It's Christmas time again! It is the most wonderful time of the year! 

OR NOT! Depending on where you are and your state of mind, this season often comes with a lot of woes as we are not yet out of this pandemic tunnel. We've been in this Pandemic for two years already and honestly, it is getting kind of exhausting.  

This season has not been so great for me because the Netherlands is on strict lockdown until next year due to the Omnicron variant. We had our very own scare when the whole family went down with seasonal flu for a week, right after Thanksgiving.

But regardless of the pandemic, celebrations are very much welcomed. Along with the winter blues and the days are getting shorter, Christmas is this one day where you get to be merry and stuff yourself with a lot of food and drinks. This is the time to relax and forget all about our worries and anxieties.

From our family (the Team Perez!) to yours, we wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Stay safe and healthy!

It's Thanksgiving week once more. I can't believe this year had gone so fast (as usual). 2021 may be a bit mild in comparison to the rollercoaster ride we had in the pandemic last 2020. Yet, we are still inside this Pandemic tunnel, trying hard to go to the light at the other side. 

Thanksgiving has been a yearly tradition of mine. It is the time for me to pause and reflect about my year. Life will always be hard and it is easy to focus on what is lacking in life. Despite all that, I chose to focus more on what I have and be grateful for the things that was given. I am in the process of being content with the life I am now in, instead of being stressed out thinking about the future. 

Here are three things I am thankful for this 2021:

1. I am thankful for a complete and healthy family

Our family has experienced so much here in Europe. We are grateful that we are together in a different country aside from the Philippines. We are in a country where we get to have new experiences and enjoy what the western side of the world has to offer.

2. I am thankful for experiencing camping outdoors.

I've never been the outdoorsy person. I like my vacations to be in comfort and my idea is kind of touristy. Nature camping is a thing here in the Netherlands. Despite the pandemic, we were able to enjoy the outdoors within the Netherlands through camping. You can actually go nature camping across Europe, which is amazing. So amazing that it is now in my travel bucket list.

3. I am thankful we were able to buy our house in Netherlands.

Despite the world pandemic and crazy housing market in the Netherlands, we are grateful for the opportunity to save up and afford to buy a house. One good thing that came out from the pandemic is that we were able to save up more money by spending less on things that are not essential. We had hell of an experience with viewings and getting our mortgage approved. Yet here we are, grateful that we are able to buy our own house. 

Your turn! What are you grateful for this 2021? Share it in the comments below!

Summer is slowly slipping away as the cool breeze of Autumn air touches our face. We breathe in and exhale as we look forward to the end of the pandemic tunnel. The cold season has officially started, yet we  are hopeful that everything is starting to go back to normal.

In the Netherlands, all covid restrictions have been lifted, provided that you have proof of vaccination. We are clearly moving towards going back to normal. But we are all aware that the new “normal” will feel different. We may not experience the same things that we enjoy pre-pandemic time.

The pandemic have brought some good things to us. We have prioritised only the things that make us happy, less instant gratification and more of long term happiness. We were forced to save more during this year long pandemic due to limitations and restrictions. A lot of restrictions have been an opportunity for us to reevaluate our priorities. 

From our side, the past three months are a rollercoaster of emotions. We were trying to buy our first home in the middle of a pandemic. Risky, but it was the right time for us. The government have implemented laws to waive property transfer taxes in favour for younger people/families to be able to afford a starter house. Everything fell into place as our savings were now enough for us to afford our first house in the Netherlands.

Despite this opportunity, it has been a struggle as the housing market is crazier. There is a lot of demand and very scarce supply of homes. A lot of people have taken this chance to make profit. After a lot of endless viewings and rejections, with a stroke of luck, our bid offer for a house was accepted.

I feel like after the house purchase, we are slowly integrating and getting acclimated in the Netherlands. We are now starting our lives and looking forward for the future. We have firmly planted our base and nurturing our family to grow and thrive. 

Busy times in this colder season, I am hopeful that I can get more motivation in the succeeding months of 2021. Anxiety and writer’s block will soon dissipate from my mind, and a clearer picture for what the future lies will soon form. 2021 is almost over, we are trying to savour the few remaining months, making more memories.

