Emigration Stories
Real stories from Dutch people who made the move
Marco (34)
Venlo → Düsseldorf
As a nurse I had been commuting across the border for years. When I decided to actually move to Düsseldorf, the real paperwork began.
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Niels (28)
Amsterdam → Berlijn
Amsterdam rent prices drove me away. Berlin offered a startup job, an affordable apartment and a vibrant nightlife.
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Dennis & Laura (38)
Arnhem → Kleve
With three children we moved from Arnhem to Kleve. A bigger house, Kindergeld and a Grundschule around the corner — but the German school system took some getting used to.
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Richard (43)
Utrecht → München
Starting a GmbH in Munich sounded like a dream. The reality was a paper jungle of Handelsregister, Gewerbe and Finanzamt — but it was worth it.
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Henk & Gerda (64)
Groningen → Hamburg
After 40 years in Groningen we wanted something different. Hamburg offered culture, good healthcare and a surprisingly affordable life for retirees.
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Bas & Fleur (31)
Den Haag → Keulen
Cologne attracted us with its vibrant culture and affordable rents. But the Wohnungssuche and Schufa made the first months a real challenge.
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Sandra (37)
Rotterdam → Frankfurt am Main
After Brexit my entire department moved from London to Frankfurt. As a Dutch woman in the German financial world I quickly learned what Finanzamt and Steuerklasse III mean.
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Pieter (45)
Eindhoven → Stuttgart
From ASML to Porsche — a dream come true. Stuttgart is the heart of the German automotive industry, but Swabian bureaucracy is a story in itself.
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Anouk (26)
Leiden → Leipzig
Studying in Germany is almost free. My master's in Art History in Leipzig cost €350 per semester — including a public transport pass for all of Saxony.
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Jeroen & Katja (41)
Nijmegen → Aken
We live in Aachen but Jeroen still works in Nijmegen. As a Grenzgänger you juggle two tax systems, two Krankenkassen and two countries at once.
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Maria (52)
Amsterdam → Dresden
As a visual artist I could no longer afford Amsterdam. Dresden offered affordable studios, a rich art scene and a Künstlersozialkasse that handles my insurance.
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Tom (29)
Maastricht → Mönchengladbach
As a Krankenschwester in Germany I earn €800 more per month than in Maastricht. Getting my diploma recognized took effort, but it was worth every Behörde visit.
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Els (67)
Breda → Freiburg im Breisgau
After my husband passed away I sought a fresh start. Freiburg offered sun, nature and an active senior community that brought me back to life.
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Daan & Lena (33)
Tilburg → Berlijn
Berlin is Europe's startup capital. We moved our tech company from Tilburg to Berlin and discovered an ecosystem of investors, talent and cheap office space.
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Ingrid (48)
Heerlen → Kleve
As a single mother with two children I couldn't make it work in Heerlen anymore. Kleve offered affordable housing, Kindergeld and a Kita around the corner.
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Jan-Willem (55)
Delft → Hamburg
From TU Delft to the Universität Hamburg. The German academic system with Habilitation and W-Besoldung is a world apart, but the research freedom is unparalleled.
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Sophie (22)
Den Bosch → Düsseldorf
After my college degree I wanted to learn German by living it. As an au pair in Düsseldorf I discovered that the best language course is a German host family.
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Erik & Diana (58)
Zwolle → Schleswig
We bought a guesthouse in Schleswig-Holstein. The Gaststättenerlaubnis, the Handwerkskammer and the IHK — German entrepreneurship in hospitality is a paperwork marathon.
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Lisa & Marc (36)
Amsterdam → München
Marc is German, I'm Dutch. After ten years in Amsterdam we chose Munich — his hometown. The Elterngeld policy made the choice easy when I got pregnant.
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Rob (39)
Enschede → Münster
As a plumber I wanted to move to Germany, but without a Meisterbrief you can't work independently. The Handwerkskammer became my best friend and biggest enemy.
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Fatima (31)
Utrecht → Berlijn
My boyfriend got a dream job in Berlin. I followed, without a job, without German. Finding work as a trailing spouse was harder than I thought.
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Peter & Joke (62)
Doetinchem → Emmerich am Rhein
From Doetinchem to Emmerich — 20 kilometers, a different world. We bought a house for half the price and commute to the Netherlands for work and groceries.
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Nienke (27)
Groningen → Kiel
As a marine biologist the Baltic Sea drew me to Kiel. A PhD position at the GEOMAR institute, paid via a TV-L salary scale — science in Germany is surprisingly well organized.
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Vincent (44)
Den Haag → Hannover
From a Montessori school in The Hague to an international school in Hannover. The German education system pays teachers as civil servants — Beamtenstatus with pension guarantee.
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Marloes (75)
Hilversum → Bonn
At 73 I moved to Bonn to be close to my daughter and grandchildren. The Pflegeversicherung and German senior care gave me the security I needed.
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