Hello, my name is Marté. I share my experiences in my twenties as a South African attorney who recently moved to Europe. Some things that bring me joy include: health and fitness, rockclimbing, travel and food.
Ons imigreer enkhuizen toe noord holland, dankie vir die deel
@renekuipers45632 сағат бұрын
Speak Afrikaans ..Ik like that .hh I can understand .
@janbuitenga5 сағат бұрын
Do you ever take an breath?
@martebarnard4 сағат бұрын
🤣 I edit them out hahaha. Never knew I spoke quickly. Now I know 😜
@tuinbuddy3385Күн бұрын
There are no mountains but the light and the skies are often beautiful. Painters know. What I understand it is all the water, the flatness and that in the middel of the country lies IJsselmeer, the former Zuiderzee. It reflects the light. Mostly in spring, summer and autumn. Long greyness in winter can be depressing.
@roykliffen9674Күн бұрын
When speaking Afrikaans you can probably get by by just speaking slowly; most Dutch will be able to understand you; I myself find it quite charming. It will take a little time to adapt for us, but after that communication will be quite doable. ( It's easier than understanding many of the dialects spoken in Limburg, or the Frisian language spoken in the Netherlands). At our engineering firm in Eindhoven we do have a South-African colleague, who does speak Dutch, but sometimes reverts to South-African. When in an conversation I tend to hardly notice it. Could be that we have a multitude of nationalities in the office - some more fluent in English, some less, and some speaking Dutch at different skill levels - that makes one more adapt at understanding deviating use of language. You will undoubtedly have noticed that speaking English - even the South-African dialect 😜- will not raise any eyebrows. The Dutch are recognised as the most proficient English speakers of all non-English speaking nations.
@willemdederde66692 күн бұрын
Hm . . . en we zitten al zo vol hier . . . ook nog reclame maken....
@margreetanceaux39062 күн бұрын
The infamous Dutch lunch stems from the time when people brought their lunch to the workplace (bc no lunchroom and no money).
@chipdale4902 күн бұрын
We renovated a typical 1930's house not too long ago. Downstairs we kept the cental (gas) heating intact, but all bedrooms upstairs are now heated/cooled by AC. Up until perhaps 20 years ago there would be a few hot days a year, but now heatwaves can sometimes last for weeks on end. And that's no fun.
@richardwesseling29202 күн бұрын
You so much look like Petra Kvitova
@henkhemming66742 күн бұрын
ik ben Nederlander en luister vaak naar "Radio Bosveld" die praten Afrikaans en dat kan ik voor 99% verstaan,dus waarom Afrikaners vaak doen of Nederlands een soort van volstrekt onbekende taal is...ik heb geen flauw idee waarom. "Die appel val nie ver van die boom nie" zou je toch denken
@martebarnard2 күн бұрын
Ek hoor jou, maar om na ‘n soortgelyke taal te luister en verstaan (wat ek kan doen met Nederlands) is heeltemal anders as om self te moet praat in ‘n onbekende taal. Die sinskonstruksie verskil baie. Probeer dit iewers, dis nie so maklik soos ek gedink het dit sou wees nie 😉😊
@henkhemming66742 күн бұрын
@@martebarnard was nie moeilijk nie 😂🤣
@martebarnard2 күн бұрын
@@henkhemming6674 i think you are missing my point 😅 but I’m glad you can understand as they are sister languages :)
@gr8killerКүн бұрын
Afrikaans is grammaticaal makkelijker dan Nederlands. Daarom is het voor ons makkelijker dan voor Afrikaanse mensen. Maar gewoon proberen en veel oefenen wees niet bang om fouten te maken.
@benbos66252 күн бұрын
Hi, I am so sorry about your loss en aspecial to hear you got (almost) robbed! What a frightning experience! Conc the weather: Like mentioned by others you started in january which is absolute the worst month to start. It will get better. I for myself has lived in central Amerika for three years late '80-ties. Then we didn't have the "luxury" of internet. But, that did gave me (us) the experience to really BE away. Perhaps you could try in 6 months orso (when you've settled in) to reduce the use of that: talk to your direct family, but both of you: give yourselfs a real chance "...to be away from South Africa" i.s.o. cherry picking and in doing so getting sad. Talking about South Africa: that was you at 8:14, jumping? Realy? A woman like that WILL manage to handle the Dutch AND the weather that comes with them. "Believe you me". Easy. Greez and a warm welcome (back?) to this small country to both of you (so small, we decided to set sail to find new places centuries ago 😉).
@martebarnard2 күн бұрын
Hello! Your comment made me laugh and smile, thank you ☺️ And thank you for your advice, I think it’s really valuable and I’ll be mindful to focus on really being away from SA like you said. Yes, that is me cliff jumping 🤣 best comment of the day hahaha! It’s good to be back in het kleine landje 😉 fijne avond!
@bertkassing85412 күн бұрын
My daughter's boyfriend is originally South African. He has had Dutch nationality for a few months now. He's from Johannesburg. He has told me a few times that life there is simply dangerous. He lived in a gated compound with a large fence and cameras. He and his parents and his brother and sister actually fled to the Netherlands when his parents (highly educated) could get good jobs here. His grandfather still lives there and he calls him every day. He himself really never wants to go back.