What are your thoughts on “post-pandemic” normal now that everything is opening up?

Summer.

It is the most anticipated season of the year. School is out and so is the sun. Summertime is usually where people have big plans and go on long vacation. Since Daxton is going to school now, we can only have a long vacation during the summer as well.

Everything is slowly opening up now that most people are getting their vaccine shots. We initially planned to go roadtrip/camping around Europe, visiting Switzerland in the summer. Camping is a safe choice for a vacation since you will be out in nature and you’ll interact with less people.

We visited Decathlon and shopped for camping essentials. We bought our cooking and sleeping gears, keeping it to the bare essentials. But before we plan our weeklong roadtrip to Switzerland, we must first test out our camping gear nearby, just to make sure we are making the right decision.

Armed with our newly bought gear from Decathlon NL, we headed to Kemphaan for a weekend camping trip.

Natuurcamping de Kemphaan

 It is a simple campsite with complete facilities nestled in Stadslandgoed de Kemphaan. It is open for leisure campers as well as seasonal campers. Among all the campsites in Almere, Natuurcamping de Kemphaan is the the most affordable for less than €30/night.

We wanted to give camping a try first before we book a weeklong camping somewhere far. That is why I decided to book a campsite near Almere. Since it is our first time out, we settled on somewhere near. In case we forgot something, we can easily drive back home to get it and make a note for next time.

The campsite has different accommodation options like pitching a tent, place for a campervan and small lodges. We rented a place where we can pitch a tent but has access to electricity just like what the campervans use.

The toilet and shower facilities are clean and good. There are almost 8 toilets and separate shower areas for men and women. The reception will provide you shower coins that you can use for hot water in the shower. They also have sinks for washing hands and washing dishes which has hot water as well. They also provide the soaps for the sinks that anyone can use. There are chemical toilet disposal for campervans and an option for washing and drying clothes for seasonal campers.

What is nice, during the weekend, a food truck comes in that sells typical Dutch snacks like sausages, sandwiches and fries. There is a Saturday food market beside the campsite where you can buy produce and meat from small businesses around Almere. 

Overall, our stay was quite pleasant. We were allowed to pitch tent facing the playground. Daxton liked it because he can just run outside and play with the other kids. One good thing also is that the grass is well maintained. I have not seen any poop on the grass from the pets. The toilets and shower were always clean, which made camping outdoors comfortable. It is a very quiet and tranquil place to camp.

Here is a video of what went down during our camping weekend at Natuur Camping de Kemphaan:

I think we will push through our weeklong camping trip. I bet it’ll be fun and we’ll have crazy stories. 

What are your plans this Summer?

Let me know in the comments below!

Toddlerhood is another challenging phase for most parents. These kids have so much energy and their brain are like sponges that will soak up any information they see/hear/do. It is important to choose wisely the activities we introduce in their routines for it will slowly form their character and personality. 

Exhausted parents (either working or staying at home) have been constantly looking for ways to entertain their toddlers. There are a lot of things a parent can do but there are places where you can bring your toddler to expel those bursts of energy and learn at the same time.

We are living in Almere, yet most of the information I gathered are from Amsterdam. If you are a parent  in Almere, I got you covered with toddler activities. Here are the list of organizations/groups where you can go.

For Babies (up until 2.5yo):

HETJKC in Almere Poort

They were a newly opened organization in Poort and the closest in our area. They do weekend sessions and more of a parent and kid activity. Classes are in Dutch, but sometimes they translates in English for families who doesn’t understand any Dutch yet. They were very friendly and my son enjoyed his time there. We continued going there until my son was accepted to peuterspeelzaal/voorschool.

They are 13 lessons for $135, sessions are for 1 hour on Saturdays. More information can be found on their website.

ABCDE Playgroup

They are the playgroup that is more established in Almere, yet can only accomodate few children due to location restrictions. This is also more of a parent-kid playgroup. The group was very warm and friendly. This is where I met a fellow Filipina! They have a routine which is in Dutch, which is perfect if you are trying to learn the language.

