About the Chronicles from the Netherlands
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When we landed in the Netherlands, I thought we were stepping into a postcard. Instead, the first thing that hit us was a rental that smelled like old lady perfume and mildew. Not exactly the dreamy European welcome I imagined. That set the tone: moving abroad isn’t all canal-side bikes and tulips. It can be messy, funny, surprising, and sometimes really hard.
What This Chronicle Is
This Substack is where I share the real story of moving abroad with my family, not just the highlight reel. It’s part travel journal, part immigrant diary, part cultural reflection. Some weeks it’s about navigating schools and grocery shopping. Other weeks it’s about train rides across Europe or cafés tucked on cobblestone corners.
Who It’s For
If you’re curious about what it’s actually like to build a new life in another country, you’ll feel at home here. Maybe you’ve dreamed of living abroad, maybe you’ve done it yourself, or maybe you just like peeking inside someone else’s everyday adventures. This space is for travelers, immigrants, daydreamers, and anyone who loves an honest story.
What You’ll Find Here
Weekly essays mixing personal stories with cultural insights
Reflections on daily life in the Netherlands: housing quirks, bike commutes, language learning, neighborhood cafés
Notes from our travels across Europe: trains, small towns, big cities, and the in-betweens
A balance of the messy and the beautiful: what we expected, what surprised us, and what we’re still figuring out
I started Chronicles from the Netherlands because I wanted a place to capture this transition in real time. It’s about belonging, slowing down, and learning to see the world—and ourselves—differently. In sharing our story, my hope is that you’ll find pieces of your own reflected back: the courage to leap, the humor in the chaos, and the small joys that make it all worth it.
When I’m not writing here I’m running my business, pouring into our family, and trying to remind myself that joy is worth chasing.
If you’d like to follow along with the good, the messy, and everything in between, subscribe below. I’d love to share our story with you and maybe remind you that wherever you are, there’s beauty (and sometimes mildew) to be found.