@martebarnard2 күн бұрын
Unfortunately Johannesburg is the worst place to live, anyone in South Africa will tell you that! Cape Town is a lot better. I’m glad he and his family found a safer place to live (and bonus, a nice girlfriend!) :)
@gwaptiva3 күн бұрын
I guess that you'll have a better chance of "infiltrating" is to drop the "expat" term. Natives tend to be really spooked by the term, because it implies you'll be disappearing again when your assignment is over. If you aren't here on a foreign assignment, and you're are planning to stay there for years to come, you are an immigrant and you need to own that. That way locals will find it easier to invest in their relationships with you.
@martebarnard2 күн бұрын
Good point! I don’t really ever use that term other than in KZread videos 😜 my parents lived in the Netherlands for six years and they gave the exact same advice. Thanks for the tip :)
@gwaptiva2 күн бұрын
@@martebarnard It might be a generational thing then, but I have been a proud immigrant in two different countries for the past 28 years.
@jabo77633 күн бұрын
He Martė, maybe you got this tip earlier but hiking/mountainbiking is very nice in the Belgian Ardennes and Luxembourg. Have fun.
@wandeling1273 күн бұрын
As for a car, if you only need/want one a couple of times a month you could try a car sharing program like Mywheels. That's a lot cheaper and you won't have to worry about taxes, fuel, parking space and buying one in the first place 🙂 Can't do anything about the lack of mountains and wild nature i'm afraid. But you can visit our neighboring countries for that 😁
@sonnylatchstring3 күн бұрын
Compared to many, if not all, other countries, nature in the Netherlands consists relatively of planted and fenced central reservations. The Veluwe, the Biesbosch, the Peel, etc. are no more than postage stamps in an overpopulated country.
@huub12973 күн бұрын
Depending on what interests you, there are lots of great events in the Netherlands all year round. Get informed, you will hardly have to be bored for another day. You can also buy a good car used. You could also consider sharing or renting a car. The Netherlands is a small country, which is why nature is not as grand as it is often in much larger countries. An advantage is that our small size allows us to quickly visit foreign nature. Where I live, I can reach the Eifel or Ardennes within an hour by car. Furthermore, within an hour in Cologne or Brussels, for example, and within a few hours in Paris or London. Try to speak Dutch as much as possible, even though it is not the easiest way, especially in the beginning. For example, I have been to England many times for my work. Despite not being a native speaker by far, I kept finding myself dreaming even in the English language within days. That was because I simply didn't hear anything around me other than the English language.
@Be-Es---___3 күн бұрын
For an expat, it makes sense to vote for your home country. But for an immigrant, it makes no sense at all. You left that behind.
@martebarnard2 күн бұрын
I have family, friends and investments/interests in South Africa, so I vote for all those reasons :)
@cyrielwollring46223 күн бұрын
If you want see Dutch nature I would recommend Nationale Park de Hoge Veluwe. Also the Waddeneilanden and the Waddenzee are defintiely worth the visit.
@dukejohn28982 күн бұрын
Natuur in Nederland bestaat niet meer ,in dit aangeharkte parkje. Alles is gepland en aangelegd.
@benvanroijen41332 күн бұрын
Oppassen voor wolven!
@abacaxiveer2 күн бұрын
Yeah. the adjacent 'Planken Wambuis' is great as well, Posbank ... OMG the Posbank. The dikes in the riverlands are great, for example Nijmegen to Tiel. Orrrrr .. Montfoort Oudewater Linschoten along the waterfront, orrrr, de along de oude Rijn in het groene hart. All of this is best on bikes of course. Do they have nice bikes yet? Go used bike IMHO, 7/8 speed internal gear hub or 8/9 speed derailler, can be had for 200-400 euro from bike shops.
@RAMDH3 күн бұрын
Nice that you visited my home town Den Haag (The Hague). Yes, the Netherlands has beautiful beaches (just not nice beach weather) and Scheveningen is one of them. Scheveningen has a nice marina with many dining options around the harbor. A large boulevard with restaurants and many beach bars, there are also many small eateries on the Pier. So you're in the right place when it comes to dining options.
@bertoverweel65883 күн бұрын
You are right, it's time for the summer, icecreame, sitting on a terras drinking a beer, BBQ etc. Groetjes.
@y.v.l.3 күн бұрын
You will never be really at home somewhere if you don"t learn the language and engage with the locals. It does take some effort especially if you live in Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Den Haag where most expats live. So despite a busy social life, if that is mainly based on expats, you will always stay a guest. If you think that is enough it is fine ofcourse, if you want to grow roots you will have to do more.
@martebarnard2 күн бұрын
Well then, great news that I live in Noord Brabant 😉 I would love to grow roots, but learning a new language of course takes time. Maar, ik ben op les en vind Nederlands heel leuk te leren (I hope that’s right 🤣)
@y.v.l.2 күн бұрын
@@martebarnard Your Dutch is great and where you live is not only a great environment to get to know the locals but also - relatively - close to a more varied landscape, namely "de ardennen" in Belgium.