They have their lessons for 3 hours/session for $3 per session. They also have a stripcard 10 sessions for $25. You get a cup of coffee and you have to bring a fruit every session to share with other children.You can message them directly via their Facebook page.

English Playgroup in Literaturwijk (Buurtcentrum Het Boegbeeld)

Same concept as ABCDE with an English approach. They were quite new when we joined, and had stopped coming when Daxton went to peuterspeelzaal. It was arranged by mamas in the buurt, and with an inloop approach. It was $0.50 cent per session every Thursday morning. 

De NieuweBibliotheek (Library) activities

To fill in activities for the week, I check the agenda of the public library in Almere. They have several activities lined up for children. What we usually go to were the English readings (both in Poort and Stad library). You can check the activities in their website.

For Peuters/Toddlers (from 2.5yo and older)

Aside from the activities above, we also went to several places whenever there are ongoing activities. When Daxton turned 2, we enlisted him for peuterspeelzaal. Since peuterspeelzaal starts at 2.5yo, we attended the following activities below.

De Schoor (Droomspeelbus. Ouder en Kind Loop, etc..)

De Schoor is an organization helping the youth in the neighborhood get aquatinted with after school activities. It was beneficial to both parents and kids because mischief in the neighborhood is prevented because children have activities they can look forward to. You can check their ongoing activities all over Almere in their website. 

Peutervoetball Poort

In Almere, Arno Splinter Peutervoetball is the organization that handles football activities for tiny children. Football is a big sport in Europe, and there are a lot of clubs and organization that one can join in. However, the youngest that one can join is around 7-8 years old. 

With Arno Splinter Voetball, your kid can start as young as 3 years old. Their classes help children get used to the training routine, and help develop their motor skills as well. You can get more information on  their website.

Dance Studios / Theater Classes

For the creative children, there are dance classes and theater classes available. There are four dance studios in Almere Poort that I am aware of namely: 

- United Dance Almere

- Dansstudio Roxanne

- Amy’s Dans Studio

- Kid Dance Academy

I am not the most creative mom, so I have not signed my son yet to their classes. Once I see an interest, then I can let him give a try.

If speaking in Dutch is a bit daunting for you and you want a more expat-friendly (aka english speaking) activities, I have compiled some groups/activities here from Amsterdam, if travelling is not an issue:

Jacaranda Montessori School

Jacaranda Montessori School is quite famous in Amsterdam for its Montessori teaching methods. Their waiting list is quite long so you need to register as early as you can. Do not fret because with a bit of patience, you can get a spot. This is a more parent and child montessori activities. The center is quite pretty and interactive. 

They have different classes for different age groups. One Term is around $293 for 13 weeks with 1-1.5hr class. You can head to their website for more info on rates and schedules.

I was quite anxious to get a spot back then. Good thing I was able to have the chance to try a session and enjoyed it a lot. It was unfortunate that the school is a bit far from our house and travel via public transpo (as parking spaces as well) is a bit of a stretch for me with the Netherlands weather. While waiting for a spot, you can buy Simone’s book as starters to orient oneself with Montessori methods.

Friends call me Jim

This is similar to MyLittleGym as it is more on enhancing Gross Motor skills for your child. We went to their open day to experience the center and a bit of activities. Their center is a bit small but boasts nice furniture to help enhance gross motor skills. 

One term is around $200 with 10 sessions and 45mins per session. Again, this is too far logistic wise for us.

Those are two of the classes we tried in Amsterdam. There were a lot more activities in Amsterdam that are English based. Below are some that I have found in the internet (check their website for more information):

- Toddler Sensory 

- Little Van Gogh

- Monkey Moves

- Little Star Fitness

- Muziek op Schoot

- Kids ArtLab

- My Little Gym

Our first year in the Netherlands, I had that fascination with Amsterdam. So I joined the Amsterdam Mamas group to get to know the everyday life (and struggles) of families here in the Netherlands. As the group implied, it was more on Amsterdam activities and there were several subgroup for different areas (Almere, Hoofddorp, Haarlem, etc…)

Amsterdam was not that far from Almere. It is only a 30 min train ride and 20 min drive. The only thing that turned me off was traveling by public transportation under Dutch weather conditions. The Dutch weather is pretty famous, and known to have the same mood as a hormonal woman (I hope I get my metaphor right). 

