Alex Heyns

Alex Heyns arrived in the Netherlands in May 2025, together with his wife Schumé. Read more about the experiences of Alex.

Alex, why did you emigrate to the Netherlands?
Emigrating to the Netherlands was driven by a mix of push and pull factors. For my wife and me, the biggest push from South Africa was the growing concern around safety. Combined with the struggling economy and ongoing political unrest, we felt it was time for a change. On the pull side, we were craving an adventure and wanted to explore Europe, and living in the Netherlands makes that incredibly easy.

Can you tell us something how you do like the Netherlands?
So far, living in the Netherlands has been nothing short of a pleasure. We settled in a small town called Barneveld. Contrary to the common stereotype we heard in South Africa, that Dutch people can be cold or unfriendly, we’ve only experienced warmth and helpfulness. People have gone out of their way to assist us when we were unsure or lost (which happened quite a bit in the beginning!). As for differences, there are many, but one that stands out is how common self-checkout is in supermarkets. I still catch myself feeling like I need to prove I’m not stealing every time I use one!

Please tell us something about the projects you are currently working on.
I’m currently working as a Software Engineer at BPI Services. My main focus right now is on a product called ID Scan, which is used for identity verification and onboarding.

Did the process of emigration go smoothly?
There’s a fair amount of paperwork involved, but overall, the process wasn’t too bad. From the moment I received the job offer to us arriving in the Netherlands took around two months. We did move very quickly, which definitely added some stress, but it was absolutely worth it.

Can you explain to the South Africans who are considering to go overseas how you did experience the support from us?
Honestly, my wife and I had almost no experience with emigration, and without summit developers, we would have been completely lost. They were professional, efficient, and incredibly friendly throughout. Their support took a lot of the uncertainty out of the process. They guided us step by step, telling us exactly what to do and when to do it, which meant we didn’t have to guess our way through appointments or documents. Their help didn’t stop once we arrived either; they were just as supportive after we landed in the Netherlands.