@parmentier74573 күн бұрын
Wait until the Dutch summer. 33 to 35 degrees Celsius and very humid. Dutch houses are not made for the enormous heat and there is no air conditioning. The houses then feel like a Dutch oven.
@martebarnard3 күн бұрын
This…sounds like a future challenge 🤣🥵🔥
@Eric_Maastricht3 күн бұрын
@@martebarnard Happens usually 1 or 2 times a summer. Just the normal precautions: ventilate (open windows) but only in the morning when the air is still cool, lower the blinds on the windows where the sun shines through, reduce your bed coverings to just linnen. If you're currently renting a home the owner may not allow you to install an airco unit, but if allowed make sure the unit can heat too. From late September to early May it can really reduce your gas usage. Use the CV only when it gets really cold.
@vangestelwijnen2 күн бұрын
Got airco here, so not all is lost!
@Symptomless_Coma_3 күн бұрын
Too many blcks.
@charlyvanbuuren29473 күн бұрын
Nature? Go to the Veluwe there is a lot of wildlife. Wild boar, red deer, wolves so running won't be a problem...😂
@viderethevaccinatorfromhol75363 күн бұрын
Great. Freedom and feeling safe are extremely important in life.
@janvanleeuwen25353 күн бұрын
Hey Marté, it's good to see you both are getting settled. 👍 Like you said, there will always be challenges and changes in life. We have to adjust and make the best of it. Wishing you both all the best. Love your vids, btw. Greetings from the Hague 👍
@jsb79753 күн бұрын
Interesting to see that the language-barrier from your experience will be different from the reverse : as a Dutch it is fairly easy to read Afrikaans (no problem at all) So it must be harder to read and understand the other way around ? Tip : if you dive in Dutch history of art, you might begin to feel an appreciation for the gloomy weather (especially during autumn) Dutch art and architecture is a very distinct feature of taste and surroundings. At least in many historical areas and towns... Good luck to you 🌹⚘️
@martebarnard3 күн бұрын
Hello! Thanks for the comment :) I have no problem understand or reading Dutch. I’m just very slow and aware of myself when I need to create sentences from scratch - the structure differs from Afrikaans quite a bit! Thanks for the tips, I’m a huge art appreciator so this aligns perfectly ☺️
@Eric_Maastricht3 күн бұрын
@@martebarnard Just try and be not shy! Dutch directness from whoever you're talking to will jump in when it was (unfortunately) incomprehensible or up for interpretation 😀
@EdwinSnippe3 күн бұрын
Wow , it so weird that you now feel so safe now because living in NL. I lived in 11 countries and never felt unsafe. SA must be so bad
@martebarnard2 күн бұрын
Mmm, SA gets a bad reputation (understandably). About 1% of the population is actually dangerous and make life unpleasant for the other 99% who are decent, normal people.
@renekuipers4563Күн бұрын
Real bad.SA.
@Dutchbelg33 күн бұрын
Well I think you prepared yourself really good before moving to The Netherlands! You got a mature view on your life and I like it! I moved from the Netherlands to Belgium (And now you might tell me: Ehhm that's barely a change..) Butttttt... It actually was! So I definately can relate to some of your points. Being less connected to your closest family and friends is a real thing. Experiencing a gap to the local community is another especially because I work remotely in European territory. Less colleagues to connect to. And there is a difference in culture, words, way of life. More than I expected. But I got used to all that pretty much and now I am already over 20 years in Belgium/Flanders. Good luck and lots of fun living in the Netherlands!
@ronaldderooij17743 күн бұрын
Vitamin D is for a white skinned person not necessary if you eat healthy (with some fish) and spend minimum 20 minutes a day outdoors.
@Eric_Maastricht3 күн бұрын
On the weather, even for the Dutch, the last 5 months have been unusually wet. And 'normally" we have a 'hot' spell in late April of middle May with temperatures rising to 25+ degrees C for some days in a row, but this year it hasn't happened yet. Anyways, in a week's time I'll be off the the south of France to enjoy hopefully some better weather! Bur realistically, you can't have good weather years if there isn't the odd bad year inbetween. Just bad luck for you to date...
@Eric_Maastricht3 күн бұрын
As for socialising, just a bit of a tip: please slow down your speaking ! It is said, that the Dutch understand Afrikaans easier than the other way around. But your high tempo isn't helping. And no offence intended if you did that already, but have you socialised with your neighbours yet, of with the staff or the bars/restaurants you and your husband visit? Since you like your sports, have considered joined a "vereniging" on running, or climbing? The social hours in the bar afterwards can reward you with lots of friends... Sport in the Netherlands doesn't end with the end of the physical efforts!
@martebarnard3 күн бұрын
Hello! No offense taken! I can understand and read perfectly fine, but stringing together my own Dutch sentences is tricky. And I try to speak Dutch, not Afrikaans, to learn quicker! Thanks for the tips ☺️
@poulniehorster73733 күн бұрын
Good vid again. Regarding the weather, we have seen exceptionally bad weather in the last half year. Normally we do have our share of rainy days but not so much as these months (since November last year).
