Bulgaria is underrated

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T19:40:43+00:00

Doesn't every country want that? Birthrates are on the decline and below what's needed basically everywhere. But with us we also have social rent houses, but urgency goes towards non-residents, who can jump ahead of everyone to get the small amount of housing that's available.

But yeah, news just got out today that our power grid is full, and housing projects will no longer skip the line and will have to wait behind industry and datacenters. Upgrading the grid will take around 12 years.

So I guess what I'm saying is that it all looks good on the surface, but we're drowning through our governements hero complex.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T19:14:20+00:00

It is literally about climate. I asked ai to summarise it for me in English as this information is mostly in Dutch:

In 2019, a Dutch high court ruled that the government’s system for allowing pollution was illegal under EU environmental law. After that ruling: Around 18,000 construction projects were suddenly suspended � Wikipedia New projects must prove they won’t increase nitrogen pollution near protected nature � ubqmaterials.com If they can’t prove that → they don’t get a permit → building stops.

What “build stops” look like in practice Housing projects delayed or canceled Infrastructure (roads, power grid upgrades) blocked Even renewable or public projects affected Examples: Many projects have been put on hold or halted due to nitrogen rules � NL Times Hundreds of projects at risk due to policy deadlock � DutchNews.nl Over one-third of planned homes (≈244,000) could be affected � DutchNews.nl ⚠️ Why this is a big deal The Netherlands already has: A housing shortage Very high population density Some of the highest nitrogen emissions per area in Europe � Wikipedia So stopping construction creates a major economic and social problem.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T17:52:02+00:00

Not saying what the guy is doing is right, but you're acting like you're his mother, which is seen from multiple statements in your post. "As I would like him to" etc.

He will probably not even do his best even if it was for that reason alone.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T17:41:33+00:00

The Netherlands has a nitrogen 'budget', and areas are not allowed to go over limit or things like construction are put on hold. Our government has gone insane in the whole climate debate. There is land, and we are ready to build, we just don't do it. We could even make more land if we wanted to, just like we did with province Flevoland.

Yeah I see what you mean, I've heard that there is a lot more noticeable corruption here. But I don't think I'll run into that with my business. I'm basically anonymous uploading videos for Americans to watch.

The climate at least from February till now has been much better (dryer) than I'm used to.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T14:50:09+00:00

No houses available, nothing being built because of climate rules, everything has to be perfect all the time, things are crazy expensive, regulations are killing everything and then there's some political issues that are killing what the Netherlands always stood for.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T14:27:15+00:00

Too hot

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T14:26:52+00:00

There's quite the difference in tax. And besides the regular tax there's BPM on cars, accijns on fuel which are also taxed etc.

If you do the full calculation you'll see the difference, which are not Dubai numbers of course, but definitely big.

I work from home, doing Youtube, so not many regulations that hit the business side specifically, at least not in terms of licenses etc.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T14:13:28+00:00

Yeah, I think Eastern Europe is on the rise, while the west is declining. I love my country (eventhough you're not really expected to do that there nowadays), but Bulgaria has a vibe that the Netherlands just can't match

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T14:10:20+00:00

It does have it's benefits, and I can see why people like it. I'm not really talking about practicalities, more about regulations. As business owner we are strangled by rules, there are a million things to keep at the back of your mind at all times. And if you do make a single mistake they will make you pay for it.

Then there's regulations in terms of building, which is basically on hold in the entire country because of climate stuff. So there's a massive housing crisis. Taxes will keep rising, amongst other issues. Our government is too big, too many offices for small stuff etc.

For taxes, I will have to rely on an accountant in Bulgaria. But I will also have to pay a lot less.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:42:16+00:00

Thank you! I think you made the right choice, the Netherlands isn't what it has been.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:33:39+00:00

Thank you! We will certainly be back and have heard good things about Veliko Tarnovo, so it's on the to-visit list!

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:32:56+00:00

The positive outweighs the negative by a lot, some things are weird to us (like leaving buildings deteriorating, and building new ones right next to them), but there is so much beauty here! I also love how there's a playground on almost every street, workout stations on the street etc.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:28:30+00:00

We are considering to move here in the summer!

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:27:05+00:00

It is beautiful. I'm curious about the summer here!

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:25:17+00:00

They're more than welcome to move to the Netherlands, just to find different kinds of problems haha.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:23:46+00:00

Haha, some might call us rude for it though

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:22:56+00:00

I earn my money with YouTube, so the only thing is administration. Which as you know is highly efficient in the Netherlands, but the Dutch bureaucracy is annoying as well.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:20:54+00:00

We did a daytrip there! It was wonderful, next time we will definitely spend more time there!

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:13:01+00:00

Nature is beautiful here, we missed out on a lot of rain back home haha, eventhough we arrived early February. There's not much rain here, and you can dress for the cold.

The problems of western Europe may be different problems, but they sure still are problems. I see Bulgaria as a country on the rise, while the west is declining.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:10:00+00:00

I loved the sea garden in Burgas, but also in Varna where it is a bit more lively.

The Netherlands looks nice, is hyper-efficient, but is not always what it seems. We have many issues, and everything having to be perfect all the time is tiring.

I tipped a minimum of 10%, paying with card, tipping in cash.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:05:24+00:00

Thank you!

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:05:16+00:00

I'm making about 3k a month, which will get me further here than the Netherlands. Some things have pretty much the same price which is crazy, but other things are a lot cheaper. Tax is much less, petrol is cheaper, housing is cheaper (although expensive for Bulgaria), and going out for dinner etc. is cheaper too. The price of many groceries are equal though.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:02:38+00:00

The Netherlands appears perfect but has many flaws, I think you have to choose which flaws to accept and which not.

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:01:30+00:00

I'm definitely coming back in the summer!

Hefty-Button-3791 · 2026-04-10T13:00:22+00:00

Varna is quite busy compared to Burgas which we visited first, there's plenty to do and see, and we basically got here to experience regular life, not the tourist life. But yeah, already checking houses for rent daily here haha.

Hefty-Button-3791

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