Originally posted by Swoop
Have someone with some experience help you out, the Dutch will fleece you blind otherwise.
I was paying 1500Euros a month for my flat, although it was a nice flat and in a suburb called Amstelveen rather than Amsterdam propar. Certain areas of Amsterdam are cheaper but parking can be an issue. Also keep in mind that the Dutch mass transit systems are excellent so consider living somewhere much cheaper than Amsterdam itself.
It would be best to have a Dutch speaker search for somewhere to live for ya, everything advertised on the websites are aimed at foreign contractors and overpriced, everything you'll get from an agent will have a hefty commission fee added to it and......well put it this way, a British mate of mine came over to work, a Dutch fella helped him find a flat and they both went to view it......the second the Dutch fella told the landlord that the flat was for his British colleage the landlord said the rent had been misprinted and it was actually double.
Also, they'll tell you you need a residency permit (250 Euros fee for that and again every time you renew it) and that you MUST have one. No you don't. It's optional and the only thing it'll help you with is claiming unemployment benefits and opening a bank account.....and I can highly recommend NOT opening a Dutch bank account, bank abroad if you can. As long as you have either a VISA or Mastercard you can operate just fine from Dutch ATMs. I did for 6 years.
Don't even think about taking a taxi in Holland, it's stupidly expensive and since the Dutch Gov did away with licenses every Turk / Somalian / Albanian / Whatever has rented a car and is taking people the long way round.
Don't ask a Cloggie if he speaks English, you'll be either told not to ask stupid questions or merely get a "Ja!" and stared at like you're an idiot, just talk slowly and if you get a nonsensical reply repeat whatever you just said using different phrasing cos the pleb you're talking to hasnt understood a word but wont admit it.
Forget learning Dutch as well, whatever you ask for in Dutch will be ignored and you'll be replied to in English with an explanation of what you just mispronounced in a tone that is meant to suggest the Cloggie is far superior cos most of his TV is in English and he's learned the language from watching Friends/Home Improvement/Frasier.
Oh and remember, Amsterdam is not Holland.....even the Dutch who live in Amsterdam dont refer to themselves as Dutch, they call themselves Amsterdammers. Get outside Amsterdam and the country turns really weird.
P.S. "Ja, is not possible." is a phrase you'll come to know and love.
Thanks!, I do plan on using my Master Card, I'm glad that wont be an issue... both my City and Fed retirement checks are direct deposit... and the City wont forward a check outside the US.
I dont plan on working while I'm there, simply because I don't have to.
My main point of total ignorance is on money conversion / cost of living, I do well here in Los Angeles... I'm not expecting to be rich, but OTOH I dont want to get there and have to choose between food and beer.... I'd starve.... if I'm used to shelling out $1000 - $1500 here in LA, I assume I could get a decent place there, eh?... no matter what neighborhood, I promise its nicer than North Hollywood.
Thanks all for the info, with any luck I'll be there next summer for at least a year...