@H1SCOTTY3 күн бұрын
It’s a bit more, but because of climate change we have been used to warmer spring. The rain of the last weeks are also more short and heavy than like twenty or fourth years ago. Winter is more and more becoming fall, and that’s the weather I’d really like, we would’ve had at least a week of below zero Celsius temperatures.
@vlinder01082 күн бұрын
@@H1SCOTTY Has noting to do with climate change. They are spraying in the the air to change the weather. When you walk outside. Watch in the air. And see the big stripes and how not much later the sun is blocked..But keep believing its the climate. But of course I will be the wappie. Lots of people are seeing it. Now the rest.
@therealcrunchyb3 күн бұрын
Hey Marté! About the weather, of course you moved here in the most miserable month of the year, January. :p You'll see that the rest of the year is much better, even December at least has Christmas decorations going for it. Also regarding the cost of cars, have you looked into renting instead of buying? There are several flexible and affordable plans available and even if it doesn't entirely work for you, you could use it to find out what kind of vehicle best suits your needs.
@marcovtjev2 күн бұрын
And this winter and spring have been wetter than most. Echo of El Nino in Europe.
@98MegaKim3 күн бұрын
Hii Marté, have you been to the (South) of Limburg yet? In case you want a bit of a change of scenery where it's a bit less flat haha! Also it's very close to the German and Belgian borders. :)
@martebarnard3 күн бұрын
No I haven’t yet, but I’m glad you’re sharing this recommendation, thank you! If it has something close to a mountain, I’ll go as soon as possible 🤣🫶🏻
@H1SCOTTY3 күн бұрын
@@martebarnardit has hills we call mountains
@rboltong040465Күн бұрын
@@martebarnard If you are here, don't just walk or drive a car, but go ride a bike. That way you'll see that not all of the Netherlands is as flat as the coastal provinces or the more northern ones
@vincenttayelrand3 күн бұрын
As to cars; one of things that amazed me is that though the Netherlands 'only' has about 550 cars per 1000 inhabitants, it has one of the highest car densities per km2. Apart from the micro states that is. Some 230 cars per km2. Just imagine that
@martebarnard3 күн бұрын
That’s crazy!! How is that even possible 😜 I need to do some research hahaha
@H1SCOTTY3 күн бұрын
@@martebarnard cars are on its own already expensive, for instance BPM is a tax on top of a original price of cars compared with other countries. Half of the gas prices are taxes (45,6%), you’ll pay “road tax” (wegenbelasting) if it’s a fuel car depending on weight and sort of gasoline it uses. And insurance of course.
@Eric_Maastricht3 күн бұрын
@@martebarnard One thing most Dutch people do when buying a 'new' car: buy 'second hand' but not quite. Look at the 'just about new' section of the 'occasions' (used cars). So a few months old max 1 year, only a few thousand kilometers. Many of these will be cars dealers used for 'test drives' by prospective customers or one-day loans if an owners regular car gets a maintenance service. But these cars, by an offical dealer, are pretty sure to be 100% OK. And, of course, for price it makes a lot of difference if you want a BMW, Audi or Benz rather than say a Volkswagen Polo. These so-called premium cars are foremost premium at prices. Japanese and South Korean cars (KIA, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, etc etc) are a lot more reasonably priced and have a far better 'not breaking down' record. Just saying...
@snroos18603 күн бұрын
Well done! Especially your conclusion: it's not just what you experience, but more importantly how you deal with it (with setbacks)! For anyone emigrating to another country, building a social network will take the most energy. But that social network will also (be able to) help you the most when things get tough! This will be easiest with people from South Africa, because you have the same frame of reference; you share the same background. With other expats you share more the same goal, what you want to achieve in the Netherlands. Then you will see that a greater diversity of people or groups of people (nationalities), will offer more opportunities and more possible solutions. With people from South Africa you are still in the same bubble and share the same solutions. You also share the same (South African) people and that group will always be smaller than the group of other expats. The Dutch are more reserved and don't have the same problems you/you face. But if you, like you, show that you want to make something of it (learn Dutch) then there will be few people who do not want to (can not) help you if you have a question for help :-) For example, ask me! Also: if you live closer to the coast, you have more sun hours and less rain. And, check out the Ardennes (Belgium/Luxembourg) for nature and climbing :-)
@martebarnard3 күн бұрын
Thank you for this really amazing comment, especially for the tips on spots to visit 🥳 really appreciate it ☺️
@nwabisatonyela33995 күн бұрын
If you don’t mind me asking, how long did it take for your husband to get his visa? This is from when the employer starts the process to when he gets it
@manhoosnick5 күн бұрын
Welcome to Morokkoland
@Dutchbelg35 күн бұрын
I love it that you guys mix beauty and elegance with good humour and making fun! 🙂
@Dutchbelg36 күн бұрын
Cape Town is absolutely beautiful! I loved the nature there ; it is so different from what we know in the Netherlands ! And Stellenbosch had such delicious wines! Zuid Afrika was such an adventure!
