Buying a house as an expat in the Netherlands
Irish Neill (37) and Denise (41) bought a house in The Hague last year with help from De Hypotheker Den Haag Stadhuis. In this interview, they talk about what it is like to live in the Netherlands as an expat and buy a house there.
How did you end up living in the Netherlands?
We moved here back in 2013 from Spain when our daughter Laia was one year old. We secured jobs working at Maastricht University and thought it would be a great experience. Denise had spent some time in Leiden and Amsterdam some years ago and had really fond memories of the country. Our son Seán was born here in 2015 and the same year we bought a house in Maastricht.
Why did you move from Maastricht to the Hague?
In 2019 we moved to the Hague when I got a job working at TU Delft. We love the Hague and being beside the sea is a major plus – we are both Irish and have lived in coastal regions our entire lives so this was an important factor. I am also a keen surfer and Denise enjoys running on the beach.
What kind of house did you buy in the Hague?
We bought a beautiful ‘herenhuis’ in a lovely district of the Hague. It is over 100 years old and contains many of the original features. It has space for our little family to grow while providing a cosy atmosphere. We tend to work from home a lot and it is ideal in the sense that we can each have a working place.
How did you end up at De Hypotheker for mortgage advice and what did you think about our services?
I ran a google search of reputable mortgage advisors in the Hague and Frank’s name cropped up on more than one occasion.
We still tell our friends about the high quality service we received. We immediately felt that Frank was on our side and would get us the best mortgage for our needs. Frank kept us well advised during the process and were friendly, professional and always ready to answer our questions. In the end he got us a fantastic package.
Did you experience stress during the process of getting the mortage?
Frank took care of all of us so we have to say it was a more relaxing experiencing than when we got our first mortgage without using a brokerage. I would definitely recommend De Hypotheker to other expats. It really makes your life easier and the service was exceptional.
What do you like about The Netherlands?
We enjoy the international vibe here in the Netherlands and the excellent work-life balance. It is easy to do business here as the level of English is excellent which makes it an attractive place for expats. It is also comparatively cheap compared to Ireland which is nice and in general the people are tolerant of diverse cultures.
What do you not like?
Sometimes cultural differences can cause problems., The Dutch do not mind telling you off, for example, if you have done something wrong (parking, leaving a bicycle somewhere, etc.) whereas in Ireland we have more discrete, indirect ways of dealing with such situations. The directness of some people can come across as being rude and can take some getting used to. However, it does have its benefits and the people are generally friendly.
What are your future plans? Do you plan on living in The Netherlands for a long time?
We plan to stay here until the kids have at least finished primary school. After that we do not know but we are very happy living in the Hague and may well stay for the future!