Welcome to the Netherlands!
We're Here to Help
As a 64-year-old not ready to retire, the Netherlands turned out to be an ideal destination. With pretty limited SSI retirement income and a reasonable amount of savings, I could have moved with a passive income visa to Spain or Portugal, where the cost of living is lower. But I’m a natural entrepreneur, and really wanted to keep working, having run my own antique and vintage clothing businesses for decades in Texas.
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I also didn’t want to move across the world alone; fortunately, my good friend and housemate, Christie Brewer, has come with me. Christie, who is really far from retirement, is also able to continue working here. We work together in our business, HelloNL, a concierge service for Americans (and others).
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Our move was in many ways harder than we expected. Having lived almost my entire life in Texas, I hadn’t considered how hard simple tasks and daily essential acquisitions would be. I didn’t consider that I would struggle to figure out the simplest things, much less the difficult tasks. Everything from getting utilities to getting a Dutch phone, buying furniture, has been harder than expected.
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Through HelloNL, we can help you manage everything from purchasing and assembling furniture and house essentials, helping you with basic tasks such as setting up utilities or pre-purchasing a SIM card for your phone. Our service starts before you arrive. We pick you and your pets up in our van, take you to IKEA, the grocery store, and more. Or we can simply take you home to sleep in your new bed with freshly laundered linen. We are always around to take you shopping or explore another day. On an ongoing basis can also help you with everything for your pets, including dog/cat sitting, dog walking, help with vet appointments, and more. Really, we can ensure your integration is smoother than ours was.
I still run my antiques and vintage clothing business in the US from here, but from a much nicer place. The best thing in my life in the Netherlands is discovering that this is where I want to be. I am no longer interested in living more affordably in Portugal or Spain, but I certainly look forward to road trips there to explore. Dutch history, architecture, people, safety, government, focus on sustainability, including renewable energy recycling, and even the weather, make me feel like I’m in the right place. I really fit in here, and I’m excited to help others do so.
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My friends back home were very supportive of me moving, and I send updates via WhatsApp, text, and post, so I don’t really miss anything yet. In fact, friends from home are already planning to visit. I’ve enjoyed making fast friends with other immigrants here in Haarlem and working with other DAFTers on projects. We are taking Dutch lessons and really working to get to know people.
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Get in touch with us if you think we can help you.
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Website: https://www.hellonl.com/
Email: gina@hellonl.com, christie@hellonl.com
Facebook: Hello.NL