A Bumpy Start, A Rapid Recovery

Jul 7
3 min read

Jen Huss helps others relaunch their careers.

Jen got off to a bumpy start in her DAFT life by having a relocation coach who misunderstood the money it takes to live in the Netherlands, especially given that she also didn’t yet have a solid business idea. (We at GTFO Tours wish we would have known her when she was planning her move). Despite the rocky start, she has quickly found her bearings, launched her career coaching business – Recovery to Travel – and is thriving in the Netherlands. She lives in Utrecht with her husband.

Why did you decide to come to the Netherlands?

Honestly, it came down to my husband. He works in infrastructure, and Spain was our other serious option, but he was worried he couldn't pick up Spanish fast enough to actually work in his field. Everyone kept telling us how widely English is spoken in the Netherlands, and then there was the DAFT visa — a door into Europe for Americans that doesn't require an employer to pick you first, and with an approval track record that made it feel like a real plan instead of a gamble. We started seriously planning in July 2025 and were working with a relocation agency by that September. The Netherlands just kept winning on practicality.

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

Filing the DAFT application without guidance was really difficult, so we ended up going to Cardon & Co and spending the money. And the budget needed to move was much more than we had been told.

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

That pain is a decent business partner, honestly. Because nobody gave us the real financial picture, I landed here with enough pressure to get genuinely creative — and that's when I realized my 16 years of staffing experience from the States wasn't something I left behind, it was the whole foundation. Recovery to Travel exists because of that squeeze. I built something I'm passionate about AND actually expert in, and I'm not sure the comfortable version of this move produces that push and creativity.

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

Two things. First, a real, honest budget. The number we were given was way under what it actually takes to land here on DAFT with a spouse building work — nobody was lying to us, but nobody was being specific either. And second, I wish someone had told me that the paperwork is only the beginning and helped me fill it out. Everyone focuses on getting the visa approved, right? But DAFT requires you to actually build a viable business here, and that's the part with no roadmap. It's honestly why that became one of my consulting packages — I help people build the business side of their DAFT move, because approval gets you in the door, but the business is what lets you stay.

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

The stress is gone, I am my own creative boss building wealth and pushing my pre-conceived ideas of what I am capable of, and what I can accomplish. I feel powerful and I have a voice again in a country where I feel safe as a woman. And as someone in long-term recovery, there's something about this pace of life that makes staying well feel natural instead of like a fight, and the recovery community is so strong and welcoming.

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

Everything, I LOVE it here, I love the people, the sense of community, the transportation, the healthcare, the greenery and lushness. The work life balance, and the DAFT visa gives people way more opportunities to express themselves then people give it credit for.

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

Yes, be bold, people appreciate the kindness and chatter, don’t expect to make lifelong friends in two months, and your state friends are still your friends, put the effort in such as voice memos on whatsapp, and scheduled times to call. Also put the effort into learning the language – Dutch people are really helpful and grateful when you show effort into truly trying to understand and integrate with their way of life, language is an easy 1st step.

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

Nothing. Literally nothing.