Reply to: Netherlands "Full-Time Contract" advice please.

[SandyD]

Hi OP, I worked all over Europe on contracts including NL, what everyone here is telling you is right, but I think you must try it yourself, I started off like you proposed, i.e the weekly commute, saved on flights and accommodation etc, then after a few months it took it toll on me, am not saying you must not do what you think is economical but when (not if) you get tiered, do allow yourself to take a more comfortable (easier route) flights, or skip a weekend flight, and perhaps better accommodation. The less tiered you are the happier you will be at your job and at weekends when you see your family.

So my suggestion is just to book flights/accommodation for the first month, until you find your feet, see how you can really cope with the travel, then make changes and tweaks to make your life easier....
In the past I made the mistake of travelling from further airports, and getting cheaper slightly far accommodations, but as I said I ended up being very tiered and unhappy in both my job and my weekends home due to exhaustion.

So go for it, its nice to have new experiences ( most people in this forum will never encourage anyone to go away for a contract- not sure why.. but I suppose each one judges from their own point of view) but do not make long term plans / commitments with travel and accommodation until you are there and tried it.

[Eirikur]

That's a different kettle of fish ... my daughter has special needs & can't be shifted from her current college, that would set her back years. Also my loving wife has dug deep roots in our little village, I wouldn't have the heart to uproot her again (moving from South Africa was traumatic for her ...).

No, that's not happening.

The swapping weekend thing we've already discussed & it'll definitely be happening once I find an actual apartment, but that'll only happen when/if this thing proves itself.

Ok the daughter is an element you hadn't told us about before, but makes me wonder even more why you would do this

[blstr]

if your wife works you should swap weekends, i.e. one weekend you go to her the other she comes to you
if she doesn't work why not move with you? This could give you some tax advantages as well

That's a different kettle of fish ... my daughter has special needs & can't be shifted from her current college, that would set her back years. Also my loving wife has dug deep roots in our little village, I wouldn't have the heart to uproot her again (moving from South Africa was traumatic for her ...).

No, that's not happening.

The swapping weekend thing we've already discussed & it'll definitely be happening once I find an actual apartment, but that'll only happen when/if this thing proves itself.

[blstr]

Also take into account the effect this will have on your family life, wife suddenly has time to install tinder etc, you go into town, see some red/blue lights you swap a few books for some service

You will arrive home late Friday knackered, Sunday afternoon you will be heading off again




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LOL ... Yeah, I don't think we inhabit the same world!

[Eirikur]

if your wife works you should swap weekends, i.e. one weekend you go to her the other she comes to you
if she doesn't work why not move with you? This could give you some tax advantages as well

[GhostofTarbera]

Yes, that's true ... I'm gobsmacked at the no. of rentals that specify a maximum upper age of 35 (long sailed, unfortunately!). It makes the available pool smaller, but not non-existent. I'm quite upfront about the fact that I'm quiet and bookish, and it seems there are plenty that don't mind that at all.

If I do get canned at a day's notice then all I lose is whatever notice I've built into the lease contract. There is no way I'm signing something that commits me to a fixed period with no get-out clause ...

Dutch culture? ... I grew up in South Africa (British born, moved there as a child) ... I married an Afrikaans girl. Believe me, Dutch culture is no problem. I can even (with difficulty) make myself understood & am sure I'll pick it up rapidly.

Also take into account the effect this will have on your family life, wife suddenly has time to install tinder etc, you go into town, see some red/blue lights you swap a few books for some service

You will arrive home late Friday knackered, Sunday afternoon you will be heading off again




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[blstr]

You might struggle to find a flat share/room with mostly younger professionals who do this

Nobody’s would want to share with an old boring IT guy Who reads books and does not drink

Also long term ? What happens if you get canned (as often happens) with a days notice, is the risk worth it?

Do you think you will fit in with Dutch culture at work ? Totally different from Uk?


