Moving to the Netherlands with children means navigating a school system that may look very different from what you’re used to in your home country. One of the biggest decisions international families face is whether to enrol their child in a Dutch school or an International School. On paper, the choice may seem simple: Dutch schools are free and help your child integrate into local life; International Schools offer instruction in English. In practice, however, the decision can be complicated—especially if your child has learning differences, or if you’re arriving with teens.This guide breaks down the key differences, the hidden…

Banking between countries is complicated - especially for Americans.If you're preparing to move abroad for the first time, you’ll quickly discover that managing money in multiple currencies has a bit of a learning curve. Most Americans grow up using only the U.S. dollar, and even international travel doesn’t require much adaptation thanks to credit cards and ATMs.But once you live abroad, you’ll need to spend in your new currency, navigate unfamiliar banking systems, and figure out how to move your money safely and affordably. You Will Need to Find A Way to Move Your Money Many Americans in the Netherlands use…

Packing Essentials for Your First Weeks As An American Moving Abroad: Netherlands EditionWhen I moved to the Netherlands in 2021, I knew it might take a while for our shipping container to arrive. What I didn’t anticipate was how challenging it would be to restock even the most basic household essentials once we landed.Supply chain issues in 2021 made things harder than an average year, but the real challenge was learning how Dutch retail works: which stores carry what, how to pay when you don’t yet have a local bank account, and how to prepare to make those first few weeks…