HuskerMigrant said:

Hello All!

 

I've just accepted a position in Amsterdam and this is my first ever post on Expatica (although I've been browsing it religiously since the possibility of my move arose a couple months ago...)  I am very excited to be coming over as a skilled migrant and to have my wonderful girlfriend accompanying me.

 

A little background: She is an elementary school teacher with several years of experience and a masters degree in her field.  I was wondering if anyone has any experience with teaching primary school in the Netherlands, or more specifically, Amsterdam?

 

I am concerned that she will be lonely and unhappy if she is unable to find work during our time there.  I've read that finding a job is difficult, to say the least.  She does not speak Dutch, so she would most likely be targeting an international school in the area.

 

So, my questions are:  What does she need to do to be eligible to teach in NL?  Is Dutch an absolite necessity for teachers, even if they're teaching in an international school?  Realistically, what are the chances she could get a job like this for next school year (fall 2013)?

 

Thank you in advance for any and all input!!

 

Hello

I am probably not the best person to answer but in the absence of anyone else... I don't teach or live in NL but my friend works in an international primary school. Expatica does a list of International Schools and it might be worth trying those for substitution work in the first place. This is where he started when looking for a job. Although my friend does speak (conversational) Dutch now, he didn't when he started l and all teaching is in English.

 

I don't think it was easy to get into to start with because of not having international experience but as substitution work depends on teachers being local and be able to work at short notice, so it could be a start.

 

I don't know how all the work permit stuff affects her. I do however know that you usually have to have the teaching qualification accredited by an accreditation organisation to show it is of a similar standing. I know you say she is well qualified but that alone is not enough. I think you can start a job and there is a time limit to go through the accreditation process but it is also something she could look into.   

 

Hopefully someone who is a bit more knowlegeable will respond but I think the main thing to hang on to is that there are options.

Good luck to you both in NL I hope you enjoy

 

expat01 said:

peony said:
Believe it or not, there are Ford cars all over Europe, hence Ford garages are widely available in Netherlands.

Peony,

your statement is equivalent to this:

 

"Believe it or not, there are Cars all over Europe, hence Car garages are widely available in Netherlands."

 

Even though Ford of Europe GmbH is the principal European subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, they do not sell American models in Europe. Only recently they started bringing some of the European models to North America, but not the other way around. 

 

Because of that there is no part supply, no trained personnel, no warranty, etc...

 

Do you really think that your naive ignorant sarcastic post could help anyone here?

 

No need to be rude! If you want help ask nicely and value the fact people have taken the time to reply. Peony is quite correct. There will expertise availble to service your car as Ford is all over Europe.  In Europe mechanics are trained to deal with mechanical repairs irrespective of make and model... generic training which means they will have the expertise to service your car (and other cars)  and import parts for you  but at a cost.

 

MartinD said:

We (self, Dutch wife and 2 bi-lingual kids) are relocating to NL in July. {So having waited all my life for the Olympic games to arrive in my own country, I am leaving just a couple of days before the event!}.

I have started to get quotes from UK based removal companies, to move the contents of a 4 bedroomed house.  The quotes vary from 2000 to 4500 pounds.  Does anyone have experiences (good or bad) with any removal firms?

My partner used Pickfords as they do a lot of international work. Having been given a date for stuff to be in NL  (about 2 weeks after the stuff left the UK) which he planned for, he got word to say another  customer had underestimated their load and because his was a part load they took his off to make room for them and consequently it arrived on day 21!

 

By this time he had started work and couldn't take time off so I ended up flying out from the UK to take delivery,

 

Now you may be OK with a full load but it didn't work well for him.

I don't know about costs but pin the firms down for when your stuff should arrive and especially with kids to think about. 

 

 

Quite agree! I love our northern water, I used to live in Nottingham and when I went home to Lancashire I bottled my own to take back with me. I think we are spoilt though its hard limey stuff in the Midlands and beyond its yuk.

http://www.tierneysirishpub.nl/links This is a popular Irish pub and very central in Haarlem. They are well established so might be able to advise. I think that you would need to corner a niche in the market because as Osita says there are a lot of bar/restaurants in Haarlem . Why particularly a bar? Is that your main area of expertise?