In this episode, Michelle and Alex chat with Sam, better known on YouTube as Exploring the Foreign, as he shares his experience in the Dutch workplace and gives us the truth behind work life balance in the Netherlands.

0:00 introduction

1:10 welcome sam!

3:01 looking for a new job in the netherlands

5:37 interviewing in the US vs NL

6:18 expectations vs reality

9:00 different types of employment contracts

13:38 job security

16:27 the flat org myth?

18:34 are your coworkers also your friends?

21:45 a mutual respect with your employer

24:31 work perks

27:45 is the work life balance really that good?

32:05 a healthy relationship with work

36:23 how much vacation time do you really get?

39:12 parting thoughts/advice for job seekers

43:00 wrap up

In this episode, Michelle and Alex talk about the reasons they decided to make the Netherlands their new home.

0:00 introduction

0:31 dream food tour city

5:49 let's go back

10:15 the idea of working together

13:55 traveling vs living abroad

16:44 the netherlands vs our goals

19:24 surviving without a car in the US

22:05 thriving without a car in NL

22:44 when alex met justin bobby

23:14 back to thriving without a car in NL

26:06 being bound to a traditional job

29:03 work mentality is just different

32:03 hustle culture in the US

36:50 wrap up

Tulips and weed and bikes! Oh my! In this episode, Michelle and Alex debunk some of the most common misconceptions about the Netherlands.

In this episode, Michelle and Alex discuss their experiences with health care in the Netherlands, everything from insurance, to finding and visiting a doctor (huisarts), and meeting with a specialist.

0:00 introduction

In this episode, Michelle and Alex discuss their tips for dealing with the dark, windy, and rainy winters in the Netherlands.

0:00 introduction

0:26 we've discovered a new restaurant in dordrecht

2:07 ok, let's talk winter in the netherlands

3:15 our winter experiences so far

6:17 our winter wardrobe

8:48 let's talk about michelle's shoes

10:05 ok, back to wardrobe

11:09 you are not made of sugar

12:36 michelle's winter skin care routine

14:10 let's talk about alex's shoes

16:51 open the windows?

18:30 how our cat drinks water

19:31 the mandela effect

21:06 staying warm inside

25:01 staying warm in bed

26:06 don't just turn up the heat

26:51 dutch foooood

27:40 but for real, it gets dark

31:42 is it really that bad?

33:41 it's gezellig af

35:55 wrap up

In this episode, Michelle and Alex talk about what happened when they stopped releasing videos on YouTube for 3 months, review the first few months of this podcast, and plans for 2025.

0:00 new years resolutions, hehe

0:36 what are we talking about today?

3:09 reviewing the first few months of the podcast

6:54 why did we take a break?

11:10 how we make youtube videos

14:05 the good things we did during the break

16:58 youtube revenue when you stop posting videos

26:22 our plans for 2025

30:37 we are so thankful

32:04 wrap up

In this episode, Michelle and Alex talk about their favorite trips and experiences in the Netherlands.

In this episode, Michelle and Alex discuss the reasons people have moved back to the US after relocating to the Netherlands, and what to should consider if you're thinking about making the move.

0:00 our first guest on the podcast

0:40 why are we talking about this now?

4:47 the dutch-american friendship treaty

6:53 the first reason

10:52 the second reason

16:43 the third reason

20:34 the fourth reason

23:37 the fifth reason

28:30 the sixth reason

31:56 the seventh reason

37:41 some reasons why we love the netherlands

40:34 final thoughts about moving to the netherlands

43:44 our moving guide

44:40 dutch word of the week

46:18 wrap up

In this episode, Michelle and Alex discuss pet ownership in the Netherlands: everything from the dierenarts (veterinarian) and pet food to how the Dutch feel about their cats and dogs.

0:00 why this episode took a while

1:47 today's topic of discussion

1:57 but first... mulled apple cider

2:28 why are we talking about this?

3:47 pet ownership in the netherlands

6:40 pet food in the netherlands vs. the US

11:00 pet insurance

14:59 vet clinics and hospitals (dierenarts)

17:43 pet ambulance

19:04 more about animal hospitals (dierenziekenhuis)

20:47 our experience with the at home vets

21:55 versus our experience with the vet clinic

23:05 more about animal hospitals, hehe

25:00 more experiences about the clinic and hospital

26:57 in summation

28:45 health care for people vs. animals

30:11 standard of care in the netherlands

31:48 dutch word of the week

34:29 wrap up

In this episode, Michelle and Alex discuss their experiences with nude beaches and naturist resorts in the United States and Europe (mostly in the Netherlands), including some embarrassing stories.

0:00 a dutch food that you should skip