Forums » Netherlands » New Zealand in the Netherlands

• marknz

  
   

  November 1, 2009 9:27:45 PM CET

  The Kiwi forum seems a little dead, so I just thought I'd post this up. Any Kiwis new to the Netherlands around here? I've just moved to Amsterdam with my partner from Wellington.
  
  I don't personally know any NZers living in Amsterdam, but I mean there's an entire shop for kiwi expats so there must be some hehe. I can see there are a few that post around here too.
  
  One thing I've found strange about Amsterdam from a New Zealand perspective is how people's idea of personal space is so different. I live in Jordaan and it's hard to walk down the street without people knocking into you. I don't mind it at all, but it's so different to Wellington. I guess it's just the lack of space here forces everyone together, but people seem to like it. I notice there are small country towns in the Netherlands that still have people living in tiny tiny apartments. Even in the middle of fields and stuff. I think Dutch people like to be close to each other
• clickit

  
   

  November 2, 2009 10:59:22 AM CET

  
  

  marknz (Nov 1 2009, 09:27 PM) said: > original post
  The Kiwi forum seems a little dead, so I just thought I'd post this up. Any Kiwis new to the Netherlands around here? I've just moved to Amsterdam with my partner from Wellington.
  
  I don't personally know any NZers living in Amsterdam, but I mean there's an entire shop for kiwi expats so there must be some hehe. I can see there are a few that post around here too.
  
  One thing I've found strange about Amsterdam from a New Zealand perspective is how people's idea of personal space is so different. I live in Jordaan and it's hard to walk down the street without people knocking into you. I don't mind it at all, but it's so different to Wellington. I guess it's just the lack of space here forces everyone together, but people seem to like it. I notice there are small country towns in the Netherlands that still have people living in tiny tiny apartments. Even in the middle of fields and stuff. I think Dutch people like to be close to each other

  
  
  
  yeah the space thing is weird, even in relatively 'empty' places people will still almost walk right into you, and dont get me started on the supermarket behaviour! But you have the worst of it in Amsterdam, its particularly busy/pushy there. Its a big change from NZ thats for sure. I have been here almost 8 years now and I still miss the SPACE (and fresh air)
  
  I think there must be quite a few kiwis in Amsterdam, I once went to an event to hear Witi Ihimera speak, there were a lot of people, all kiwis You could check out KEA http://www.keanewzealand.com who send out information on events and things of interest to kiwis here.
  
  I dont live in Amsterdam myself but I am sure you wont have any problem getting in touch with people there, kiwis or otherwise :-)
  
  Have fun!
  
• marknz

  
   

  November 2, 2009 7:00:47 PM CET

  Thanks Actually, it would be a little weird if I ended up hanging out with just Kiwis over here. I have some friends in London who do that.. not totally sure about it.
  
  But yeah, the space thing is strange. I don't think Amsterdam is an 'aggressive' city at all though. I don't see many people yelling at each other or anything. People just kind of.. ignore you and bump into you. I do it too now, it works fine as long as you know what to expect. I find myself weaving in and out of people if I want to walk through the Jordaan at any kind of speed
  
  So where are you based, and do you find yourself spending much time with other kiwis?
• veldrin055

  
   

  November 3, 2009 10:32:44 AM CET

  
  

  marknz (Nov 2 2009, 06:00 PM) said: > original post
  Thanks Actually, it would be a little weird if I ended up hanging out with just Kiwis over here. I have some friends in London who do that.. not totally sure about it.

  
  
  Yeah that really surprised me about that in London, but with the Aussies! They fly halfway around the world to hang out with Aussies in Aussie pubs. Could have saved themselves an airfare...
• clickit

  
   

  November 3, 2009 11:05:47 PM CET

  
  

  marknz (Nov 2 2009, 07:00 PM) said: > original post
  Thanks Actually, it would be a little weird if I ended up hanging out with just Kiwis over here. I have some friends in London who do that.. not totally sure about it.
  
  But yeah, the space thing is strange. I don't think Amsterdam is an 'aggressive' city at all though. I don't see many people yelling at each other or anything. People just kind of.. ignore you and bump into you. I do it too now, it works fine as long as you know what to expect. I find myself weaving in and out of people if I want to walk through the Jordaan at any kind of speed
  
  So where are you based, and do you find yourself spending much time with other kiwis?

  
  
  
  
  I have rarely seen another kiwi here, I dont go looking either. But I am old old old :-) Maybe its different for those young dudes in London who all go party together and drink (gag) kiwi beer and follow the kiwi bands, dunno :-) The only time I was among a big bunch of other kiwis was a special trip we made to a pub in Ams to watch the All Blacks play in the world cup (sob). I reckon the place was full of kiwi smoking refugees! Cant smoke in NZ anymore so they all came here, I think every one of them was fagging away... Wont do that again in a hurry
  
• premiekiwi

  

  • 1 posts
   

  November 7, 2009 11:40:23 PM CET

  Just popping in to say Hi...
  
  bunged up with bugs right now, but clicked the wrong button when checking my email bfore coming to bed and here I am LOL.
  
  first time in this forum...
  
  I'm not new to NL, but am to Expaticia... yikes is there a Kiwi shop in Adam ?????? I'm horribly out of the loop then! anyone got a name or a website for it please?
  
  The only day I usually see another kiwi is when we celebrate ANZAC day here in the Hague... theres a great turnout and some folks come from all around NL.. the brekkie afterwards is rotated between the Aussie and NZ embassies so you get to chat to a few folks afterwards.
  
