While Amber did not initially pick to move to Amsterdam from Australia, as she came due to her husband’s job, ten years later she is still happy to call this city her home. Not only because she can bend things, people, and time to her will 😉 but because she feels like Amsterdam is an easy city to live in. Cars are so 2002, according to Amber, so you will see her on her bakfiets which allows her to bring whoever or whatever with her. As an Amsterdam Mama’s ambassador, her tip to new expats is to join all the Facebook groups you can. She is passionate about her family, indulging in coffee and reading, and her friends.

Paolo initially came to Amsterdam from Wales on a work assignment and planned to stay here for two years.... Some things, however, don’t go as planned and he has now lived amongst us for more than fifteen years! He fell in love with the charming old buildings, sunny terraces, and the Dutch cuisine. His two favorite dutch snacks are Satekroket (peanut sauce croquette) and Erwtensoep (pea soup). His tip for new arrivals in Amsterdam is to utilize Expat Housing Network (just kidding... but you should!) and to make sure that you don’t miss King’s Day or the Gay Pride parade! He is passionate about food, people, and exploring new places and cultures.

Eager to try life in Europe, Bekah moved to Amsterdam after finishing university. Three years later, she is still here because of her love for her Dutch partner and for the city. She loves the size of Amsterdam, the unique restuarants, and international feel of the city. Compared to the USA, Amsterdam feels much more cozy, or as the dutch would say- gezellig. As a people and dating expert, her tip for newcomers to say yes to everything. Every invitation, every meet up that grabs your attention, every restaurant that catches your eye, say yes to it and be open to everything. She is passionate about travelling, food, acroyoga and her family.

Due to low tuition costs and the various courses offered in English, Amsterdam attracts many international students for bachelors and masters programs. Juliet came here from London to successfully pursue a fine arts bachelor degree four years ago and she has since blessed our office with one of her beautiful pieces. She decided to stay because she loves the quality of life here, the easiness of getting around, and the simplistic beauty of the city. Her tip to new expats is to walk around the city as much as possible because that provides more time to explore. She is passionate about travelling, working with her hands, and seeing all the different apartments in Amsterdam.

Doug, who is our secret architect and interior designer, moved to Amsterdam in 2016 for love (yes, we’re big fans of love) and he feels that Amsterdam is full of character. He perceives the Dutch culture to be relaxed and open which leads to a high quality of life. Compared to his home country of New Zealand, the Netherlands has a deep history which can be seen in the architecture throughout the country. His tip to those who have just moved here is to take it one step at a time. Allow yourself the time and space to get used to your new surroundings! He is passionate about food, furniture, and interior design.

As with many expats in Amsterdam, Adriano moved here in 2008 because of love. The vibe of the city and the fairy tale look of the old city center cast a spell on him and has kept him here ever since. He finds the Dutchies to be generally more proactive and environmentally conscious than his home country of Argentina. If you have just arrived in Amsterdam, he recommends that you should be extremely patient and open to the new culture . Additionally, never forget your rain coat as the weather can change quite unexpectedly here. He is passionate about music, design, and creating new things (like his own clothing brand).

All that was necessary to keep Alana in Amsterdam was a Hens Do and the love of her life. (Yes, we believe love is a beautiful thing.) After moving here from Ireland, she soon became fully submerged into the Dutch Culture by setting up the popular Facebook groups 'Free stuff Amsterdam' and 'Buy and Sell Amsterdam'. As someone who breathes social media, we were determined to get her onboard at EHN to let her light shine on the company's social media. If you get a witty response from an online message, chances are Alana is behind it.

With just two suitcases and a desire for a new adventure as newlyweds, Hubré and her husband landed in Amsterdam only a few months after getting married. Hubré had never been to the Netherlands before her move here, but she immediately fell in love with the colourful buildings and the Dutch culture. She loves the directness of the Dutch people as it reminds her of her family dinners back home in South Africa. Her tip for newcomers is to remember that you moved to a new country, so make an effort to immerse yourself in the Dutch culture. Make an effort to get to know the people, the language and try the local cuisine. She is passionate about painting, traveling and cooking.

Accompanied by Molly and Gary, their two beloved children (and by children we mean two house bunnies) Julie and her fiancé moved to Amsterdam pursuing new career opportunities. One of her favorite things about Amsterdam is getting to meet new people from all over the world who are all on different journeys. Her tip for newcomers is to embrace the language and sign up for Dutch classes early on! Julie is passionate about history, exploring, learning new things and of course, her bunnies ;)

Originally a California girl with family ties in Germany, Alina ended up moving to Berlin after graduating from University. Although never having considered living in Amsterdam, she realised it would be an unexpected and exciting adventure after her partner received a career opportunity here. She feels the expat community in Amsterdam is very welcoming and loves that it’s easy to be included. Her tip to newcomers is to push yourself to make an effort to meet people and make friends; after that, the rest will come easy. She’s passionate about swimming, baking, and helping people.

The need for change and new opportunities brought Ana to Amsterdam from Romania. After friends who lived in Amsterdam encouraged her to come live with them, she jumped at the chance for a new experience and instantly fell in love with her new city. Before moving here, Ana traveled to many different places but always had a soft spot for Amsterdam because of the mix of cultures and openness that this iconic city provides. Her tip for new expats is to be open minded to try new things, go to new places and to get to know people. Ana is still passionate about traveling as well as spending time outdoors, reading, and animals.

Kimo has caribbean blood in his veins but is the only one of us that actually grew up in the Netherlands. He moved to Amsterdam thirteen years ago to go to university and instantly loved how international this city is. His tip for new Amsterdammers is to go out and meet people as much as possible. People are a big part of what makes a place your home and with that in mind he decided to start helping Expats find a home as well as feel at home. EHN was born shortly thereafter. He is passionate about hats, surfing, this company, his family, and fantasy novels.

Jelena is a firecracker who knows what she wants and how to get it. She and her partner fell in love with Amsterdam and its liberal culture so they decided to call this city their new home. Coming from Croatia with just the bare minimum, they literally set up camp in the city. Jelena has three great loves: photoshop, binging her favourite TV shows and her adorable dog, LilyBear. Her advice to expats is to not get discouraged if things don’t work out the first time around; if there’s a will, there is a way!

Originally from Brussels but also having lived in Paris and the UK, Mary is no stranger to different cultures and is excited to call Amsterdam her new home. When Mary’s partner was offered a job in this lively city, they couldn’t refuse the opportunity. Mary loves to make a house feel like home, so she can fully get behind the concept that encompasses the heart of Dutch culture- “Gezellighied”. The community feel, efficiency and beauty of the city are some of Mary’s favourite aspects of Amsterdam. Her advice to expats is to be open minded and have fun!

Diego originally came from Peru but moved here for his love of the city and to work with us as our web developer, along with his partner. Though his heart belongs to the Peruvian mountains, he loves how calm this city is and how everything runs like clockwork! Efficiency is key to a web developer, of course! Diego is a passionate philosopher, skilled musician and composer, board game player and an avid film fan with infinite respect for Kubrick’s work. What more could you ask for in a developer? His advice to expats is to create a support network and to use it to the fullest!