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Yes, that's true ... I'm gobsmacked at the no. of rentals that specify a maximum upper age of 35 (long sailed, unfortunately!). It makes the available pool smaller, but not non-existent. I'm quite upfront about the fact that I'm quiet and bookish, and it seems there are plenty that don't mind that at all.

If I do get canned at a day's notice then all I lose is whatever notice I've built into the lease contract. There is no way I'm signing something that commits me to a fixed period with no get-out clause ...

Dutch culture? ... I grew up in South Africa (British born, moved there as a child) ... I married an Afrikaans girl. Believe me, Dutch culture is no problem. I can even (with difficulty) make myself understood & am sure I'll pick it up rapidly.

[GhostofTarbera]

Hmm ... that's always subjective & relative.

If we were talking a £10 difference I'd agree 100%, but when you start talking £80 difference EVERY week ... that adds up.
Also ... time-wise ... you're talking to the ultimate bookworm ... if I wasn't reading at home, I'd be reading at my destination ... so reading at an airport while in queue is not an issue at all.

You might struggle to find a flat share/room with mostly younger professionals who do this

Nobody’s would want to share with an old boring IT guy Who reads books and does not drink

Also long term ? What happens if you get canned (as often happens) with a days notice, is the risk worth it?

Do you think you will fit in with Dutch culture at work ? Totally different from Uk?


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[blstr]

"Cost" is not the same as "Value".

Put a higher value on your time than the ticket price into AMS.

Hmm ... that's always subjective & relative.

If we were talking a £10 difference I'd agree 100%, but when you start talking £80 difference EVERY week ... that adds up.
Also ... time-wise ... you're talking to the ultimate bookworm ... if I wasn't reading at home, I'd be reading at my destination ... so reading at an airport while in queue is not an issue at all.

[wattaj]

I've looked at that, but the flights to AMS are much cheaper. A bit more travelling from AMS to Rotterdam, but still cheaper.

"Cost" is not the same as "Value".

Put a higher value on your time than the ticket price into AMS.

[BR14]

Cityjet used to fly the route, but pulled out. then BA put the prices up, inevitably, due to lack of competition.

funky little AVRO 4 engined jets they had.

[Eirikur]

It'll take you the best part of two hours from landing at Schiphol to rotterdam, by the time you've walked from the gate, through customs/passport control, and out to the station etc.
but if your time isn't worth much, fine.

Both RTM and LCY take you just minutes from stepping out of the plane to get to the outside of the airport. (within 15 minutes I was on the DLR at LCY when I timed it last week)

I think KLM dropped the routes RTM to LCY and LHR some years ago

[BR14]

I've looked at that, but the flights to AMS are much cheaper. A bit more travelling from AMS to Rotterdam, but still cheaper.

? It seems that it's only BA that flies that route ? I prefer BA, but my credit card doesn't ...

It'll take you the best part of two hours from landing at Schiphol to rotterdam, by the time you've walked from the gate, through customs/passport control, and out to the station etc.
but if your time isn't worth much, fine.

[blstr]

are you close to London City?

LCY-RTM (BA) 4 or 5 flights daily.
it's what i used when i lived in the Hague.
nice, small, easy, fast in and out airports.

I've looked at that, but the flights to AMS are much cheaper. A bit more travelling from AMS to Rotterdam, but still cheaper.

? It seems that it's only BA that flies that route ? I prefer BA, but my credit card doesn't ...

[Eirikur]

General living.
Some months are less, some are more, some had hire cars, some didn't. All hotels as committing to a longer term rental is madness.

Everyone's different, but my advice is that if you budget on a shoe string you'll get it wrong and it WILL cost more than you expect. Yours may well not come to £3k but I'd bet good money it'll be more than you're current budgeting.

For private rent it is often required to show payslips and sometimes your employment contract and you may need to get an employers statement as well.
Also there will be several taxes you've never heard of before, once you've registered at the town/city council (which is mandatory)
this website may help: The Complete Expat Guide to the Netherlands | Expatica