Expat Republic

For the greater good

Working is not always what it’s cracked up to be. There are deadlines to meet, bosses to please, and petty office drama. This doesn’t necessarily go away when you decide to volunteer, but doing something because you want to, not because it is paid, feels...

Oerol – a festival in the heart of nature

One of Europe’s foremost performing arts festivals, Oerol is as unique as its UNESCO World Heritage Site location. For ten days every summer, the festival transforms the island of Terschelling into an alternate world that pushes visitors’ senses into overdrive.  Oerol–meaning everywhere in the Terschellinger...

Dutch Business – Striving for balance

A fellow Canadian who works as a manager for an IT company with offices in Amsterdam warned that working with Dutch colleagues might be challenging. I could expect to spend my time negotiating every little change in plans and might find that colleagues expect to...

Qualification recognition in the Netherlands

Whether contemplating a move to a new country or re-starting a career after relocating, it is important to check that your qualifications are valid. Luckily the Netherlands has established organisations to assess and validate foreign qualifications. You are only allowed to practice certain professions in...

A home of your own? Here’s how to start!

If you’ve decided to stay put in the Netherlands, you are probably starting to think about buying a home of your own. Here’s a list of nine things to consider before you take the plunge and become part of the home-owning community.