After my son started in peuterspeelzaal, we stopped doing more activities for him and traveling to Amsterdam for it. I was more inclined to do activities that are within our neighborhood. Also, I observed that children here are not pressured to do more aside from playing. In our Asian culture, children are molded early to learn the basics like reading and writing. 

What activities does your kid enjoy? How do you manage a toddler’s energy? 

Let me know in the comments below! (and help out an exhausted Mama!)

Spring is highly anticipated for its warm hugs of sunshine and warmth. The Netherlands is known for its crazy weather and paired with climate change, we experienced the most bizarre weather combination this Spring. However, no one is stopping the people to welcome the Cherry Blossoms and Tulip season.

The first week of Spring, we were greeted with summer-high temperatures, which brought joy to everyone. It was 20 degrees Celcius, still a bit cool for summer, but warm enough to break the winter hibernation. Then the second week came, we were surprised with hale, snow, sun, and crazy wind. Temperatures were so erratic that every 5 minutes, the weather changed. We were still in lockdown, yet everyone is itching to get their dose of Vitamin D from the glimpse of the sun.

SAKURA (CHERRY BLOSSOMS)

The first two weeks of Spring is when the Sakura aka Cherry Blossoms shows their beauty by filling the parks with a pinkish blanket of flowers. I have found three locations where we can appreciate its beauty.

Amsterdamse Bos, Amsterdam 

Regenboogbuurt, Almere Buiten

This neighborhood has impressive pathways of Cherry Blossoms which is the perfect Instagrammable spot. There are about three streets that are lined up with Sakura, it is enough for everyone to have their photos taken without interference. 

Muziekwijk Station, Almere Stad

This spot is easily accessible to anyone for it is near a train station. They have a park nearby where you can have a picnic, and lay down surrounded by sakura petals falling down (which we did and it was bliss!). 

We visited the two Almere locations during the first week of April because it was the nearest. We were able to appreciate the beauty of  Cherry Blossoms for the first time, here in the Netherlands. It is a brief experience of the erratic weather that took over the next week. Boy, we are glad we got to see them anyway.

TULIP FIELDS OF THE NETHERLANDS 

Tulips have been a signature piece in Dutch culture. The Dutchies love their tulips. Last year, we weren’t able to see the tulip fields (duh, corona pandemic crisis!). This year, measures have eased a bit so we were able to see the fields. 

The tulips bloom from the end of March till the first week of May. But the erratic changes in temperature, made the tulips bloom late this year. The tulips were appreciated until the second week of May. Here are the routes we took to check them tulip fields:

Tulpenroute Flevoland

It is the biggest tulip field in the Netherlands. The fields stretch for almost 100km. Almost the whole Flevoland is blanketed with tulips when this season comes. We were lucky for these tulip fields were accessible to us, by car and by bike. 

Due to the sudden snow/temperature drop, most tulips were harvested and most of them were not yet in bloom. We visited three locations in Flevoland (and even got stuck for two hours in traffic!) just to appreciate these fields. You can check out the routes at Tulpenroute Flevoland site for car and biking routes around Zeewolde, Dronten, and Emmelord.

I also stay tuned in Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups in Almere in case people post locations and exact addresses of the tulip fields they found. The community in Almere is very nice for people are sharing their experiences with fellow neighbors.

Lisse- Keukenhof Tulip route

This is the famous tulip route for it is where the Keukenhof Gardens are located. It is also the area where most of the tulip farms can be seen.  

We chose not to visit the Keukenhof Gardens this season because of the Corona rules situation. The garden was open in a trial state, where you need to get tested before you can enter. Also, limited people can visit with adherence to a time slot to ensure no more than 50 people are inside at the same time. 

We chose to drive along the Lisse-Hillegom area and check out the fields. We weren’t able to appreciate the up-close (most of the fields were privately owned, so it is off-limits). Nevertheless, it was really pretty. Because the weather was good when we visited, we saw a lot of people biking and wandering the fields. 

