Car Free,
Adventure Full
Bane and Debi Cook arrived in Leiden in January from Denton, TX, after participating in GTFO Tour's relocation trip in September 2025. Bane runs a social media and photography agency. He has clients from the US and has already gained new clients here in the Netherlands. Debi has been hired for a great job with a French international firm in cybersecurity.
Why did you decide to come to the Netherlands? What were your other options?
We came to the Netherlands because life was getting too expensive in the US and Trump was turning it into something we didn’t recognize and support anymore.
What has been harder than expected and what has been easier than expected?
It’s been harder budgeting here since travel is so easy and going out to eat is so good. It’s been easier than expected traveling, everything is so close to NL and trains and inexpensive flights make it enticing.
What is the most interesting thing you have learned about (about yourself or anything you want to discuss)?
That we can live without a car. Public transit and biking is so easy over here.
What one piece of advice do you wish you had been given?
To save up more money before coming to NL.
What’s the biggest difference you notice between your life here and your life in the US?
The stress level and quality of life, we are less stressed about our situation with no trump and we are eating healthier, have better healthcare etc.
What is the best thing about your life in the Netherlands?
Getting to go on a new adventure with my wife and the fact that we live in a beautiful country.
Any advice for making new friends and/or maintaining old ones?
Sign up for expat get together groups. Make new friends by starting up conversations, you never know who might want to be your friend.
Beyond the generic food, family, and friends, what do you miss most from the US?
Literally nothing beyond that. Garbage disposals?
Find Bane online
@banecookphotography
@mildlydistorted
Website: Banecookmedia.com