eviechrissy

3 weeks to go until the big move...

I am currently a UK resident and my mum, little sister and myself are moving to Amsterdam with my mums work.

At first this seemed like a great opportunity - the town we are living in now is over familiar, not much to do nor many socialising activities...so from this to moving to the Amsterdam seemed like a no brainer!

My mum will be working and my sister attending school - the plan for me is to start university in September. So from February to September I don't really have much to do...

Does anybody have any advice? I'm fairly shy and cannot wait to make new friends and socialise...but the thought of going out there and doing this is daunting for someone like me!

Are there any social clubs in Amsterdam? Volunteering opportunities? How easy is it to get a job without knowing the Dutch language (I am shortly starting classes to learn)?

Just looking for some advice really and some reassurance that I'm not the only one feeling like this! How did you cope?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this

steviehouse

not speaking dutch should not stop you getting a job I think, but of course when you do speak dutch it will only help more.
I am pretty shy myself but when I moved here I was 16 and dumped straight into an international school, so making friends was kind of a must since I was at school with a load of strangers.
it might be a bit different for you not having a job to start with and not going to study until later in the year.
I can't really help you much with aspects of life in Amsterdam since I live in the south. But feel free to ask me anything you like

StevieLW

In Amsterdam you shouldn't have much trouble finding a job without speaking Dutch.

Take a look at this website regarding volunteer work: http://www.vca.nu/

Having a job, or volunteer work, will really help with your Dutch, being immersed in it is the best way to really progress your learning.

Best of luck for your move!

eviechrissy

That's the thing I'm slightly worried about - school is probably one of the easiest places to make friends - hopefully it won't be much harder for me!

Have you stayed in the same area since you moved when you was 16 then? Do you visit Amsterdam at all? Any places that you would recommend looking out for?

eviechrissy

Thank you for posting the link to the volunteering website - have had a look and sent them an email to organise something! Fingers crossed...

I agree with you - we are starting lessons anyway, however, this will really help in practising the language too rather than just reading a textbook. Also, it will be very beneficial socially helping make new friends. So I think it'll be very important to do something whether it be volunteering or a job.

steviehouse

I've lived in Eindhoven in the south for the past 13 years. I'm 29 now
I have mainly only visited Amsterdam when friends and family have visited and wanted to go there.

gioppino

I speak decent conversational Dutch. Agencies here won't even consider me even if I could do the job. If a job is advertised in Dutch, it's for Dutch nationals only.

There is a good market for native English speakers in the big cities and that's what you should aim for.

I've studied Dutch for more than 10 years but if I went back in time, I wouldn't bother.

triplepistolets

I concur, there are many companies in Amsterdam that hire foreign nationals though, but this is mainly in services. In hospitality there is a decent demand for foreigners with lower-skills.

gioppino

I am not sure if I can back this up. They usually prefer Dutch students because they are cheaper.

triplepistolets

And you base this on your experience in noord-brabant or as owner of bar\restaurant?

gioppino

This.

All adverts I see require fluent Dutch and MBO in Horeca. That rules out what you call " foreigners with lower-skills".

triplepistolets

If you actually visit horeca you notice a high degree of foreigners, but alright, no need to argue.

Red_Wine_Fairy

If you are in Amsterdam, and looking for casual summer work, I suggest you try Zandvoort if you have no success in Amsterdam itself - this is the 'holiday/beach' resort, just a train ride away. What I say will go against everything I should (especially as an ex-Brit), but if you're in your late teens, female, and not ugly, then you'll probably have your pick of jobs. I'm saying this as someone whose son was part of a male team (late teens) 'made redundant' from their roles only to be replaced by females of the same age. I'm/he's not bitter - all jobs are temporary at that age (or whats the use studying?)

The 'real' reason that Dutch females are highly sought in bediening 'serving' roles is that they are bi- or multi-lingual. They can (theoretically) talk to a Brit or American one moment, a Dutchman the next, and a German the next. In Amsterdam, you can in some bars get away without the multilingual skill if the boss thinks your personality is good enough.

As socialising works a little differently here than in the UK, you might not make lifelong-friends among your temporary colleagues - but you should be able to find them once you start at Uni. Where have you applied to? My son is moving back to study here this year, after becoming disillusioned at a UK University. Have you managed to navigate the studyfinanceering shenanigans?