Why did you decide to come to the Netherlands? 

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My husband initially had a great opportunity to take a job in Europe and we were absolutely not considering it. We love Colorado and were completely settled, with our two daughters and our two foster sons. After the January 2026 inauguration, we started seeing things change for our community and particularly as foster parents. Because of ICE policies, our boys were running into issues at school, with fake ICE agents showing up to harass a school because of its large Hispanic population. We also saw the funding cuts to the foster program, and were so angry hearing people excited about Trump in office. In April 2025, we started making plans for the move. We were considering Spain or The Netherlands, but felt that The Netherlands would be an easier adjustment for a number of reasons, including that we already had a close friend who had come here on DAFT.

 

What has been harder than expected and what has been easier than expected?

 

Easier for the kids, harder on the adults. Our foster sons reunified with their parents before we left, but it is hard being so far away because we're back up for them anymore. Our daughters love the newcomers language program and have a crazier social life here than they did in Colorado. I just still miss our house so much and I really did plan on staying in Colorado forever - the mountains are incredible and the Netherlands is great, but there are no mountains. On the other hand, the community in Leiden is incredible. I see someone I know every time I leave my house. We have impromptu playdates that last all day, and then go out again the next day and do it all over again. Every weekend we have to fight between options of just popping over to Belgium or checking out a new city that's existed since the 1200s. It's overwhelming in the best way. 

 

What is the most interesting thing you have learned about (about yourself or anything you want to discuss)?

 

LeidenWalks has become my favourite part of my day in just a few months. Maybe it's because I grew up in Philadelphia, but I love a second city. Everyone I knew who'd visited the Netherlands had been to Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, maybe Utrecht. And here's Leiden with its charm and beauty and amazing history - and no one knows!! The more I learned about Leiden, the more I wanted to share it with my visitors and the other families who've moved here. Meeting with visitors to this city has been such an adventure and gives me the excuse to learn even more. 

 

What one piece of advice do you wish you had been given?

 

That I could feel so happy to be here and so sad not to be in Colorado at the same time. Also, that grieving your old life doesn't hit you until you're easily 4-6 months in (it sneaks up on you). 

 

What’s the biggest difference you notice between your life here and your life in the US?

 

I have such a broad and deep community here in Leiden. In Colorado, even having lived there for 6+ years, my time and energy was focused on the families in our neighbourhood and at our school. In Leiden, I've met most of the families that have moved here since July 2025 (and it's dozens of people!) and it’s completely natural to just scoop up a family and go do a day trip to a new city or to the beach or to an event that happened to look interesting. I'm so grateful to finally have what feels like a village to experience this crazy new life we're making. 

 

What is the best thing about your life in the Netherlands?

 

I keep a list, because it's hard to think about day in and day out. Some highlights: 

• Having so much flexibility in my days

• Meeting people I would have never in 1000 years have gotten to meet in my life in the USA

• Getting to explore with my daughters and see them really adapt and enjoy their new home, while being able to give them more freedom to explore because we really do live in a safer place

• Not knowing the price of gas and being able to navigate on our bikes absolutely everywhere

 

Any advice for making new friends and/or maintaining old ones?

 

Finding new friends with kids can be so easy because of their schools and activities and amount  but also don't resist the urge to just go up to someone when you hear them speaking English. For women, the Girls Gone International groups throughout The Netherlands are fantastic places to find activities and women who are also looking to integrate and create relationships. 

 

Keeping old friends is harder, especially when you're juggling multiple timezones. I depend on WhatsApp and Voice Notes + Instagram more than I ever did before. I've also started (and kept!) my first New Year's Resolution ever. I send one letter a week to someone. Handwritten, popped into the post. The problem is just that I've forgotten who has already received letters from me this year. 

 

Beyond the generic food, family, and friends, what do you miss most from the US?

 

Understanding of social norms and where I can nudge the rules. I'm adjusting quickly to Dutch directness now that I'm comfortable being equally direct, but I run into questions with my kids’ school and with appointments because I just don't know yet what's normal and/or an "unbreakable" rule - and what's more flexible. I find myself to being much more timid than I would be in my day to day life in the US, and I do miss feeling like I knew the rules and could 

 

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Find Holly on social media:

https://LeidenWalks.com

@LeidenWalks on Instagram & Facebook 

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