When Florin asked Diana to live with him in the Netherlands there was a catch: Diana’s life, job and home country were in Romania, while Florin lived in Amsterdam.

But, after meeting while skiing with a mutual friend and then cementing their bond on holiday in Bali, Diana decided to take the plunge. Like thousands of other expats each year, she moved to the Netherlands, and found herself sending out scores of job applications, building a life, and eventually having a daughter, Gloria.

For her, one of the secrets to settling in has been making the most of personal connections. ‘Get in touch with as many people as possible who have also moved to the Netherlands from abroad, and ask them as many questions as possible,’ she advises.

‘Questions like what you should keep in mind when looking for a job, which organisations can help you, and the best way to build a network in the Netherlands.’

Dutch life

Years down the line, both Florin and Diana still appreciate the different aspects of Dutch life – biking across the city rather than battling with Bucharest traffic, excellent health and maternity care, and bringing up a child who is Dutch but who appreciates that there are multiple cultures.

As a bank that specialises in supporting expats, ABN AMRO has heard multiple stories like those of Florin and Diana – and has a wealth of experience in the practical things you need to move and live happily in the Netherlands (as well as sharing handy tips about cultural quirks and differences).

The bank’s website is stuffed with advice and checklists and it runs a series of free events to help new arrivals settle in.

Welcome event

On May 24, at 7pm, for example, there is an online welcome evening to offer general guidelines and answer questions.

• Several speakers from the bank, who are well versed in the challenges that expats face, will give presentations on how the bank’s expat centre can help with arrangements before, after and during a move.
• Its sustainability experts will explain more about the bank’s vision, including how its mortgages help people green their homes, and how you can live more sustainably in the Netherlands.
• The team will also offer a cheeky view of Dutch culture, typical sayings and customs, and advice for people moving to the country as a spouse or partner – needing to find their own place in order to build a happy future.

Sign up

To register, go to www.abnamro.nl/events, scroll to the event calendar, find the event for 24 May 2022 and click ‘Register’. A new page will open, where you can enter code: 2013856032.

Take a look at the monthly calendar of expat events at www.abnamro.nl/events