@Dutchbelg36 күн бұрын
Even though this video was a more fragmented one I still love the vibe. Posh lady! Flying business class! Last december I treated my wife and I on a business class trip to New Zealand with Qatar Airlines via Doha. It was fantastic! And very expensive but that's what you work for! And New Zealand is absolutely worth it to fly to even though it was a trip one way of more than a day ! New York is a great city to visit! So much to see! Your mum is such an elegant lady! Well you are too but I don't want to upset your husband 😜 You got yourself a new subscriber!
@Dutchbelg36 күн бұрын
I live in Antwerpen and I have seen you also been there! I would have loved to be your host! Maybe for a next time? I buy you guys a few of the typical Antwerp beers! I am sure I know some pretty places you have never been yet! 🙂 Brussels is a strange mix of old and new and posh and poor.. made into a hutsepot 😜 Or maybe a Potjiekos ? 😍
@Dutchbelg36 күн бұрын
Baie dankie for this fun video. I can imagine the Dutch <-> Afrikaans is funny and sometimes down right strange for you! When I turned 50 I went for 3 weeks on a tour to Suid Afrika. Being Dutch a lot of Afrikaanse words were so relatable but sometimes ehhmmm strange?! We saw a road sign for parking spot with local map. The sign said; Inligtingenaftrekplek. ( A place where you can get information) but for the Dutchies it is too close to meaning: a place to masturbate.. 😜🤔
@user-ib4td6ye7j7 күн бұрын
6c Is not bolder
@FrankHeuvelman8 күн бұрын
That's a lot of shocks, miss Barnard. A shocking amount.
@user-vx4zq8lb9d9 күн бұрын
Its very simple,as your bike is stolen, you steel also a bike back .😅
@theglanconer64639 күн бұрын
Aha a new Brabander, welcome !!!
@thesunnynightastar515110 күн бұрын
Hi! You say you are a Dutch national and then state that you are foreign language i.e. Dutch. So can you elaborate on that
@martebarnard9 күн бұрын
Sure! Dutch by birth, but born and raised in S Africa :)
Пікірлер
Ons imigreer enkhuizen toe noord holland, dankie vir die deel
Speak Afrikaans ..Ik like that .hh I can understand .
Do you ever take an breath?
🤣 I edit them out hahaha. Never knew I spoke quickly. Now I know 😜
There are no mountains but the light and the skies are often beautiful. Painters know. What I understand it is all the water, the flatness and that in the middel of the country lies IJsselmeer, the former Zuiderzee. It reflects the light. Mostly in spring, summer and autumn. Long greyness in winter can be depressing.
When speaking Afrikaans you can probably get by by just speaking slowly; most Dutch will be able to understand you; I myself find it quite charming. It will take a little time to adapt for us, but after that communication will be quite doable. ( It's easier than understanding many of the dialects spoken in Limburg, or the Frisian language spoken in the Netherlands). At our engineering firm in Eindhoven we do have a South-African colleague, who does speak Dutch, but sometimes reverts to South-African. When in an conversation I tend to hardly notice it. Could be that we have a multitude of nationalities in the office - some more fluent in English, some less, and some speaking Dutch at different skill levels - that makes one more adapt at understanding deviating use of language. You will undoubtedly have noticed that speaking English - even the South-African dialect 😜- will not raise any eyebrows. The Dutch are recognised as the most proficient English speakers of all non-English speaking nations.
Hm . . . en we zitten al zo vol hier . . . ook nog reclame maken....
The infamous Dutch lunch stems from the time when people brought their lunch to the workplace (bc no lunchroom and no money).
We renovated a typical 1930's house not too long ago. Downstairs we kept the cental (gas) heating intact, but all bedrooms upstairs are now heated/cooled by AC. Up until perhaps 20 years ago there would be a few hot days a year, but now heatwaves can sometimes last for weeks on end. And that's no fun.
You so much look like Petra Kvitova
ik ben Nederlander en luister vaak naar "Radio Bosveld" die praten Afrikaans en dat kan ik voor 99% verstaan,dus waarom Afrikaners vaak doen of Nederlands een soort van volstrekt onbekende taal is...ik heb geen flauw idee waarom. "Die appel val nie ver van die boom nie" zou je toch denken
Ek hoor jou, maar om na ‘n soortgelyke taal te luister en verstaan (wat ek kan doen met Nederlands) is heeltemal anders as om self te moet praat in ‘n onbekende taal. Die sinskonstruksie verskil baie. Probeer dit iewers, dis nie so maklik soos ek gedink het dit sou wees nie 😉😊
@@martebarnard was nie moeilijk nie 😂🤣
@@henkhemming6674 i think you are missing my point 😅 but I’m glad you can understand as they are sister languages :)
Afrikaans is grammaticaal makkelijker dan Nederlands. Daarom is het voor ons makkelijker dan voor Afrikaanse mensen. Maar gewoon proberen en veel oefenen wees niet bang om fouten te maken.
Hi, I am so sorry about your loss en aspecial to hear you got (almost) robbed! What a frightning experience! Conc the weather: Like mentioned by others you started in january which is absolute the worst month to start. It will get better. I for myself has lived in central Amerika for three years late '80-ties. Then we didn't have the "luxury" of internet. But, that did gave me (us) the experience to really BE away. Perhaps you could try in 6 months orso (when you've settled in) to reduce the use of that: talk to your direct family, but both of you: give yourselfs a real chance "...to be away from South Africa" i.s.o. cherry picking and in doing so getting sad. Talking about South Africa: that was you at 8:14, jumping? Realy? A woman like that WILL manage to handle the Dutch AND the weather that comes with them. "Believe you me". Easy. Greez and a warm welcome (back?) to this small country to both of you (so small, we decided to set sail to find new places centuries ago 😉).
