UK NATIONALS IN THE NETHERLANDS: HOW TO PREPARE FOR BREXIT The UK will leave the EU on 29 March 2019. The UK’s priority is to secure a negotiated deal on our exit from the EU. However, if reopening the withdrawal agreement which we agreed to and signed off on in November …
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The Great 30% Ruling Benefit Robbery Imagine the outcry if the Dutch government were to announce that from 2019 tax relief on mortgages would not only be significantly reduced but that the change will be retroactive for the previous three years. There would be an orange revolution! The Dutch wouldn’t stand …
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The Expat Voting Guide For the Dutch Municipal Elections If you’re not sure who to vote for here’s a brief guide to the political parties in the Netherlands. This simple expat voting guide summarises the core policy of each of the main parties in a simple and easy to read …
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Scenes From The Dutch Schoolpleinpolitiek An expat reader of mine who goes by the clever name of Sue Denim has been kind enough to provide her observations of the complex intercultural human interaction that takes place during the school run. The mysteries of the Dutch schoolpleinpolitiek are revealed in this …
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The multitude of sins committed on Dutch public transport The Shallow Man has in the past created a MEME or two about the wonderful phenomena of Dutch ladies doing their makeup on public transport. This has somehow led to the misconception that I have an issue with this. Which …
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Dutch Manners and Etiquette a guide for foreigners People often say to me, “Shallow Man, you dress so well”. Which is, of course, true, but people also often say to me, “why are the Dutch so rude!”. To which my answer is always “it’s complicated”. To truly understand the Dutch …
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Life in the Netherlands My Favourite Things The Shallow Man recently received the following comment from an aggrieved reader. Is it just me? To notice an edge of cynicism (check spelling.) within your recent posts? Could you find another slant? This pisstake has become tedious/odious. Yes, you make a point …
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Living in the Netherlands A Song I love living in this country so much that I’ve decided to write a song about it. Based on the music of the late great James Brown and his song ‘Living in America’. Watch the video below if you’re not familiar with the song. …
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Indian Expats In Amstelveen all aboard the Bombay Express Amstelveen is a wonderful place! Echt leuk! In fact, it’s so nice that if the Shallow Man meets an early death, probably due to being hit by a cyclist sexting instead of watching the road, they can scatter my ashes in …
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Moving to the Netherlands Insider Tips So you’re thinking about moving to the Netherlands? Why???? Well actually, the answer to that question is clear. In my experience, people tend to move here for the following reasons: Love Study Work Seeking Asylum If you’re moving to the Netherlands for one of …
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Amsterdam Confessions of a Shallow Man Life in the Netherlands through the eyes of a sarcastic expat