We are retiring this year and want to live in Europe for a couple years. We have chosen Amsterdam at the current time since we think it will make for the easiest adjustment. We are familiar with much of Europe and each country has a big plus for us. Mainland will prove easiest for touring around, Netherlands for flat bike riding and also for lack of language barriers. <BR>Are there any web sites that you could share with us to help with this transition? Any personal experiences?<BR>If there are downsides we need to know that too but most of all we hope for encouragement. Thanks a bunch.

try www.holland.com for a bunch of answers

Elaine,<BR><BR>You need to contact the Embassy or the Consulate for the Netherlands to get information on visas; I believe the longest you can stay without a visa is 180 consecutive days. I don't remember the website that lists all embassy sites, but do a web-engine search and you should find it fairly easily. Once you find the Consulate, look for information on extended-stay visas or retirement visas.<BR><BR>The only other problem might be health/medical insurance coverage overseas.<BR><BR>Good luck!<BR><BR>s

www.expatica.com<BR>Don't be put off by all the grumpy, negative expatriates hanging around on that site!<BR>Have a nice time in Amsterdam, my home city!

Elaine, living in Amsterdam can be a dream come true and I hope it turns out that way for you. Here are some random downsides for you:<BR>1. Dog poop. Don't grump, just clean it off your shoes right away and forget about it until the next time - and watch where you walk.<BR>2. Tickets for the Concertgebouw Orchestra: these are hard to get for the best concerts, and very expensive by Dutch standards, but worth it.<BR>3. Bike riding in Amsterdam: is unfortunately more difficult than other places in the country, so be careful!<BR>4. Tourists: we're all tourists at some point, nothing wrong with that, but when you live in Amsterdam you'll notice that sometimes it feels like there are way too many of them!<BR>5. Weather: they say that there are ten times as many rainy days in Amsterdam as in Rome, and that's why Amsterdam has ten times as many cafes and bars as Rome. I'm sure you made an educated choice about this; it certainly is not southern France in terms of weather! Upside: you hardly ever feel the need for air conditioning.<BR><BR>Try the website of the American Bookstore in Amsterdam - they often have items of general interest and listings of English-language readings, theatre, and get-togethers. I think it's<BR>www.abs.nl but you can find it with a web search.<BR>Enjoy!<BR><BR>

http://www.expataccess.com/Next/MNetherlands.asp I haven't checked out the site for the netherlands, but we're considering moving to Germany and this has been the most extensive and enlightening website around. Good luck and enjoy it.<BR><BR>

My husband and I had the good fortune of being transferred to the Netherlands for a year assignment. Office was in Haarlem, we lived in Zandvoort. I would recommend Haarlem as a base to live. Very easy to get around in and only about 20 minutes via train into Amsterdam. Not as many tourists to contend with. <BR>Downsides? Can't think of any. Except of course for the weather. We missed the States on occassion, but got over it the next time we walked down the main street in Zandvoort, looked out our window at the North Sea, or into the Grote Market in Haarlem. We hated to leave, but a year assignment is just that. Company took care of all the visa stuff which did make our life pretty easy.

To continue. I remember the first time we went out to dinner with a bunch from work. They had to translate the menu for us of course. About 3 months later we were looking at a Dutch menu and I realized that I could read it almost as well as an English menu. I think that's when we realized that we were really just "living" there rather than visiting. <BR><BR>One thing we did notice. We would sometimes spend Sundays at the apartment, watching CNN and the other English channels. It sometimes was a relief not being surrounded by a language we didn't understand. <BR><BR>Try and find a book titled "The Undutchables". It's right on in describing all things Dutch (and pretty funny too) especially after you've lived there for 6 months or so.

Elaine! Congratulations on your decision. I hope it all works out for you.<BR><BR>Does anyone here have any suggestions/insights on living in The Hague? Just curious...<BR><BR>thanks!<BR><BR>Beth

We've been living in The Hague for about two years and love it. It's very green, great dining, a lovely gem of a museum (Maritshuis) and very easy going. I missed being in a big city at first (native NYer) but now have really come to appreciate all that The Hague offers.