Hello! Your comment made me laugh and smile, thank you ☺️ And thank you for your advice, I think it’s really valuable and I’ll be mindful to focus on really being away from SA like you said. Yes, that is me cliff jumping 🤣 best comment of the day hahaha! It’s good to be back in het kleine landje 😉 fijne avond!
My daughter's boyfriend is originally South African. He has had Dutch nationality for a few months now. He's from Johannesburg. He has told me a few times that life there is simply dangerous. He lived in a gated compound with a large fence and cameras. He and his parents and his brother and sister actually fled to the Netherlands when his parents (highly educated) could get good jobs here. His grandfather still lives there and he calls him every day. He himself really never wants to go back.
Unfortunately Johannesburg is the worst place to live, anyone in South Africa will tell you that! Cape Town is a lot better. I’m glad he and his family found a safer place to live (and bonus, a nice girlfriend!) :)
I guess that you'll have a better chance of "infiltrating" is to drop the "expat" term. Natives tend to be really spooked by the term, because it implies you'll be disappearing again when your assignment is over. If you aren't here on a foreign assignment, and you're are planning to stay there for years to come, you are an immigrant and you need to own that. That way locals will find it easier to invest in their relationships with you.
Good point! I don’t really ever use that term other than in KZread videos 😜 my parents lived in the Netherlands for six years and they gave the exact same advice. Thanks for the tip :)
@@martebarnard It might be a generational thing then, but I have been a proud immigrant in two different countries for the past 28 years.
He Martė, maybe you got this tip earlier but hiking/mountainbiking is very nice in the Belgian Ardennes and Luxembourg. Have fun.
As for a car, if you only need/want one a couple of times a month you could try a car sharing program like Mywheels. That's a lot cheaper and you won't have to worry about taxes, fuel, parking space and buying one in the first place 🙂 Can't do anything about the lack of mountains and wild nature i'm afraid. But you can visit our neighboring countries for that 😁
Compared to many, if not all, other countries, nature in the Netherlands consists relatively of planted and fenced central reservations. The Veluwe, the Biesbosch, the Peel, etc. are no more than postage stamps in an overpopulated country.
Depending on what interests you, there are lots of great events in the Netherlands all year round. Get informed, you will hardly have to be bored for another day. You can also buy a good car used. You could also consider sharing or renting a car. The Netherlands is a small country, which is why nature is not as grand as it is often in much larger countries. An advantage is that our small size allows us to quickly visit foreign nature. Where I live, I can reach the Eifel or Ardennes within an hour by car. Furthermore, within an hour in Cologne or Brussels, for example, and within a few hours in Paris or London. Try to speak Dutch as much as possible, even though it is not the easiest way, especially in the beginning. For example, I have been to England many times for my work. Despite not being a native speaker by far, I kept finding myself dreaming even in the English language within days. That was because I simply didn't hear anything around me other than the English language.
For an expat, it makes sense to vote for your home country. But for an immigrant, it makes no sense at all. You left that behind.
I have family, friends and investments/interests in South Africa, so I vote for all those reasons :)
If you want see Dutch nature I would recommend Nationale Park de Hoge Veluwe. Also the Waddeneilanden and the Waddenzee are defintiely worth the visit.
Natuur in Nederland bestaat niet meer ,in dit aangeharkte parkje. Alles is gepland en aangelegd.
Oppassen voor wolven!
Yeah. the adjacent 'Planken Wambuis' is great as well, Posbank ... OMG the Posbank. The dikes in the riverlands are great, for example Nijmegen to Tiel. Orrrrr .. Montfoort Oudewater Linschoten along the waterfront, orrrr, de along de oude Rijn in het groene hart. All of this is best on bikes of course. Do they have nice bikes yet? Go used bike IMHO, 7/8 speed internal gear hub or 8/9 speed derailler, can be had for 200-400 euro from bike shops.
Nice that you visited my home town Den Haag (The Hague). Yes, the Netherlands has beautiful beaches (just not nice beach weather) and Scheveningen is one of them. Scheveningen has a nice marina with many dining options around the harbor. A large boulevard with restaurants and many beach bars, there are also many small eateries on the Pier. So you're in the right place when it comes to dining options.
You are right, it's time for the summer, icecreame, sitting on a terras drinking a beer, BBQ etc. Groetjes.
You will never be really at home somewhere if you don"t learn the language and engage with the locals. It does take some effort especially if you live in Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Den Haag where most expats live. So despite a busy social life, if that is mainly based on expats, you will always stay a guest. If you think that is enough it is fine ofcourse, if you want to grow roots you will have to do more.
