Bernard Visagie

Hi Bernard, when did you arrive in the Netherlands?
We arrived in September 2021.

How did you experience the first few months in the Netherlands?
It was a bit of sensory overload for us both to be honest, with virtually everything being new. It’s quite a unique experience as an adult starting over with not much of your existing experiences to fall back on. Overall, it was quite an exciting first couple of months that went by, partly in a blur 😊

Does it feel like home?
I don’t think the Netherlands will ever replace South Africa, for that authentic feeling of home for me and my wife, but with every passing year though, the Netherlands is more and more feeling like our home, and of course for our son who was born here, this will be the only home he has ever known.

Do you still live in the same house as in the beginning?
No, we were fortunate enough to purchase a home in 2022.

How was it to learn the language? Was it easier or harder than expected?
Harder than expected, we are slowly moving forward on this front 😊

What do you miss most about South Africa?
Family, friends, and the ease of communication with everyone around you.

What appeals to you most in the Netherlands?
No country is perfect, but in the Netherlands, it feels like we are living in a stable society, where you can see the taxes you pay being invested back into society. It’s also a great place to raise a family in my opinion. When it comes to traveling it’s also an easy starting point for any destination in Europe.