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I definitely agree with the posters that are advising you to buy furniture there.. Anything big that you can part with I would.. Would be much easier and probably cheaper in the long run.
I know you will have the desire to visit places.
Do that as soon as you can ! Do not wait !!
Before you know it, you will be packing up to go home !!
Thanks for the valuable inputs to irman and others. Initially I did want to visit the country for a few days to get a feel before making the decision. But I'm in a time crunch and would have to take a call quicker.
Good points on my mattress, I was planning to get a nice memory foam one before leaving here.
On the electronics, I have a new TV, home theatre system and my kitchen aid mixer that I was hoping to bring. I need to check on the 110-240V possibility. I was hoping to use my TV with cable operators that offer HD(using the HDMI) port. Wont that work?
The only bummer from the many posts is I understand that the country is very crowded. I was hoping for a less crowded and close knit community kinda space.
What is the general dress code in Businesses? Do people wear tie? or jus sports jackets are acceptable?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchfan007
Good points on my mattress, I was planning to get a nice memory foam one before leaving here.
Uhmmm you might get one *there* ??
On the electronics, I have a new TV, home theatre system that I was hoping to bring. I need to check on the 110-240V possibility. I was hoping to use my TV with cable operators that offer HD(using the HDMI) port. Wont that work?
Not sure what the cable operators there may be able to offer,
but I am sure you will not be able to *unscramble* the channels
if your TV can not handle the PAL TV system they have in The Netherlands.
The USA has NTSC (Never The Same Colour ...)
For the voltage requirement just check the specs of your system.
On the electronics, I have a kitchen aid mixer that I was hoping to bring. I need to check on the 110-240V possibility.
Same answer as above, check the specs and it may be multi voltage.
If not, leave it home and get a mixing stick. Just for those few years, keep it simple.
Unless you can find some huge voltage adapter thingys that weighs half a ton ...
We had two of them and we left them for the next expat !
The only bummer from the many posts is I understand that the country is very crowded. I was hoping for a less crowded and close knit community kinda space.
Crowded ... OK, just go and get used to it.
You want solace, go find a job in Greenland or something like that.
Never expect to find a piece of *home* in Europe !!
Sadly, you do not speak the local language fluent,
else you could have found a place *out in the country*,
in some small village ?
When we lived in Germany, they have vacation places on working farms.
I made a deal with one of them, to pay him more than he could earn in one summer,
if I could live there all year long !
What is the general dress code in Businesses? Do people wear tie? or just sports jackets are acceptable?
Coat and tie and slacks, especially if you get to visit other businesses.
For some reason, I feel that the higher up the person is on the ladder
the more somber suits the poor guy is wearing ...
The last thing you want to do is perpetuate the stereotype American
in his jeans and sandals/slip-on shoes with no socks ...
On Fridays they may wear more casual clothes. Just follow the trend you will *see* there.
Something I instituted in Europe for my traveling Engineers and Sales crew was that if they intended to take their contacts out to dinner, they were allowed to take their wife with them on trips and then take their wive(s) on the entertainment part of the trip. It keeps the groupe *safe* (if you get my drift)!!
I do not know what kind of business you are in and I do not really care, but professionalism should be your main concern. Since the company is paying for your *move* you must be some high caliber person, so behave as such. If you were working for me, I would expect a very high standard from you especially when I am paying for your travels and buying your daily bread !
Somewhere in the back of my mind is the notion that there is a groupe in Amsterdam which specialises in Expats Cases. I have to do some lurking to find out or you can do the same for yourself. If I can find it on the net, so can you.
Very good points from Irman. About the dress code in the Netherlands, it is formal from management level and up. But less formal than Germany. Mid level management often wear Jeans and a colbert and higher level a suit and tie. But it also depends on what line of work your in. Technical work differs from sales. Just start with tie and suit and adjust if different.
Communication is in most cases on first name basis in most businesses but always starts formal. When (if) you learn the language you'll notice we start the relation on last name basis and refer to a person with U (polite form of you) later on that changes to Je and Jij and first name basis in most cases.
Very good points from Irman. About the dress code in the Netherlands, it is formal from management level and up. But less formal than Germany. Mid level management often wear Jeans and a colbert and higher level a suit and tie. But it also depends on what line of work your in. Technical work differs from sales. Just start with tie and suit and adjust if different.
Communication is in most cases on first name basis in most businesses but always starts formal. When (if) you learn the language you'll notice we start the relation on last name basis and refer to a person with U (polite form of you) later on that changes to Je and Jij and first name basis in most cases.
I would say jacket, shirt and tie in most cases, BUT brighter colours than you'd expect! The Dutch always seem to wear very loud ties and jackets that make one think "hmmmm, was that really a good idea?".
My experience is that communication is still very formal in business, but maybe they just don't like me LOL!
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cattledog69
Communication is in most cases on first name basis in most businesses but always starts formal. When (if) you learn the language you'll notice we start the relation on last name basis and refer to a person with U (polite form of you) later on that changes to Je and Jij and first name basis in most cases.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 640TAG
My experience is that communication is still very formal in business, but maybe they just don't like me LOL!
I think it depends on how formal the people are, who are in a certain business and how old they are.
I did a lot of business in The Netherlands with the Aircraft Industry and
it was *very formal* when conversing in Dutch (which I can speak fluent).
Most of the time, due to the fact that the professionals in The Netherlands are very fluent in English,
albeit often with a slight accent, very often just switch to English,
even tho they know I can speak Dutch very well !
When you become more *familiar* with the people you will be doing business with,
then it is usually the older one who permits you to call him/her by their first name.