Well then, great news that I live in Noord Brabant 😉 I would love to grow roots, but learning a new language of course takes time. Maar, ik ben op les en vind Nederlands heel leuk te leren (I hope that’s right 🤣)
@@martebarnard Your Dutch is great and where you live is not only a great environment to get to know the locals but also - relatively - close to a more varied landscape, namely "de ardennen" in Belgium.
Wait until the Dutch summer. 33 to 35 degrees Celsius and very humid. Dutch houses are not made for the enormous heat and there is no air conditioning. The houses then feel like a Dutch oven.
This…sounds like a future challenge 🤣🥵🔥
@@martebarnard Happens usually 1 or 2 times a summer. Just the normal precautions: ventilate (open windows) but only in the morning when the air is still cool, lower the blinds on the windows where the sun shines through, reduce your bed coverings to just linnen. If you're currently renting a home the owner may not allow you to install an airco unit, but if allowed make sure the unit can heat too. From late September to early May it can really reduce your gas usage. Use the CV only when it gets really cold.
Got airco here, so not all is lost!
Too many blcks.
Nature? Go to the Veluwe there is a lot of wildlife. Wild boar, red deer, wolves so running won't be a problem...😂
Great. Freedom and feeling safe are extremely important in life.
Hey Marté, it's good to see you both are getting settled. 👍 Like you said, there will always be challenges and changes in life. We have to adjust and make the best of it. Wishing you both all the best. Love your vids, btw. Greetings from the Hague 👍
Interesting to see that the language-barrier from your experience will be different from the reverse : as a Dutch it is fairly easy to read Afrikaans (no problem at all) So it must be harder to read and understand the other way around ? Tip : if you dive in Dutch history of art, you might begin to feel an appreciation for the gloomy weather (especially during autumn) Dutch art and architecture is a very distinct feature of taste and surroundings. At least in many historical areas and towns... Good luck to you 🌹⚘️
Hello! Thanks for the comment :) I have no problem understand or reading Dutch. I’m just very slow and aware of myself when I need to create sentences from scratch - the structure differs from Afrikaans quite a bit! Thanks for the tips, I’m a huge art appreciator so this aligns perfectly ☺️
@@martebarnard Just try and be not shy! Dutch directness from whoever you're talking to will jump in when it was (unfortunately) incomprehensible or up for interpretation 😀
Wow , it so weird that you now feel so safe now because living in NL. I lived in 11 countries and never felt unsafe. SA must be so bad
Mmm, SA gets a bad reputation (understandably). About 1% of the population is actually dangerous and make life unpleasant for the other 99% who are decent, normal people.
Real bad.SA.
Well I think you prepared yourself really good before moving to The Netherlands! You got a mature view on your life and I like it! I moved from the Netherlands to Belgium (And now you might tell me: Ehhm that's barely a change..) Butttttt... It actually was! So I definately can relate to some of your points. Being less connected to your closest family and friends is a real thing. Experiencing a gap to the local community is another especially because I work remotely in European territory. Less colleagues to connect to. And there is a difference in culture, words, way of life. More than I expected. But I got used to all that pretty much and now I am already over 20 years in Belgium/Flanders. Good luck and lots of fun living in the Netherlands!
Vitamin D is for a white skinned person not necessary if you eat healthy (with some fish) and spend minimum 20 minutes a day outdoors.
On the weather, even for the Dutch, the last 5 months have been unusually wet. And 'normally" we have a 'hot' spell in late April of middle May with temperatures rising to 25+ degrees C for some days in a row, but this year it hasn't happened yet. Anyways, in a week's time I'll be off the the south of France to enjoy hopefully some better weather! Bur realistically, you can't have good weather years if there isn't the odd bad year inbetween. Just bad luck for you to date...
As for socialising, just a bit of a tip: please slow down your speaking ! It is said, that the Dutch understand Afrikaans easier than the other way around. But your high tempo isn't helping. And no offence intended if you did that already, but have you socialised with your neighbours yet, of with the staff or the bars/restaurants you and your husband visit? Since you like your sports, have considered joined a "vereniging" on running, or climbing? The social hours in the bar afterwards can reward you with lots of friends... Sport in the Netherlands doesn't end with the end of the physical efforts!
Hello! No offense taken! I can understand and read perfectly fine, but stringing together my own Dutch sentences is tricky. And I try to speak Dutch, not Afrikaans, to learn quicker! Thanks for the tips ☺️
Good vid again. Regarding the weather, we have seen exceptionally bad weather in the last half year. Normally we do have our share of rainy days but not so much as these months (since November last year).
It’s a bit more, but because of climate change we have been used to warmer spring. The rain of the last weeks are also more short and heavy than like twenty or fourth years ago. Winter is more and more becoming fall, and that’s the weather I’d really like, we would’ve had at least a week of below zero Celsius temperatures.
@@H1SCOTTY Has noting to do with climate change. They are spraying in the the air to change the weather. When you walk outside. Watch in the air. And see the big stripes and how not much later the sun is blocked..But keep believing its the climate. But of course I will be the wappie. Lots of people are seeing it. Now the rest.
Hey Marté! About the weather, of course you moved here in the most miserable month of the year, January. :p You'll see that the rest of the year is much better, even December at least has Christmas decorations going for it. Also regarding the cost of cars, have you looked into renting instead of buying? There are several flexible and affordable plans available and even if it doesn't entirely work for you, you could use it to find out what kind of vehicle best suits your needs.
