Hi, I 've lived here since 2004 and next week we leave, back to the UK. I have read the topics on this forum with interest and feel as a parting shot, my time and experience on my life in Holland may be worth a posting.
The Good Bits first!
1. The people we have met, who have become firm and life long friends
2. The social life, lots of dinner parties, quiz nights, race nights etc.., meeting interesting people and enjoying a comfortable life style.
3. Getting on a bike and cycling anywhere safely and easily.
4. The flowers, always fresh, beautiful and so imaginatively displayed
5.Being so close to the beach and sea.
6. The Public Transport, excellent, reliable.
7. The sports facilities, the swimming pools and football/hockey clubs
Now the not so good bits!
1. The Supermarkets, small, lack of choice, empty shelves, unfresh food, dark dingy.
2.The Health Service, a bit hit and miss, the Dutch have a very 'laid back' approach to medicine, pain releif and haven't got to grips with preventative screening.
3.Sorry, the dogs(again) and the poo, the smoking (which hopefully will change as of 1st July)
4. The difference in culture, the Dutch speak English but they are very different.
5. The service, restaurants,hotels, banks, shops where ever, the service is not great.
6.The International schools, a bit hit and miss, just because you pay they are not private by any means.
7.The continual road works, after 4 years they are still digging up The Hague!
8. Restaurants that shut the kitchen at 10 p.m!
9.The weather, similar to the Uk but somehow colder, greyer and rawer.
