Leaving The Netherlands for Spain
Expat Insight 01 : In conversation with Naomi Rustenberg
In the Expat Insight series we ask expats 10 questions that give insight on expatriate experiences around the world.
What is your nationality?
Dutch
Which country did you relocate to?
Spain
What were your motivations to relocate?
My husband and I wanted a different lifestyle compared to what we had in the Netherlands. Less hectic, more time for family activities for instance, less stress, a more balanced lifestyle. Also workwise we wanted to explore more, is there another way to make money than just the 9 to 5 job we had. Now we work remote and from home. We started before the pandemic hit, so we had a few months of experience.
Does your current city meet your prior expectations?
Yes and no. Yes, I really love the vibe here, the people in general are nice, the food is great, the weather is overall fantastic, I would say that the quality of life is good – as long if you don’t need a lot of government services. No, people barely speak English so with important stuff we really needed help for instance buying a house. But also getting to know other parents and have a deep conversation about certain topics concerning your kids… it was quite a challenge to get to know people. That is why I promote IT’s July, it is a platform that connect families with each other to undertake family activities together. Just like Settlu it operates worldwide. I am an ambassador.
What are the misconceptions of living in this country?
Of course Spain is Europe but it is really so different from e.g. the Netherlands. I feel like Spain is so much more bureaucratic, people in public organisations don’t seem flexible at all. Simple processes – to me – take forever and are not always completed the way that they should be done. Don’t try to figure it all on your own because it will consume time! Also, yes, you should learn the language but in the meantime you need to do so much paperwork. Let someone help you with that, and preferably someone with actual knowledge in that field.
How long do you think you’ll reside in this country?
We’re going to buy a house and we’re thinking of staying here at least for the coming 10 years.
If you were to move again, which 3 countries would be top on your list?
Not sure, maybe Portugal or countries in South-America like Argentine.
Why would you chose to live in these countries?
Portugal is still in Europa and close to the Netherlands where the majority of our friends and family live. We still need to explore Portugal more but what I see uptill now is very interesting. But language would be a thing. And then South-America, because we already know some Spanish (words, lol) and I also have family and some friends living in Suriname (people speak Dutch there) a country in the north of South America.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of becoming an expat?
Do it, it will give you and your family so much more life experiences. If you’re thinking about it a lot, do it, now is the time. But also be frank to yourself, what are your top priorities, what is important for you? I still have to let go of my way of thinking when it comes down to certain things as in public organisations.
Do you think having connections before move internationally can be beneficial to a new expat or someone new to travelling?
Yes
These stories are real lived experiences of expatriates around the world. If you’d like to share your story send us an enquiry here.