And this winter and spring have been wetter than most. Echo of El Nino in Europe.
Hii Marté, have you been to the (South) of Limburg yet? In case you want a bit of a change of scenery where it's a bit less flat haha! Also it's very close to the German and Belgian borders. :)
No I haven’t yet, but I’m glad you’re sharing this recommendation, thank you! If it has something close to a mountain, I’ll go as soon as possible 🤣🫶🏻
@@martebarnardit has hills we call mountains
@@martebarnard If you are here, don't just walk or drive a car, but go ride a bike. That way you'll see that not all of the Netherlands is as flat as the coastal provinces or the more northern ones
As to cars; one of things that amazed me is that though the Netherlands 'only' has about 550 cars per 1000 inhabitants, it has one of the highest car densities per km2. Apart from the micro states that is. Some 230 cars per km2. Just imagine that
That’s crazy!! How is that even possible 😜 I need to do some research hahaha
@@martebarnard cars are on its own already expensive, for instance BPM is a tax on top of a original price of cars compared with other countries. Half of the gas prices are taxes (45,6%), you’ll pay “road tax” (wegenbelasting) if it’s a fuel car depending on weight and sort of gasoline it uses. And insurance of course.
@@martebarnard One thing most Dutch people do when buying a 'new' car: buy 'second hand' but not quite. Look at the 'just about new' section of the 'occasions' (used cars). So a few months old max 1 year, only a few thousand kilometers. Many of these will be cars dealers used for 'test drives' by prospective customers or one-day loans if an owners regular car gets a maintenance service. But these cars, by an offical dealer, are pretty sure to be 100% OK. And, of course, for price it makes a lot of difference if you want a BMW, Audi or Benz rather than say a Volkswagen Polo. These so-called premium cars are foremost premium at prices. Japanese and South Korean cars (KIA, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, etc etc) are a lot more reasonably priced and have a far better 'not breaking down' record. Just saying...
Well done! Especially your conclusion: it's not just what you experience, but more importantly how you deal with it (with setbacks)! For anyone emigrating to another country, building a social network will take the most energy. But that social network will also (be able to) help you the most when things get tough! This will be easiest with people from South Africa, because you have the same frame of reference; you share the same background. With other expats you share more the same goal, what you want to achieve in the Netherlands. Then you will see that a greater diversity of people or groups of people (nationalities), will offer more opportunities and more possible solutions. With people from South Africa you are still in the same bubble and share the same solutions. You also share the same (South African) people and that group will always be smaller than the group of other expats. The Dutch are more reserved and don't have the same problems you/you face. But if you, like you, show that you want to make something of it (learn Dutch) then there will be few people who do not want to (can not) help you if you have a question for help :-) For example, ask me! Also: if you live closer to the coast, you have more sun hours and less rain. And, check out the Ardennes (Belgium/Luxembourg) for nature and climbing :-)
Thank you for this really amazing comment, especially for the tips on spots to visit 🥳 really appreciate it ☺️
If you don’t mind me asking, how long did it take for your husband to get his visa? This is from when the employer starts the process to when he gets it
Welcome to Morokkoland
I love it that you guys mix beauty and elegance with good humour and making fun! 🙂
Cape Town is absolutely beautiful! I loved the nature there ; it is so different from what we know in the Netherlands ! And Stellenbosch had such delicious wines! Zuid Afrika was such an adventure!
Even though this video was a more fragmented one I still love the vibe. Posh lady! Flying business class! Last december I treated my wife and I on a business class trip to New Zealand with Qatar Airlines via Doha. It was fantastic! And very expensive but that's what you work for! And New Zealand is absolutely worth it to fly to even though it was a trip one way of more than a day ! New York is a great city to visit! So much to see! Your mum is such an elegant lady! Well you are too but I don't want to upset your husband 😜 You got yourself a new subscriber!
I live in Antwerpen and I have seen you also been there! I would have loved to be your host! Maybe for a next time? I buy you guys a few of the typical Antwerp beers! I am sure I know some pretty places you have never been yet! 🙂 Brussels is a strange mix of old and new and posh and poor.. made into a hutsepot 😜 Or maybe a Potjiekos ? 😍
Baie dankie for this fun video. I can imagine the Dutch <-> Afrikaans is funny and sometimes down right strange for you! When I turned 50 I went for 3 weeks on a tour to Suid Afrika. Being Dutch a lot of Afrikaanse words were so relatable but sometimes ehhmmm strange?! We saw a road sign for parking spot with local map. The sign said; Inligtingenaftrekplek. ( A place where you can get information) but for the Dutchies it is too close to meaning: a place to masturbate.. 😜🤔
6c Is not bolder
That's a lot of shocks, miss Barnard. A shocking amount.
Its very simple,as your bike is stolen, you steel also a bike back .😅
Aha a new Brabander, welcome !!!
Hi! You say you are a Dutch national and then state that you are foreign language i.e. Dutch. So can you elaborate on that
Sure! Dutch by birth, but born and raised in S Africa :)