ANWB Bollenstreekroute

The route we followed was from the ANWB site which shows the tulip fields around the area of Lisse-Hillegom-Noordwijkhout. There were several farms that were open to the public like the TulipBarn, Tuliperij, and the Tulip Amsterdam Experience. 

A nice discovery for us was the Tulpen Island in Zeewolde. It was a nice Tulip-shaped reclaimed island near the Zeewolde harbor where they have a nice quaint tulip field and a place where you can wander off. 

Spring is really nice in the Netherlands. You get to see the country bloom to life in different colors. It was so uplifting that I decided to fill our house with flowers the whole spring just for the euphoria to stay. I never imagined that flowers blooming, colorful ones will put me in this brief happier state despite the corona situation. It symbolizes that life does turn around and bloom, it just takes time and stamina to endure harsh conditions. 

How did you enjoy Springtime in your place?

When we moved here, we were already on the hunt for a rental home. Buying a home was not in our mind yet for we know that it’ll cost a lot for expats, just like in Singapore.

In Singapore, we lived in a 4bedroom HDB shared with fellow Filipinos and it saved us more bucks. Here in the Netherlands, I haven’t encountered the same scenario (except for the unregistered cases). People tend to flock in Randstads where housing is a tough market and prices rise rapidly. While in the country side and suburbia, the prices are lower but the struggle of language barrier is real unless you learn Dutch quick.

I have made a checklist on how to go about finding your rental home in the Netherlands. All information here are based on my own research, aiding you in making these tough decisions.

1. Secure a temporary shelter for at least a month, if you are relocating.

The housing market in the Netherlands can be rough. It will take a lot of time and effort before you can finally settle and decide for a rental. It is hard go secure a rental property, without actually viewing the place. It’ll be best to have temporary shelter while trying to look for rental units. Aside from the housing market being tough, there are a lot of shady people taking advantage of this. 

2. Funda and Pararius is the best way to scout the areas for cost comparison

Funda and Pararius are reputable sites for listing houses for sale and rent. It has a combination of houses from private people, makelaars, and housing corporations. These sites will be your reference point to aid in your decision as to where to live within that is within your budget and how big of a space you want.

3. Social Housing

If you don’t have much of a budget, Social Housing is the way to go. They have HOUSES for rent for as low as 700, depending on your status. You can even claim housing allowance from the government depending on your income. If you are single and without a child, on a limited budget, you can start with Social Housing. 

You can find social housing rentals on kamernet, woningnet and other sites. You can find social housing recomendations on the gemente website as well.

4. Big Agencies  

There are big real estate agencies with property management departments. Sites like Vesteda, Ikwilhuren and HollandtoStay are some of the sites I chanced upon  while looking for a rental. These big agencies usually have longer wait list and you really have to be persistent to get someone to respond. The advantage is that they have more listings in different cities.

5. Area Specific Makelaars

I have noticed that area specific makelaars have more affordable listings as compared to random makelaars you can find on google. These makelaars have advantage to the location and have more listings. They are also constantly up to date on listings. 

6. Third party agencies for expats

There are organizations (and makelaars) that cater specifically to expats (or people with no knowledge of Dutch culture/language). They usually charge higher and a bit expensive. For first timers, this is the convenient way to go but be warned that will cost more. They know the system (in Dutch) and have knowledge how to go around. Some charge a month’s worth of deposit for theior service, while others uosell the listings they have with partnered makelaars. 

The relocation team hired by my husband’s company helped us, but their housing choices were out of our budget. In the end, we went with LV Housing. They responded fast with a decent listings in the places we were considering to rent.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

We came from a third world country, and living small have been our motto. But when we came here in the Netherlands, we were shocked on how expensive to find a rental accommodation here. Initially, we budgeted for a studio/1bedroom apartment to rent, but we were greeted with a big NO, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Housing regulations here in the Netherlands are strict, especially for families. Rentals for families, we were advised to add one room for our kid (even though he’s still small). So we fell on the bracket of more expensive housing (minimum 2 bedroom). It ate most of our budget, not to include the two months deposit  requirement. Also, room sharing for different families were not a norm here. The housing regulations here are strict. They say it protects more of the tenants rather than the landlords, but still, the market is insane!

How did you find housing in your area?