Anyone in the Netherlands?

[Scootergrrrl]

We've just found out that DH's job will be taking us to the Netherlands for a couple of years. What's it like living out there? And what can't you buy there so I can start stockpiling (will be transporting an EU Yorkshire teabag mountain already)? And is the language very hard to learn? Between us, we speak a fair bit of German already so am hoping it's slightly similar!

Well, once we get over there early next year, I'm happy to send a care package of sprinkles. Children have rights, after all

Kinderbijslag is paid quarterly and regardless of income. That's probably comparable with child benefit.
Kindertoeslag is based on your income and is perhaps the same as working family's tax credits. I think it's paid monthly. You can still qualify even on a respectable income.
Preschool can also be classed as daycare and qualify for a tax rebate. Both parents have to be working, as the rebate is giving according to the hours worked by parent who works the least hours.
What this means in real terms is that if you work 4 or 5 hours a week, you can double your salary by suddenly qualifying for tax rebates.

Post parcels from over the border in Germany. You can't send a package for less than €9 from NL. In Germany, it starts at €3.

Scooter

It was 1976-7 (I was 7 out there), but I have very fond memories of my year in The Netherlands and can still count to 10 in Dutch. I am s flood defence engineer and occasionally if this was unconsciously influenced by that year. ool in NZ. They will likely be paying 3 lots of school fees soon.

Does anybody actually like hagel? Really?
Even the De Ruiter stuff is foul!
Mind you, bastaard sugar, with real butter, on dark bread and then you're talking.

Bastard sugar? What?? I can see it now in the supermarket.... "children, avert your eyes!"

Oh that's nothing.
There'll be "shag" at the checkout.
And cashpoint machines will say "u kunt".

Well, I have a few months to prepare for the questions! But seriously, what on earth is bastaard sugar and why is it nice on bread?

Preschool can also be classed as daycare and qualify for a tax rebate. Both parents have to be working, as the rebate is giving according to the hours worked by parent who works the least hours.
What this means in real terms is that if you work 4 or 5 hours a week, you can double your salary by suddenly qualifying for tax rebates.

I don't understand/agree with this. You get a fraction of the daycare costs refunded, not a tax rebate. So not only do you need to both work you have to supply bills from a registered childcare provider to get the costs back. The costs of preschool and nurseries are exorbitantly high, or at least they are in the Randstad, maybe they are cheaper in other areas.

Several years ago I was paying 1800 Euros per month for full time care, of which less than 1500 was refundable. (Hourly rate was above the rate that is refunded.) We moved back to the UK and I then paid 1200 Euros per month (1000 Euros per month, using childcare vouchers) for far better quality childcare. Preschool care in Holland is a rip off.

Basterd suiker is 'light brown sugar', tastes a bit like the muscovado one, I think. It's rich, I use it to make apple tart.
I'm going to stockpile on hagelslag soon-ish, pm me bikerunski if you want a box or two.

The costs of childcare are (partially) refunded by the tax office. The amount you recieve is calculated according to your income. Hence describing it as a tax rebate.
It sounds like the Randstadt was very expensive. Locally we pay about €6.50 an hour.
DS went to preschool (peuterspeelzaal) for three mornings a week. Two mornings were free, funded by the local council, in an initiative to ensure that the children of non-Dutch speakers were exposed to the language sufficiently before starting school. We paid for the third session. This was almost entirely refunded by the tax office and cost us about €20 a month.

The Dutch have a sensible and refreshing (in my opinion) attitude to nudity, cursing, and sex education, but you will be used to this from Germany.

Also to health and safety.