Here in Holland

How about drawing comparisons between life as an expat and life as a polar explorer?Sound crazy? Well not as far-fetched as you might think. This is the theme of the book The Mobile Life – A New Approach to Moving Anywhere. The book draws on the leadership and endurance skills as embodied by British polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and extrapolates lessons for internationals seeking to conquer a new world of opportunity. In the podcast this time I catch up with co-author Diane Lemieux...

The 30% Rule is a tax break for expats in the Netherlands and it is being reviewed. Some 60,000 expats currently qualify for this generous tax allowance - but what changes are likely and why is this all happening now? Expert tax advisor Robert Bosma from Broadstreet explains what expats can expect in this edition of the Here in Holland podcast.Contact:Here in Hollandemail: hereinholland@gmail.comSubscribe in iTunesor Android app of choice...

There are more bikes than people in the Netherlands - Dutch people love to cycle.Why is cycling so popular in the Netherlands? And is it true that cyclists are always in the right? And what of the rise of e-bikes and new experiments to give cyclists even more freedom? Check out the latest podcast with the Urban Cycling InstituteContact:Here in Hollandemail: hereinholland@gmail.comSubscribe in iTunesor Android app of choice.Support the show

Sometimes you meet people and your assumptions are truly tested. This podcast features the story of Sue Sušnik – she feels people’s emotions, literally by laying her hands on their bodies…Her goal to help people regain balance in their lives by realising what’s holding them back. She uses what she describes as a kind of emotional plumbing to get people back in touch with their true selves. Sound like hocus pocus? Well, listen and find out what happened when Here in Holland went to investigate...

The debate around Zwarte Piet – Black Pete – has been raging in the Netherlands for several years. Is the character a black-face racist stereotype or just a harmless Dutch tradition?Positions are entrenched – with supporters and opponents clashing sometimes hysterically. Many in Dutch society are simply stunned as to what’s happened around what is a treasured family holiday and celebration.At one stage the UN even got involved...

The festive season is upon us – Here in Holland has the guide on how to enjoy it like a Dutchie. So what are the customs the dos and the don’ts? And what should you try? An interview with Abuzer van Leeuwen the man behind the website Dutch ReviewFore more on Here in Holland: Here in Hollandemail: hereinholland@gmail.comSubscribe in iTunesor Android app of choice.Support the show

This time in the podcast - what happens when your dream expat job turns sour and you are no longer happy let alone fulfilled and rewarded? An interview with O’ona Souissi, an expert on helping people get the careers they want instead of treading water in dead-end jobs. Hear the common misconceptions which hold people back and get the fundamental principles to reignite your career...

In this episode - what is the back story of us internationals in the Netherlands? Why are we here, are we happy, what do we love and what weirds us out? And do we really feel comfortable and at home? This time in the podcast people from around the world share their thoughts on life with the Dutch.It was recorded at the Feel at Home Fair in the Hague which was organized by the Hague Online. For more on Here in Holland: Here in Hollandemail: hereinholland@gmail...

Bit of a departure in the podcast this time – it’s an interview with a Swedish-British crime historian who has unearthed new information about the possible identity of Jack the Ripper.Was Jack the Ripper a Dutch sailor? An intriguing new theory has come to light – there have been many suspects down the years, but a definitive answer has never been found...

So, as an international or an expat in the Netherlands do you have an easy life?There are tax breaks, nice salaries a good work life balance, international schools and special services from city halls to make you feel at home. But is it all champagne and caviar? Internationals from around the globe share their thoughts in the podcast and I interview Aniek Smit. She is a historian and expert on this question having recently completed a PhD study on expats at Leiden University...