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How many Americans in NL?

christianbarth
- 4294967295 posts
August 12, 2010 12:45:20 AM CEST

According to the Dutch national statistics office, it's now estimated that approximately 31,000 American nationals live in Holland.

This compares to 100,000 or so Dutch nationals living in the USA.

Around half of the Americans in NL are under the age of 30. Around 1 in 25 is at retirement age or over.

There's more Americans here than the numbers indicate, I get lots of calls from Americans who have been living illegally in NL for five or ten years or more and they aren't counted in these numbers.

Christian Barth, Esq.
www.expatlaw.nl
cloggieking
August 12, 2010 1:32:03 AM CEST

Over the years I've met so many Dutch people with one American parent, so as long as they speak Dutch you wouldn't know they were American citizens... Tara Elders and Horace Cohen are among the better known examples.
gottaluvthedutch
- 824 posts
August 17, 2010 3:23:02 PM CEST

Americans in the Netherlands---Not enough or too many depends on how you look at it.

Dutch in the USA----too many or not enough depends on how you look at it.

There are far more Dutch in the USA than the statistics give. Many came through the Canadian route and report they are from Canada.

Some of the largest immigration areas for the Dutch in the USA are Michigan, Iowa, Utah, Wisconsin, California and Florida. If you were to count just these communities it would exceed 100,000 by a large margin.

Statistics were not being recorded accurately until the 1960-70's. I know about 48,000 immigrated to Utah between 1929-1960, then another large amount from 1961-68 again in 1974-78.

Today the USA is still one of the primary points for the Dutch for immigration, many participate in the Green card lottery each year with the hope of leaving this spot on the globe.

Now American here, the majority are here for job related reasons, not for wanting to be here. Approximately 75% are here for government related employment, some for religious service. Then there are those here for the "tolerant free lifestyle.".

Then there are those here for family, like myself, soon returning to freedom!

You will not find Americans here for the wealth of opportunities provided, the freedoms and rights, or the extremely friendly natives. I'll end now before I get sick!
sabetsu
- 588 posts
August 18, 2010 11:12:52 PM CEST

I only know three Americans living in the Netherlands (that I've met in real life) including myself, all legally.

I only know one Dutch person (in real life) living in the United States.
gretasmom
- 14 posts
August 19, 2010 3:22:10 PM CEST

There seem to be a lot of Americans living in The Hague/Rotterdam area. I know quite a few....
shamroyspeaks
- 2 posts
August 22, 2010 11:30:17 PM CEST

Wow, who woulda thought?

I've often felt that as far as being an American here in Europe goes, I couldn't be this invisible if were 'on the lam' somehow. I don't mean to suggest that I could in any way be mistaken for Dutch -- or wanted, either! -- just that I don't seem to have figured out any of the usual tourista hangouts.
There's still plenty of time, I guess, but after a little over 4 years I've run into maybe a dozen other Americans, two of whom were my own daughters here visiting.
gretasmom
- 14 posts
August 23, 2010 12:04:23 AM CEST

shamroyspeaks (Aug 22 2010, 08:30 PM) said: > original post
Wow, who woulda thought?

I've often felt that as far as being an American here in Europe goes, I couldn't be this invisible if were 'on the lam' somehow. I don't mean to suggest that I could in any way be mistaken for Dutch -- or wanted, either! -- just that I don't seem to have figured out any of the usual tourista hangouts.
There's still plenty of time, I guess, but after a little over 4 years I've run into maybe a dozen other Americans, two of whom were my own daughters here visiting.

Well, it probably depends on where you settle in NL. I think there are more Americans in the Hague/Rotterdam area than in the rest of Holland. You will also find many Americans in Amsterdam.
gottaluvthedutch
- 824 posts
August 26, 2010 11:43:17 AM CEST

gretasmom (Aug 22 2010, 09:04 PM) said: > original post
Well, it probably depends on where you settle in NL. I think there are more Americans in the Hague/Rotterdam area than in the rest of Holland. You will also find many Americans in Amsterdam.

Also Americans at most military posts, Rotterdam, Heerlen, Shinnen, Leeuwarden
jimmyb
- 80 posts
August 31, 2010 6:14:46 PM CEST

I know several who fall into the same catagory as I, prior military, maybe retired, separated here or returned after separation on their own because they married a Dutch woman.