There are several necessary tasks to be undertaken when you move to a new country. But as once you have these in-hand then everything else can follow more slowly. One of the first tasks to undertake is obtaining a Dutch Tax number which is very important for everyday administrative life. Everyone living in The Netherlands…
All posts in June 2019

Bridge Cooling
As the temperatures supposedly reach above 30 degrees the coming days, cyclists should be prepared for sudden big puddles and wet legs. The reason for this is ‘bridge cooling’ whereby the bridge authorities have set up a hose system and are actively watering any drawbridges. This may seem a little strange to foreigners but it…

Urban Sports Week Amsterdam
Urban Sports Week Amsterdam takes place for the third time this week in Museumplein, from Wednesday 19th until Sunday 23rd June 2019. Since the event takes place in a public venue and has the intention of showcasing these more unusual sports to the general public, the majority of events are free with the only exception…
Taking the Dutch Theory Driving Test
There are several reasons why an international resident in The Netherlands may need to take a Dutch driving test. Holders of most non-EU licences are only allowed to drive in the Netherlands for the first 6 months after registration and many people are not eligible to just exchange their licence for a Dutch one. Other…

Aalsmeer Flower Art Museum
The May issue of KLM’s in-flight magazine recommended a museum I have never been to – the Flower Art Museum in Aalsmeer. This museum opened in 2018 and offers several different exhibitions. Entrance is EUR 5.50 with a 50% discount for museumcard holders. According to Google the museum is around 55 minutes cycle from my…

Short Term housing on a budget
Finding lower cost accommodation in Amsterdam is always a challenge, but this can be even harder when you are only here for a short period of time In some cities AirBnB is an option but the municipality of Amsterdam sets a 30 days limit for private landlords renting out their homes. Though you might find…