The rise of the self-proclaimed expert
There comes a time in every business owner’s life where it’s easier to outsource certain tasks to an expert. Whether you have a full…
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Larger cities to ban foreign real estate purchasing
There have been many initiatives recently to address the real estate shortage and high house prices in the Netherlands. The most recent initiative, by…
The ‘samenleving’
A word you hear quite often in the Netherlands is ‘samenleving’. Especially in the time of corona, this word comes up often. The English…
How to stay creative during high-stress times
We’re told that 90% of startups fail within the first 5 years, but what can we do to increase our chances of success? If…
Finding an Apartment – Take 2
As I’m writing this, I am celebrating my two-year anniversary of arriving in Europe – I spent the first week in Germany before heading…
A year in … how to improve your work from home life
It’s been over a year since we entered our first lockdown here in The Netherlands, and most of us are still working from home….
Entrepreneurs and self care: keeping burnout at bay
Burnout is the buzzword of the moment. It’s unfortunately a common phenomenon at the best of times, but the entrepreneurial community is even more…
Indulge me for a moment …
First, I watch a lot of Dutch TV to learn the language. I find it a really entertaining way to learn colloquial Dutch. If…
5 alternatives to New Year resolutions
Somehow, the new year is (luckily) just around the corner. After a completely bizarre and unexpected 2020, most of us are happy to welcome…
The slum lord of the Netherlands
A few months ago I wrote about the notorious ‘slum lord of the Netherlands’, Ronnie van de Putte. The real estate businessman and his…
How to network virtually
As every entrepreneur knows, networking can make or break your business. From finding a possible business partner to connecting with venture capitalists, those Friday…
And the winner is … (no, not the election)
After eight weeks of singing, dancing, acting, sewing and design challenges, and dozens of original looks strutted down the runway, the Netherlands has its…
Rewind to when I first arrived in the Netherlands
I came to the Netherlands in April of 2019. This, of course, was before the pandemic, and riding public transportation was a very different…
Why every entrepreneur needs a personal brand
The vast majority of startups fail, so as an entrepreneur, it’s not necessarily a great idea to solely be known for your business. You…
How to avoid burnout as an entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs are known for being workaholics. The downside of loving your job is that you run the risk of burnout if you don’t factor…
The slum lord of the Netherlands
Living in the Netherlands for nearly 18 months, I’ve come to learn a great deal about the Dutch people. Their friendliness, pleasantness and all-around…
Does your brand tell a story?
Maybe it’s because social media has replaced real-life interaction. Maybe it’s because big business is taking over the world, and we’re craving the intimacy…
A cool mind and a warm heart
In preparing for the listening portion of the national Dutch language proficiency exam (Staatsexamens Nt2) I began watching past episodes of various Dutch programs,…
Without your family: interview with a French expat
As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and its enormous fallout, expats experience an added layer of difficulty, living away from their home…
The art of pivoting: how to survive a pandemic
These are unprecedented times. The Coronavirus pandemic appeared seemingly out of nowhere, putting a halt to our easy-going way of life, and the freedom…