Chronicles from the Netherlands

The Unsteady Beginning

Our first weeks in the Netherlands were marked by jet lag, paperwork, missing comforts, and the slow work of building daily life from scratch.

Apr 6 • Heather Farris

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March 2026

Getting a Dutch SIM Card When You First Arrive + Managing Your US Number with Tello

The easiest thing you can do at least in regards to securing a Dutch phone number

Mar 27 • Heather Farris

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How We Got Our Utilities Setup Before Our Move to the Netherlands

Setting up your utilities before you arrive if you have to do so.

Mar 20 • Heather Farris

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Sometimes the Experiment Is the Point

The decision was easy to make but it does make me stop and wonder if it could have been different.

Mar 13 • Heather Farris

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December 2025

Nothing About This Lamp Was Efficient

A story about effort, waiting, and learning to live inside the process.

Dec 29, 2025 • Heather Farris

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You Don’t Have to Want This Life for It to Change You

What full-time travel taught me about stability, work, and myself.

Dec 15, 2025 • Heather Farris

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November 2025

Why We Moved to the Netherlands: Life Beyond American Individualism

A personal essay on community, collective care, and why I fear the US will never change.

Nov 10, 2025 • Heather Farris

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The 6 Phases of Immigration

A personal look at the emotional stages of starting over abroad — from the thrill of arrival to the quiet work of belonging.

Nov 2, 2025 • Heather Farris

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October 2025

What No One Tells You About Setting Up a BV in the Netherlands

A behind-the-scenes look at setting up a business (B.V.) as an immigrant entrepreneur in the Netherlands

Oct 22, 2025 • Heather Farris

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September 2025

Schools in the Netherlands As an American

Schools in the Netherlands are so different than in the U.S. There are schools around every corner and you may not even realize it until you see kids…

Sep 29, 2025 • Heather Farris

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The Lie of American Convenience

Convenience culture goes against the family values we hear about so often in the US.

Sep 15, 2025 • Heather Farris

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Arriving in the Netherlands Wide-Eyed and Hopeful - My First Impressions

Arriving in The Hague felt both grounding and disorienting. From public transit, recycling and tree-lined streets that brought the smell of nostalgia…

Sep 8, 2025 • Heather Farris

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