The Hague - Post Report Question and Answers
What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
With everyone speaking English and lots of things that look like the United States, it's easy to get lulled into a comfort zone in the Netherlands. However, life is more different than people realize in the here and it's important to keep that in mind. In the United States, we tend to rely on the system from hospitals, safety requirements, store clerks, etc., to remove risk, keep us safe, and provide whatever we need. In the Netherlands, there is often a learning curve as people learn that this is not the case in the Netherlands. People moving here need to weigh the risks of certain activities (e.g., biking in Amsterdam, playing on jumpy castle that doesn’t look quire right, jumping on a beach trampoline, etc) and be comfortable NOT doing it. Accept that what the Dutch make look simple…may not be so simple. - Mar 2025
The Hague isn't Amsterdam; it's even quieter than you would guess for a city of 500k. - May 2022
Buy a bike and enjoy being able to ride it around with ease. Always use the handrail on the stairs, they can be treacherous. - Feb 2021
I wish I had bought my ebike earlier. I held out for a year before buying one and I love it. Makes those 12 mile weekend bike treks a lot easier. - Jan 2019
That you need to speak Dutch to get a job (duh?) How truly miserable the weather is. - Feb 2015
That the weather was as bad as it really is, that the winters are so dark and depressing. - Apr 2014
