Have you ever encountered a mind-bending bureaucratic paradox? Whether at home or abroad, share your creative workarounds below!
I’ll go first…
The business of moving is not something concluded on the day you actually take possession of the space nor is it when your furniture arrives. Instead, moving is a process that unfolds over weeks as you slowly acclimate and introduce yourself to the new home. Yes, there are the big event moments like getting the keys or making the bed for the first time, but it takes several more days or even weeks before everything that was ordered arrives or you’ve figured out all the little things like wastebaskets, hand towels, and power strips that you need to acquire.
Moving to a new country involves a lot more logistics.
If you recall our first adventure registering with the Rotterdam municipality, you’ll remember that William and I were recorded as “non-resident residents,” meaning we have citizen numbers but were still considered as “living in the US” since we didn’t have a Dutch address at which we could register. Further complicating the matter, we’d done so in Rotterdam but were now “moving” to Den Haag…
Rather like the LinkedIn job postings for entry-level positions that require five years of experience, the necessary steps for becoming a resident of The Netherlands are riddled with chickens and eggs where both are seemingly meant to come first. Obviously, we needed a permanent residence for the “having a place to live” part, but it is more difficult to rent an apartment without a Dutch bank account, something you can’t open without a permanent address…
