4 Years in the Netherlands: I Wish I Knew This Before Moving to NL 🇳🇱

I’ve been living in the Netherlands for 4 years - and in this video, I’m taking you back to my very first week here. From my first 24 hours in a new country to finding a room, understanding public transport, dealing with paperwork, food shopping, jobs, money, and building a community - this is everything I wish I had known before moving to the Netherlands. If you’re planning to move to the Netherlands, thinking about life in Europe, or just curious about the real Indian expat experience, this video will help you avoid common mistakes and prepare better. This is not a travel vlog - this is real life in the Netherlands. 👇 TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS 👇 00:00 Intro – 4 years in the Netherlands & why this video matters 00:50 My first 24 hours in the Netherlands 01:14 Finding a room & housing reality in NL 01:47 First supermarket runs & food struggles 02:25 Understanding public transport (OV-chipkaart & NS) 02:48 Building friends & Indian community life 03:02 Dutch language & direct culture explained 03:22 Money matters – budgeting & real expenses 03:40 Week-1 checklist for moving to NL 03:50 Final thoughts – is the Netherlands worth it after 4 years? 04:20 Outro & what’s coming next After 4 years, I stayed for the small daily freedoms - safety, work-life balance, and the people I found here. It’s not perfect, but with the right planning, it can be a great place to build a life. I’m Ashwini and this is Namkeen Traveller ❤️ Subscribe for honest vlogs and real experiences from the Netherlands. 💬 COMMENT & CONNECT What is your biggest worry about moving to the Netherlands? I’ll answer the most common questions in my next video. 📌 Watch more Netherlands videos on my channel! 📸 Instagram: @namkeentraveller 📩 Business enquiries: [email protected] #lifeinnetherlands #indianinnetherlands #namkeentraveller #netherlandsvlog