He’s originally from Poland, where the general public isn’t as accepting of his community. Even though he mentions that the situation is getting better, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. “So I decided I didn’t want to take it anymore, and since I knew in the Netherlands no one would care how I looked, I moved,” Kamil explains. “The second reason is less intense. I applied for a job here and got it. This was the happiest day of my life, taking into consideration reason no. 1. I was given the opportunity to start a new, better chapter,” he says. The only solution was to move our family from England for a year and then try to return on another visa. Since our children were almost teenagers and had just lived through England’s Brexit vote, we said it would be better to move us to the Netherlands, where the European head offices were, and let us stay there. So coming to the Netherlands wasn’t the original plan, but it ended up being a solution for us that we decided to stick with. We bought bikes, learned Dutch, and earned our swimming diplomas (me included!)," she shares. Another thing that Kamil adores there is how direct people are. “If Dutchies need to tell you something, there is no sugar coating, they will just say what they think, and I personally think it’s the best way to communicate. Also, the way they usually do it is so funny, as they don’t realize they are that direct, and it might cause confusion if you’re not used to this directness,” he fondly told us. In the summer, we cycle past ripe strawberry fields that smell like strawberry jam, and we pick blueberries to last all year. In the winter, we decorate a giant Christmas tree with our neighbors for our village. The children cycle to school, and we are within cycling distance of Eindhoven City. We have sufficient affordable healthcare access, and the education level our children are receiving in their schools is very high," she says. However, not everything is as idyllic as it sounds, she notes, “We’ve had many challenges and setbacks, but we remain committed to raising our children here because it’s such a good place for our family.” “The city is obviously great, and if you can, rent a boat, go through the canals, walk the cute streets, and visit a museum (there are so many amazing ones, my fav is Stedelijk). But, don’t forget the country has so much more to offer, and because it is relatively small, you can jump on a train or bus, and in no time you are taken to other amazing places.” He suggests going to Haarlem, with its beautiful city center and cathedral, which is only 20 minutes away by train. “Marken, which is the most charming village (on an island) I’ve ever visited, is a 45-minute bus ride away,” he adds. “If you visit, consider buying a ‘museumkaart’ that will give you entry to hundreds of museums around the country. Museums are a great option because it rains a lot here, and visiting a museum is a great rainy-day activity. Plus, the Dutch have museums about everything,” she explains. “The Dutch can be very direct, but that’s a trait I love because it helps me form my opinions and responses more carefully. And I love Dutch architectural ingenuity. I’ve lived here for nearly six years, and I’m still discovering more that fascinates and intrigues me.” Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
