:22

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Prime minister of the Netherlands (since 2010, age 43)

Not very hip though. Belongs to the liberal (read: right wing) party here.

I do see the likelyness with Canada. Canada is the Netherlands-light. It does have twice the population and close to 250 times the land.

Milky > duurtlang 10/20/2015 at 13:22

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Is it cliche if you just really like coffee and boobs?

duurtlang > Svend 10/20/2015 at 13:24

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I had an asthmatic condition as a kid and was allergic to smoke back then, as a result I’ve never smoked tobacco/weed in my life. I have had space cake though. Like you said, meh.

pauljones > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 13:24

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1) Apply for a job there

2) Apply for school there

That’s what they mean by “sponsor.” You have to have a reason to be there other than “I don’t like ‘Murica” and you have to have some sort of start towards a plan of being an actual, contributing member of their society. As for how to do either of those things, start by contacting the same embassy that you applied for the VISA through and see if they can point you in a direction.

Also, have you done any of the other research that is actually required for this sort of thing? What might the cost of living be like? Where, exactly, do you think you want to stay? What are the income wages for entry-level jobs? What are the tax rates and the social benefits, and how long do you have be there to apply for those benefits? What are the predominant areas of industry there, and how can you apply your skills towards them?

You can’t just go into this sort of thing half-assed and expect everything to be hunky-dory; it just doesn’t work that way.

What is your overall plan?

duurtlang > Milky 10/20/2015 at 13:26

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Do they serve coffee in Dutch ‘coffee shops’? I’m not sure, and if they do it’s probably far from the best you can get.

pauljones > Svend 10/20/2015 at 13:28

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It’s the little details that so often get overlooked.

Wacko > duurtlang 10/20/2015 at 13:31

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here’s trudeau in 2011(i think) for his boxing match with another politian

but I fail to see how we are the Netherlands light? when you guys are more like canada jr.

450X_FTW > Wacko 10/20/2015 at 13:32

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Living in Canada is like living in a loft aprtment over a really loud bar that doesn’t know when to shut up

Ash78, voting early and often > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 13:36

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Don’t forget to watch the mandatory video on how permissive the society is. Try to fit in and please don’t murder any filmmakers.

That’s all I’ve got on Dutch emigration. Great country, just too crowded and expensive for my tastes.

Wacko > 450X_FTW 10/20/2015 at 13:38

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all depends on how close you are, I’m in rural north western quebec. So I am about 7 hours north of montreal( yes everyone lower than montreal, there is life further north past you guys)

I am far enough that the only USA that rubs off here is on my satellite TV and internet.

450X_FTW > Wacko 10/20/2015 at 13:42

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I live about 40 minutes from the border in SE Michigan. Sorry for yelling

Wacko > 450X_FTW 10/20/2015 at 13:53

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i had to re read your other posts looking for a all caps post, but then it hit me.....

quiet down there!

stomps foot on ground

Leon711 > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 14:19

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A lovely country and you are an hours flight from me and the British oppos.

Bluecold > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 14:25

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Everybody here speaks english badly and most will be happy to talk english with you. However, it is hard to truly fit in without speaking Dutch. Rudimentary dutch and willingness to learn is enough.

Also, the Dutch overanalyze themselves and are quite self-conscious about their culture, to the point whether they wonder if they actually have a defined culture. This is shown in a lot of stuff. We aren’t usually punctual like Germans, but sometimes we are. Usually it’s three kisses, but sometimes just one. Rules for inner-city cycling around are usually moot, but you will be shouted at for disregarding the wrong rules. For most cultural ‘things’ there are unwritten and usually untold layers. I think this is true for many cultures, but for here I’m actually sure of it.

JDIGGS > duurtlang 10/20/2015 at 14:48

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I Call bs, Not once? 2 mi away? Heh I think that makes you a bigger tool than the people who are all psyched up to go there.

Only thing that made me pissed off while I was there was I went on a long day tour where the guide continually spewed on the vacationers about how tourists had basically slighted the people by assuming they all smoke pot and use prostitutes, continually going on about the pot thing. The greatest part was after the long half assed tour I used the restroom and my friend and I were the last to leave, he already had a joint smoking away as I came out of the bathroom (the guide not my friend). The hypocrisy was rampant there. Not to throw stones or be rude but you all should take responsibility for what you have created instead of trying to blame it on the tourists, even in America nobody would do this. Unbecoming.

The prostitute thing is not just prostitutes, it’s that they manage to do so in the most distasteful way possible, I’ve never seen another country that makes them sit in individual windows on street fronts all these faces looking out. For me it’s not about people using prostitutes but how the process is run, it’s very human trafficky.

I also found this to be the only country where people were flat out rude shits in a know it all manner, especially given in both situations for me the donkeys er persons didn’t know what they speaking about. I have been robbed in Italy and England and I still feel people were just so much more friendly, even the guys who took my money!

I tell the last part of this because OP people always think the grass is greener on the other side, and that moving anywhere else will make things better. I believe this can be true but I advise you to try and pick some places based upon what works for you financial / career/ fun.

Brian, The Life of > duurtlang 10/20/2015 at 15:06

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I don’t blame you. I mean, why pay full retail at a tourist trap if you’re a local, right?

duurtlang > JDIGGS 10/20/2015 at 15:22

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I have never bought marijuana, not even once. Doesn’t mean I’ve never had a piece of space cake a friend baked. It just didn’t do it for me. When it’s not seen as illegal it takes the excitement out of it. Like a regular cigarette. Meh. I do very strongly support legalization.

Fact of the matter is that tourists do create the biggest problems with marijuana in the Netherlands. And other, stronger/more illegal, drugs. Especially in Amsterdam and close to the borders. It’s not restricted to tourists, not even close, but it really isn’t surprising that people who didn’t grow up with a certain freedom struggle to control themselves when they do experience it for the first time. British bachelor parties in Amsterdam are notorious, as are American students under 21 years of age (as in: below the drinking age in the US, over the drinking age in Europe) all over Europe.

The way the prostitutes sit in those red light districts is not something that’s mandated. It’s done that way because it’s what tourists (international and national) apparently expect. I think naming it distasteful would be an understatement, but as long as the people there are doing it all out of their free will more power to them. I do recognize the human trafficky feel you sensed, and while it usually isn’t factual it does happen. Police polices that branch very closely, but they don’t catch everything.

I don’t recognize the flat out unfriendly part though. Blunt/direct, yes. Flat out unfriendly, no. You might’ve been simply unlucky in your experiences .

duurtlang > Brian, The Life of 10/20/2015 at 15:32

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No, I mean I’ve never purchased marijuana in my life. I have sampled it, but it wasn’t for me. When you can get it whenever you want it without serious consequences it loses its excitingness and, well, its appeal. It’s like regular cigarettes. They’re seen as cool among certain social circles, but generally speaking it’s looked down upon by those past puberty (and many/most teenagers as well).

And prostitution, no thanks, I’ve never seen the appeal of paying someone for sex.

Rico > Milky 10/20/2015 at 18:48

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The coffee shops are where they sell pre rolled weed and weed edibles lol. Coffee is great too!

Chasaboo > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all 10/20/2015 at 19:52

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What in the Sam Hill are you yelling about George?