  I'm kicking myself into bed... hi to all
• clickit

  
   

  November 8, 2009 5:19:27 PM CET

  
  

  premiekiwi (Nov 7 2009, 11:40 PM) said: > original post
  Just popping in to say Hi...
  
  bunged up with bugs right now, but clicked the wrong button when checking my email bfore coming to bed and here I am LOL.
  
  first time in this forum...
  
  I'm not new to NL, but am to Expaticia... yikes is there a Kiwi shop in Adam ?????? I'm horribly out of the loop then! anyone got a name or a website for it please?
  
  The only day I usually see another kiwi is when we celebrate ANZAC day here in the Hague... theres a great turnout and some folks come from all around NL.. the brekkie afterwards is rotated between the Aussie and NZ embassies so you get to chat to a few folks afterwards.
  
  I'm kicking myself into bed... hi to all

  
  
  
  hey Hope youre feeling better! try this: www.kiwisauce.nl > I would seriously recommend ordering some Avocado Oil (if you dont have it in the Hague anywhere). its totally delicious and ultra healthy and worth every cent. The shop is pretty good, I havent tried the pies yet. The only sad thing it the owner isnt a kiwi herself! She lived there for some years though, and I think she must have some really good feelings about it to be doing everything she does here. They stock a good range of stuff anyway. Next time I am in Ams (doesnt happen often) I plan on sampling the pies.
  
  Also fyi I found several butchers who have kiwi lamb, almost none who have things like shanks and shoulders though. Apparently kiwisauce are offering to sell different sorts of lamb cuts, maybe they will have some of those slow cook cuts too. I havent tried their mail order, but they seem to be generally good to deal with.
  
  Theyre expensive though, I mean, 6.50 for a tin of golden syrup!! THats like $12 NZ.... But there are some things I cant live without at any price, and one is the Avo Oil and the other is my Marmite
• premiekiwi

  

  • 1 posts
   

  November 11, 2009 12:17:18 AM CET

  Ohhhhhh THANK YOU !!!! will definiately be browsing this one !!!
  
  Did you know that dutch
  "Jumbo" supermarkets have golden syrup ? and have had for a few years now.. RUN in that direction to get it waaaaaay cheaper !
  
  The MACRO also has NZ lamb... not all the time, IF you can get the cardboard box full of frozen lamb chops ( orange coloured packaging) then stampede everyone around you to get them... they are to die for... we haven't found them in a while though so crossing fingers and hoping that they re appear ( not cheap naturally but sooooo good for a treat, the flavour is devine)
  
  there is often other NZ lamb at the MACRO too.. and guess what.. if you are ever passing though northern France DO keep a freezer bag in the boot of the car, and dive into any one of the bigger French supermarket chains, they often have NZ legs of lamb, way cheaper than in NL.
  
  will have to try the avocado oil and pies too... marmite I gave up on after buying some in the UK and blech !!! it was horrible... tasted very different than the NZ stuff or is that just my perception?
  
  Thanks again... I'm not yet up and about and am coughing too much to head anywhere at the moment, but as soon as I am better, I will be looking at getting a few kiwi goodies.
  
  cheers !... kiwi
  
• lp

  
   

  November 19, 2009 7:44:57 PM CET

  Hi,
  I am new here too, moved 3 months ago from Aussie, but I am a Kiwi.
  Would love to have a beer with some kiwis I have not found many.
  Personal space is here for sure, there are lots of wide open spaces, in saying that it is really dutch to push or not move and its not considered rude!
  I hope you are settling in well and are not to culture shocked.
  Cheers
• marknz

  
   

  November 22, 2009 1:22:23 PM CET

  Welcome! Yeah, I've been here a similar time and I'm just discovering little pockets of kiwis my age
• jarradcaine

  
   

  November 30, 2009 3:19:58 PM CET

  Hi All
  
  I'll jump on the end of this treat then.
  
  I'm a kiwi, my girlfriend and I have just moved here, she has dual citizenship, I'm doing the working holiday thing. We are both in our late 20's in the creative industry, currently looking for work and a place. Currently staying with family friends in Blaricum (quite far out).
  
  We have been here 2 weeks now, the job hunt is proving a little harder than expected.
  
  If anyone has any leads, tips, hints they would be welcomed.
  
  
• eastside

  

  • 1 posts
   

  December 1, 2009 11:43:02 AM CET

  Hi all I been here 10 years and haven't come across any kiwis other than the ones visting me Its a bit diffrent living on the east I surpose, But nice to know some of you are out there
• kiwigirl

  

  • 9 posts
   

  December 26, 2009 6:44:17 PM CET

  
  

  eastside (Dec 1 2009, 10:43 AM) said: > original post
  Hi all I been here 10 years and haven't come across any kiwis other than the ones visting me Its a bit diffrent living on the east I surpose, But nice to know some of you are out there

  
  
  
  Hey Kiwis. Merry Christmas. There are a few of us lurking about esp in Amsterdam. If you're interested in some occassional live kiwi music check out http://www.homegrown-events.com. Jayson Norris, London based from Kaitaia, is playing Waitangi Weekend which I totally recommend. He's great. Also if you join KEA in the netherlands you can get invited to some really interesting cultural events that frankly, you wouldn't easily get to experience back home. While it's great living in Amsterdam, love it, it's also nice to meet up with fellow kiwis now and again.