Emigrating to Europe

[Bokka]

We have been trying very hard fro the past 10 years(myself) and my husband to get jobs in SA. All of a sudden myhusband lands an amazing job in the Netherlands and there it is......we are packed up and leaving!
We are both in our 40's and have two children,believe me it is not easy..I would like to share this experience with anyone moving to Europe....

[Kaspergyselinck]

I am from Belgium and have lived in the Netherlands for 2 years as well. You're gonna have to get used to the weather. Other then that the Netherlands is a nice country I think. What sort of job will you be doing there ?

[Bokka]

my husband will be working,I will be settling the children in schools and will then try and fins something in the retail clothing industry.Been in the industry for 30 yrs in SA...designwer then byuing manager in one of the largest retailers then my own business...we will cope with the weather..we have to
!

[Kaspergyselinck]

Ok, for advice on the cultural side. You GOTTA follow the RULES. The dutch are very fond of rules and can not stand people breaking them. any place you go there is some guy that just made up a bunch of rules (put a lot of time into it too) and had them approved. I once was late for (literally) 30 seconds. I looked at the clock and I was 30 seconds late ! For that capital crime of breaking the rules I had to clean the schoolgrounds during break time. It's probably not like that everywhere though.

In the end I like the dutch anyways. They are honoust, always very correct, and most have good communication skills. And good at stating the obvious in an "in your face!" kind of way.

[Bokka]

yes,we have been working with thier rules for the last 3 months,hence my posting...but at the end of the day..it will be worth it. A country thats offers good education,interest rates of 4% and very low crime rate! At least we have work there....I will miss this country,believe me,but I am going to make the most of living in Europe!

[Kaspergyselinck]

What is the interest rate in Johannesburg then ?

[Bokka]

15% and climbing! personal tax 45% and businesses 35%,think that is sort of standard,but we can not do much here with pre-tax money. In Europe we can pay bonds & schools with pre-tax money...and the education is great.

[Daisy 1980]

It is now more than a year later.. I just wonder if you are still in the Netherlands. I am Dutch and live in South-Africa, but I want to go back for alot of reasons.
The rules are so good that I don't have any idea where to start to go back with my husband (and child) from here.... Can you tell me what kind of job he got there or how he got it, because according to me a company can only hire someone if he has a diploma that someone in the Netherlands cannot have. Or they must have a reason why he is important for the job..

Hope to hear from you!
Regards,
Daisy

[Bokka]

hello Daisy,yes we are still here. My husband is what you would call a kennisimmigrant,so he has what no one lese had in Netherlnds to do the job! The dutch also does not let us forget this every day! they make not so nice comments,but he is an expert in his field. I on the other had have been in lcothing buying for 24 years and here thery refuse to give me a job,because I do not have the papers! If you are dutch,why can you just not return?