Experiences an expat makes when starting to work in the Netherlands.

In June 2016, after several years spent in the German education system, I decided to go abroad as a Postdoc working in academia. Initially I was aiming to go to the UK due to the good reputation of several universities in the field of protein biochemistry, but I found a very attractive position in Amsterdam and thought: Why not? Honestly, the Netherlands are not as well-known as the UK for ground breaking research in the Life Sciences. However, there are several hubs for different kinds of research that are not standing behind greater institutes anywhere else in Europe.

In addition to this, it is also very easy to get started in the Netherlands. Almost everything can be arranged in English, and if not, the very kind Dutch inhabitants are more than willing to help. And for sure I needed help with a lot of things: the amount of bureaucracy exceeds by far what I have been used to from Germany. The Netherlands are, with respect to this, much more organized but also complicated. It takes some time to get used to this and stop asking the question: But why?

Although Germany and the Netherlands are direct neighbours I noticed some cultural differences that I didn’t expect. In contrast to my initial impression, it is not easy to achieve a closer relationship with a Dutch person. One obstacle is, for example, that they make plans to meet friends far in advance (up to several months) which makes a spontaneous meeting for dinner almost impossible. This may be part of their well-organized culture. Thus, after more than two years in the Netherlands, the majority of my friends here are other expats. Furthermore, Dutch are very direct in saying what they think and what they want. This makes it easier to work together on a project, because you know your tasks and responsibilities and where you need to improve.

Another difference that could be attributed to the smaller size of the Netherlands compared to Germany is that here, everybody knows everybody. That also means: connecting to others, especially business-related, is essential. Thus, after my first year here, I extensively worked on my Linkedin Account and started connecting to others as well.

Now I am at the end of my Postdoc and found a position as Scientist outside of academia, also in the Netherlands. Since I fell in love with this country, I am very happy to stay here. For anybody who is planning to or has moved here recently, I have the following advices:
- Although it may not be essential to survive here, try to learn Dutch. This is very appreciated by Dutch colleagues and employers, and in language courses you can easily come in touch with other expats.
- Take care of your Linkedin profile. It is not only needed to stay in touch with others, but also to be visible.
- If you get invited for a borrel (small party), do not expect much food except it is clearly stated that there will be food.

By Franziska Mortensen
Franziska Mortensen is a postdoctoral researcher at the Amsterdam Medical Center.

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