It's technically impossible to move to Amsterdam

[mark the martian]

Hey everyone. Like I said in another thread, I moved to Amsterdam from New Zealand just a few weeks ago. I'm in a band, and we just did a long tour if Europe. We decided to stay and live in Europe because we can do small tours all the times this way. And Amsterdam was a natural choice, a really beautiful, clean city where people are friendly and you can walk around easily.

But there's a really tricky quirk to moving to Amsterdam that actually makes it technically impossible to move here. Let me explain.

I'm here on a visa which means I can live and work in the Netherlands for a year. When you get here, you have to register at the city hall where they give you your tax number (SOFI number) and everything. You have to do this before you get a job, you can't get a job without a SOFI number. But then, to register at the city hall, you need an address to register at and proof you live there. BUT, in order to rent in Amsterdam, most places ask you where you work, and ask for an employers note, sometimes even saying how much you earn. So you need a job to rent a place.

So you can't register because you can't find a place to live because you don't have a job because you can't register. Haha! So it's impossible, technically.

And then when I arrived and called the city hall, it turns out there's a month wait on validating my visa. Which means I can't work for a full month. That would be the death of many people's move!

Also, rent in Amsterdam is pretty high, and so is the price of food. So it's quite expensive to live here. Also, with most places you rent if you go through an agent you have to pay them one months rent as a fee. This is really really high!!

But you can get around it all as it turns out. I've found a landlord that doesn't care that I'm looking for a job, and it's not through an agency so there's no fee. I've found a job that will just pay me when I have my SOFI number. (still looking for more work though!)

But just thought I'd share that. Moving to Amsterdam is a little tricky, but totally worth it!

[colinzeal]

Thank fuck for the european union

(vote no to nice! :p)

Coming from NZ is a long way to move though, so many people I know going the other way though too.

[mark the martian]

Moving to New Zealand, is that right? Funny how everyone just wants the opposite of what they're used to huh

[geoffk]

I found food prices to be much lower in Amsterdam than where I'm at. Groceries and eating out.

[JMey]

I found food prices to be much lower in Amsterdam than where I'm at. Groceries and eating out.

Yeah. The Albert Heyn has very reasonable prices

[mark the martian]

Oh yeah, where's that? For me, anywhere in Europe is about as twice as expensive as living in New Zealand because of the exchange rate. But Amsterdam seems far more expensive than other European cities my friends live in like Berlin, Prague, Vienna etc etc

[JMey]

The 'where's that' was a joke, right?
Well, yes, Berlin and Prague are less expensive. I dont really know why. But technically, if you just do your groceries at a supermarket, it's not expensive at all

[mark the martian]

Nah man, I've found Albert Heyn to be the most expensive super market I've come across so far. I think it's the more sort of 'fancy' supermarket chain in The Netherlands.. right?

I've found open air markets to be the cheapest way to get fresh food. I've noticed the super markets stock a lot of expensive pre packaged foods. Like, pre cut up salads and things like that.

How else do you eat if you don't buy food from a super market? You mean eat take away food all the time? Me and my partner are musicians, no money for that! hehe

[mark the martian]

And it wasn't a joke about where he is, but he lists Rocky Mountains so I'm guessing the states? Is there something obvious I'm missing?

[geoffk]

Well I live near Aspen, so I have the trickle down effect. Even with the exchange rate, I couldn't believe how cheap food was in Amsterdam. Even at the bio food shops. I'll drop $120 at the grocery story twice a week and not get very much.

[evergrey1968]

Thanks for that - interesting stuff as I'm intending to move over next year, am in a slightly different situation as my g/f already has a house (and it's not in Amsterdam), but it's all handy to know.

[colinzeal]

Ireland is very expensive for things like food, i can get loads for my money in amsterdam, better fruit n veg too.

its all relative, bet you'll get paid more than at home if things are twice as expensive?

[mark the martian]

Maybe New Zealand is really cheap or something? I guess there are always cheap cities and expensive cities though. At least there seems to be some work here in Amsterdam, even for someone who can't speak Dutch like me

[colinzeal]

And it wasn't a joke about where he is, but he lists Rocky Mountains so I'm guessing the states? Is there something obvious I'm missing?

tehehe

Albert Heijn is the most common (?) supermarket. All over the dam in varying sizes. AH AH AH

Guess people here like me have fun times in AH stocking up on munch, he just forgot someone could not know and be in amsterdam. its like kinda like mecca within mecca lol

Pop into Albert Heijn is the blue AH shop its got loadsa stuff! yum, drop €20 in AH on stuff and recharge so you can hit another coffeeshop.

you don't know about Albert Heijn! check it out dude, they are everywhere, everywhere!!!!

[mark the martian]

? Of course I do... I live here! There's one just down the road. But there are other chains of dutch supermarkets that are quite a bit cheaper