Move to Canada or Netherlands?

Posted by Curious_Carrot_inCC@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 31 comments

Hi , I am 30F, single and currently living in the USA and need to pick between Canada or USA to relocate to working for the same company I am currently with. I am having hard time deciding between. My company intends to bring me back to the USA after 1-2years.

Here are the Pros and Cons of both options

Netherlands - Pros:

-Better Career progression as I will be working in a different team there that gives me more exposure to Europe business and help me grow when I move back.

- Ease of travel to nearby countries and better work life balance

-Possible promotion at the end of my term there

Netherlands- Cons

- I am single and Asian, prospects of meeting someone there is close to zero meaning a halt in personal life/plans to meet long term partner.

- Have to learn a new language, culture and whole lot to adjust

- Involves heavy logistics planning about car and stuff

Canada Pros :

- Chances of meeting someone for long term are high.

- Easy to take Car and other stuff from USA to Canada

- Not a whole lot of learning a new country as most of the things are similar from USA/Canada.

Canada Cons:

- Possible slow growth in career

- Harsh winters

Pay is almost similar for Canadian and Netherlands for my planned living standard. So, didn't mention much about it.

I would like to know your perspective on how would you decide from all in general but more in specific from people who had to make such decisions in the stage I'm in.

[-]

CuriousLands@reddit

Well, personally I think the similarities between Canada and the US are overstated. I'm from Canada and have travelled in the US a little; I also travelled to Australia a few times and eventually moved here.

I actually felt more culture shock in the US than I did in Australia, and that's especially funny given that I'm from Alberta and the first place I went was Texas, and I grew up hearing that Alberta was the Texas of Canada. I disagree, lol. I liked Texas, but I thought the level of similarity was mostly superficial (eg oil and cowboys) and wasn't as high as I had been led to believe.

I had culture shock and needed adjustment in both the US and Australia, despite them both being relatively similar to Canada. So imo you probably should expect to need to adjust a bit even if you go to Canada.

I think the language thing would be tricky in Netherlands; being there for 1-2 years would be tough if you don't speak any Dutch. That said, I've heard Dutch is fairly easy to pick up for English speakers. My mom is Dutch and even as a kid, I would overhear her and my Oma talking in Dutch and be able to get the gist of what they were saying sometimes, lol, even though nobody actively taught me Dutch.

I wouldn't factor in maybe meeting someone. That's the kind of thing that either happens or it doesn't. And if it does, then you have to consider whether one of you would be alright moving permanently.

If you're only going for 1-2 years, you can always put some stuff in storage with family or friends. It's not that hard to bring a few things with you overseas.

I think it comes down to how much you value that career progression, and which one makes you feel more excited to go, like your gut feeling. Those are the things I'd focus on.

[-]

Magic_Snowball@reddit

Like what?

[-]

CuriousLands@reddit

Hm? What do you mean?

[-]

Magic_Snowball@reddit

Like what are the cultural differences between the US and Canada lol

The-American-Abroad@reddit

Netherlands has a not insignificant amount of Asian people (specifically Indonesians) and just foreigners in general, FYI. I wouldn’t rule out meeting people there.

SnuffleWarrior@reddit

Norway has easier winters than Canada? Where's the relocation to? Inuvik?

SeanBourne@reddit

Where does OP mention Norway?

itsthekumar@reddit

Netherlands for adventure. Canada to settle moreso.

SixShoot3r@reddit

As a dutchy, I'd def. choose canada for both. not much adventuring here, small country and all that, not much wild nature.

Maybe but there's still the rest of Europe to see.

And a lot of Canada is similar to the US.

slack3d@reddit

As someone that lives in Canada, I say go to the Netherlands.

Canada will not give you a memorable life experience (because of its similarities to the US).

Also, cost of living here is ridiculous, traveling in Canada is extremely expensive (so you get locked).

partly true, but we (Netherlands) have a severe housing crisis now. and houses are very expensive!

As a dutch guy, with loads of friends who think the same; we dont mind dating someone who's asian.

Housing here is a issue tho.

patty_victor@reddit

You don’t need a car in the NL unless you live in the countryside. Public transit is good.

Why would t you be able to meet someone in the NL?

realmozzarella22@reddit

The time period is short. I would pick Netherlands. There may slightly more cultural differences but that’s the good part.