If *you* thus offer the fact that *they* can call you *John*,
and they did not offer you *their* first name, do not ask what their first name is !!
Stay on the safe side !!
My business card is in English, so when we start to converse,
it was always English first, even in other countries.
So ..., since the OP does not speak Dutch yet, actually no problem there for the formal or familiar.
For the first few visits, stick with the last names only.
Often there are more than one person in the groupe you are dealing with.
I have found a neat little way to *remember* their names.
They always offer you their business cards.
I arrange those in front of me in the same order as they are sitting, so I know who is who.
I do not know what kind of business you are in and I do not really care, but professionalism should be your main concern. Since the company is paying for your *move* you must be some high caliber person, so behave as such. If you were working for me, I would expect a very high standard from you especially when I am paying for your travels and buying your daily bread !
.
I should have mentioned. I'm in professional services for an accounting firm. And we don't wear flip-flops or jeans to work(even in California!). I'm pretty sure I can behave well and professionally in any country.
My objective was to understand how the folks there are dressed so that I plan on buying ties and (more) suits like tweeds or wool cuz I haven't needed them in CA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cattledog69
Very good points from Irman. About the dress code in the Netherlands, it is formal from management level and up. But less formal than Germany. Mid level management often wear Jeans and a colbert and higher level a suit and tie. But it also depends on what line of work your in. Technical work differs from sales. Just start with tie and suit and adjust if different.
Communication is in most cases on first name basis in most businesses but always starts formal. When (if) you learn the language you'll notice we start the relation on last name basis and refer to a person with U (polite form of you) later on that changes to Je and Jij and first name basis in most cases.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 640TAG
I would say jacket, shirt and tie in most cases, BUT brighter colours than you'd expect! The Dutch always seem to wear very loud ties and jackets that make one think "hmmmm, was that really a good idea?".
My experience is that communication is still very formal in business, but maybe they just don't like me LOL!
Thanks for the tips guys. Will I be needing winter wear like heavy wool stuff? I know I'm getting myself a raincoat for sure
So ..., since the OP does not speak Dutch yet, actually no problem there for the formal or familiar.
For the first few visits, stick with the last names only.
Often there are more than one person in the groupe you are dealing with.
I have found a neat little way to *remember* their names.
They always offer you their business cards.
I arrange those in front of me in the same order as they are sitting, so I know who is who.
I would surely use this idea.
I'm very familiar using First names, have worked in Asian countries where First name is *first.
I should have mentioned. I'm in professional services for an accounting firm. And we don't wear flip-flops or jeans to work(even in California!). I'm pretty sure I can behave well and professionally in any country.
My objective was to understand how the folks there are dressed so that I plan on buying ties and (more) suits like tweeds or wool cuz I haven't needed them in CA.
Thanks for the tips guys. Will I be needing winter wear like heavy wool stuff? I know I'm getting myself a raincoat for sure
Our winters are pretty mild compared to say, the Northern US, so you don't need a lot of extremely thick clothes. Most of the winter is just above or just below zero. Just light sweaters or long sleeved shirts and a warm jacket will do most of the time. Maybe one or two wool sweaters for when it gets colder. Occasionally we have a few days of -5C/-10. A good warm jacket is important though cos the wind can cut right through you sometimes. Especially in the coastal regions.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchfan007
I should have mentioned. I'm in professional services for an accounting firm. And we don't wear flip-flops or jeans to work(even in California!). I'm pretty sure I can behave well and professionally in any country.
My comments were more or less geared to the all included expat where some have been known to be very casual dressers. Now we know what you are, I will gear my answers to your level of expertise.
My objective was to understand how the folks there are dressed so that I plan on buying ties and (more) suits like tweeds or wool cuz I haven't needed them in CA.
Thanks for the tips guys. Will I be needing winter wear like heavy wool stuff? I know I'm getting myself a raincoat for sure
As is known for cold climates, really heavy, thick, woolen clothing *is* warmer,
but layered clothing works just as well.
You will see many Dutchies (Hollanders) wear a shirt and
then some kind of pullover or vest that is made from some nice *warm* material.
Then a good insulated coat (Dutch=mantel) that is also OK to use when it rains.
I have never worn any *winter underwear* ...
Keep in mind that the climate in Holland is rather mild in winter due to the Gulf Stream *coming by*.
As always when there is wind (and there always is !!), the wind chill factor may make you a bit more feeling cold.
Another thing you could do in the mean time is to Google for anything that is related Dutch life.
Then just note how the local people are dressed.
You may find that you really will not stand out at all with your present wardrobe.
I like Western wear (still do !) and often wore it on week ends.
Yes I *did* ride horses, too old now !!!
With all my clothing, I always wore my western boots !
I do NOT have those *holy smoke, where did you get those* boots.
Mine are the *dressy* soft leather kind (Tony Lama)
You wear them once, you will never wear anything else !
If you like to buy a pair of wooden shoes ... ,
go ahead but do not wear them anywhere but on a farm or something ...
Buy them so they *fit* you !!!
Even the ones meant for tourists can really be walked IN !!
Always have a *real* (!) faint smile on your face,
so people might wonder what you are up to ...
Nod your head as a greeting when people look you in the face.
Learn as quick as possible the greetings during the whole day and
try to pronounce them as accurate as you can.
When you do find the websites that deal with Expats in Holland,
check out the legal ramifications of living and working in The Netherlands.
Also check with your *now* tax consultant about your situation.
If he/she is not familiar with international tax laws, find one !!
Check on your payments about your 401K and
whatever else pension plans you may or may have.
Be careful with going back and forth to the USA for tax reasons.
There are limits of having to stay out of the country.
LBNL, umbrella first then raincoat !!
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