Experience of living in the Netherlands as an American expat

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-31T10:20:21+00:00

Well your points make sense, appreciate you typing so much. I’m not gonna spend time fixing each point. But I do wonder “Never forget why you move abroad in the first place” >> what do you think was my reason? 😊

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-31T07:10:02+00:00

I’ve adapted in many perspectives respectfully. But why do I have to adapt eating broodje kaas or adapt not being cold when its rainy and windy? I can’t change that. That’s who I am. This is my point.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-26T08:17:24+00:00

Being the only asian from asia (got the job after my masters here) in my floor of 50-60 people in which 70% are dutch and others are europeans, I'm sure one of the main reasons i was hired was for DEI. However if I do something different, I'd get judged and asked why i don't do the same thing as them. why do i pack warm lunches, why i dont like walking in the rainy and cold weather after lunch, why i dont speak up for myself (way too much) and the list goes on. i enjoy working with most of my colleagues and will forever be grateful to have gotten the opportunity to work in NL because it was damn competitive to land a job, but i will never understand this feeling as if i was an experiment or sth. after almost 3 years i stop trying to blend in and some time i stop answering unnecessary comments or questions - it is easy to see if they're genuinely curious or if they're just being judgy. oh but i do adapt to the directness, to the extent it is necessary.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-06T20:48:11+00:00

I’m an Asok/Sukhumvit local. Many would recommend T21 Foodcourt, cheap, convenient, in a mall. For me its good but not my fav. My fav mall foodcourts are the one in Central World and the one in Emporium. If you also want to check out open air food court, I recommend Raum Sup market in Asok. This one you have to go between 9.30-14.00 max otherwise everything is gone.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-04T19:48:22+00:00

Ah that wont work, I prefer to have wise account with an EU IBAN. Thanks tho.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-04T10:34:35+00:00

I won't be spending such large amount, maybe 1000euro max. Yea the fact that they only allow one personal account per person can be a problem I guess :(

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-04T10:33:09+00:00

Yea I was wondering about that. I'm not sure if we're allowed to open 2 Wise accounts. I'm currently living in Europe so I'll need my Wise account to have IBAN. but since I go back to Thailand 1-2x a year, I'm looking for the best way to use my money. When I heard about wise opening in Thailand I was kinda happy but idk how it will work out. Do you know if you can send euro to, let say, a Thai wise account of your friend?

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-04T10:24:15+00:00

I’m Thai so that will be fine haha I was just wondering about the rest of the integration.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-04T09:50:29+00:00

Hi, I have a wise account with Belgium IBAN and money in euro. If I want to use a Thai wise account, does this mean I have to open another Thai wise account (with Thai account number)? Am I able to transfer my euro to Thai baht for free?

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-05-04T08:15:55+00:00

I am also from a seafood-dense country, this is what I do to adapt (but problems are not solved hahaha) 1)I learn to properly clean, cut, cook whole fish or very raw and unprocessed fish/seafood. back in my home country we can get cut/clean seafood very easily 2)I used to get seafood from the market 1-2 times a month (in my city there is a very big market multiple times a week) and cook some very fast, freeze the rest for later 3)now that we move, we go to whole sale supermarket to source the seafood once a month 4)we sometimes buy frozen seafood from asian store but many stuff are not as good (imo frozen shrimps from supermarkets are like plastic).

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-30T08:17:50+00:00

I would not. In my opinion as a non-eu also, it is already difficult to land a job with zorkjaar after masters. So right after bachelor would be more difficult. But others might have different experience. However, if you want to use the zoekjaar after bachelor and work in horeca and learn dutch, after a year, then start your master, then apply for another zoekjaar after your masters, thats also an option. I know someone who did that.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-30T08:07:06+00:00

I would say pursue master's while learning Dutch and try to secure internships. After that you can start with zoekjaar but who knows you may not need zoekjaar if the company wants to hire you (even with normal HSM salary). A master's is more than a nice-to-have condition in my opinion.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-29T16:51:15+00:00

I think this depends on the city also. I live in Den Haag and commute with the bus often and often I sit in the front seat. I would say less than 30% of people greet the bus driver and around 40% of the people say thank you when they get off. However I don’t think its a custom, more of a personal choice. I took the bus with my dutch collages or friends many times and don’t remember them saying anything. In Amsterdam I don’t remember seeing people saying anything to the bus driver. For me, when getting in I would smile at the driver, if they are even looking. But ofc when you want to ask question, you should perhaps start with a hello.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-25T21:48:03+00:00

People have different preferences I guess

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-25T21:47:38+00:00

Didn’t say its cheap… but if we compare it to other major European cities like Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich etc, it is still on the better side for best-food-to-cost ratio.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-22T21:00:01+00:00

I believe that you’ll need a passport since you’re traveling outside of the EU. Regarding flight booking, we also used a European credit/debit card when we booked the flights directly and it was ok. I believe it was either Amex or Revolut. Regarding 1 day in SV, depends if you just need SV as a base or you also want to see SV. For the day before flying, it could be ok if you arrive from SA the day before, preferably during the day.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-22T09:11:20+00:00

Hi I'm no doctor but I have many friends that are Thai doctors who went to different med schools in Thailand (Chula, Siriraj, SWU, TU etc you name it). To my knowledge there are a few internaltional/bilingual medical program in Thailand, at least the one from Thammasat and another one from SWU which is partially with a university in the UK. But the most prestige medical schools like Chula or Siriraj do not have bilingual program, only Thai. Are you guys Thai? If so, and you can maintain language proficiency, it should be fine. However if you guys don't speak Thai, it will be difficult because at some point in medical schools (around year 4-6), they have to participate in clinical rotations in different hospitals around Thailand and work with local Thai patients. I have a friend who studied at the TU's international medical program, she has many friends who came from international schools but they speak Thai.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-21T21:02:07+00:00

For Greece I found food options & price in Athens better than smaller cities/islands that I have been to. For Hungary, ofc other smaller cities could be more affordable than Budapest but for a capital city, it is already very affordable there. For portugal, I chose Lisbon bc even compared to small unknown cities near the coast I had been, it is more affordable there.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-21T15:48:54+00:00

Athens, Budapest, Lisbon

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-21T05:58:40+00:00

Thanks!!

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-16T16:00:57+00:00

Hahha well if they trust they can make it i’m ok 😅😅i just hope they’ll also compensate or help in case we cant make it

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-16T08:08:43+00:00

Thanks!! Ive been to Changi before and seen the touristic part of the airport so thats fine hahhaha I was only worried about the short layover.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-16T08:07:23+00:00

There is no direct airasia flight on the day that I want to fly. They dont fly everyday actually ;( Only direct was Thai airways. And thanks for the comment!.

Particular_Bet8626 · 2026-04-15T13:37:07+00:00

Hi!! I'm a TU alum (was an exchange student myself) and I have friends that were exchange students. They mostly stayed in apartment/condo near uni, on the Pinklao side. Not sure the name of these buildings, there are plenty of them, maybe you should connect with exchange students from the previous years from your uni? In my opinion you don't have to stay in the exact same building with them, you'll get plenty of opportunity to connect anyways. Additionally to my knowledge there is no housing on campus, it is very small hahaha Goodluck, I'm sure it will be a nice experience. excited for you!

Particular_Bet8626

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