You can also visit other European countries if you get adequate time off.

I like Canada too. But that’s closer to the U.S. I’m assuming that you will be back in the U.S. You can visit/work Canada after the Netherlands stint.

wendyclaire@reddit

The Netherlands is the winner!!!!!

AlwaysBreatheAir@reddit

NL, if you can find housing (lmao)

Practical-Fig-27@reddit

I would say the Netherlands if and only if your employer is going to find you an apartment. Because they're just aren't any houses. And I don't mean there's no houses even if you have money, I mean there's just no houses at all. People that have plenty of money or still having trouble renting a place and with the seller's market in the Netherlands the way it is right now nobody is going to rent to you site unseen from across the world.

If you want to be able to just pick up and go with your new job as soon as you get there, Canada is going to be a lot easier. They're not really that much different from the United States, for all intents and purposes.

It's going to be safer in Canada but it's also not going to give you that much of a new experience. You are still young so if you have the opportunity to go to europe, I would do that because you might never get that chance again. But, you have to have some kind of guarantee from your employer that they're going to get you set up.

EfficientBonus9324@reddit

The Netherlands, for sure.

English is widely spoken, don't worry.

Far more interesting to live in.

Convenient for short trips to explore the rest of Europe.

The cities in the Netherlands are far more cosmopolitan than you think.

Fabulous_Cicada_4219@reddit

Stay where you are, you'll have a hard time fitting in and making meaningful connections wherever you move.

Jwoot1111@reddit

Get to Europe.

romance_and_puzzles@reddit

As someone who has lived in both and is married to an Asian person: if you want to date it is so much easier in Canada. You will be viewed much more as an outsider in the Netherlands.

eventuallyfluent@reddit

Netherlands

TBHICouldComplain@reddit

There’s a serious housing shortage in the Netherlands. Will your company be providing housing?

tekensal@reddit

The Netherlands gas also a housing shortage and high rental and living expenses at the moment. Though English can get you by, it won't grow your network. Expats commonly complain about loneliness and alienation in the country for not speaking the language and difficulties to make connections with the locals. Although there's several expat groups, some larger than others depending where in the Netherlands one is located, people often complains of difficulties of establishing long term relationships (whether friends or partners) and meeting like-minded people. Last but not least, people often complains of weather (mainly rainy and cloudy), bad food, and unadaptability due to cultural shocks. Pushing family plans is indeed another commonly referred problem amongst expats. Though experiences vary from person to person, these are very common and frequently mentioned complaints amongst expats leaving or willing to leave the Netherlands.

Megane-hime@reddit

Why would moving to the Netherlands prevent you from meeting someone? Language is not generally a problem, you'll likely be in an area with lots of expats, Dutch people tend to speak English well. Communicate with the person you meet about what your plans for the future are.

And sometimes things work out differently from what you expect. My US husband came to the Netherlands "for 6 months" in 2015, we are now married and recently had our first child.

3DGuy4ever@reddit

Lol...English is their official language now

Sufficient-Job7098@reddit

Pick Netherlands

Language:

You will be moving for 1-2 years. Normally I am huge advocate for learning local languages but since your position is only 1-2 years, you don’t have to stress as much about language as if you were to stay permanently. Sure make some effort to learn some phrases but don’t stress about having to achieve any meaningful fluency.

Dating:

I believe you are overly optimistic about your chances of developing long lasting relationship as a temporary visitor in Canada. I believe in both countries this will be almost equally unlikely. And even if you do find someone this opens a whole new can of problems for both you and your partner.

No_Belt_7316@reddit

Cost of living in Canada is astronomical: rentals are often low quality and cost an insane amount of money, groceries are ridiculously expensive, and salaries do not catch up to them. Netherlands will be a better life experience in general, I think. I moved to Canada from Eastern Europe and if I were you, I would take the chance to go the Netherlands instead.

Sea-Ad9057@reddit

the netherlands has public transport so a car is not really necessary unless your job requires driving and if that is the case they might provide you with a car

for both countries is your company providing you with housing until you find your own place

8thbaron@reddit

You did not mention if you want kids in the near future so I assume that is not a factor.

I'd pick the Netherlands. Pausing your personal life for 1-2 years isn't that significant. Plus you might meet other ppl there.

Better experience and potential promotion after 1-2 years is another way of fast tracking your career no?