Denys Nienaber

Denys Nienaber emigrated to the Netherlands in the beginning of September 2024, together with his wife Yuzelle and their children Cayden en Lyra. Read more about the experiences of Denys.

Denys, why did you emigrate to the Netherlands?
I emigrated to the Netherlands to provide my children with better opportunities and a safer environment to grow up in. Additionally, I wanted to advance my career and experience personal growth. Being in the Netherlands also allows for easier travel across Europe, and I believe it offers a simpler, more stable lifestyle.

Can you tell us something how you do like the Netherlands?
I really like the Netherlands so far, everyone has been incredibly friendly and welcoming. The biggest difference for us has been that everything works efficiently, and everything runs on time. For instance, when you visit government offices, you make appointments in advance, and there’s no need to stand in long queues. In fact, I haven’t waited in any queues since arriving, except at the airport. Another big adjustment has been driving on the right hand side of the road and operating the car from the left side. It can be a bit confusing at first, and there’s a good chance you’ll end up on the wrong side of the road at some point! People here also enjoy walking during lunchtime at work, which is something you rarely see in South Africa. You walk everywhere here, which helps you appreciate your surroundings. Although I miss a good South African braai now and then, the new experiences more than make up for it.

Please tell us something about the projects you are currently working on.
I work as a BI developer at Growteq, and am working on a few different projects every week. It ranges from supporting, maintaining and optimizing SSIS packages, to building Azure functions, to expanding or building data warehouses; everyday is different and I am thoroughly enjoying it here.

Did the process of emigration go smoothly?
The emigration process went smoothly. I received a job offer on the 28th of May, and by the 3rd of September, my family and I had already moved to the Netherlands. I would definitely recommend using an agent in South Africa to help navigate the paperwork and administrative tasks.

Can you explain to the South Africans who are considering to go overseas how you did experience the support from us?
The support I received, and continue to receive, from summit developers has been excellent. They’ve been incredibly helpful, always available to assist and understand that each candidate’s situation is unique. They consider details you may not have thought of yourself. It can feel overwhelming at times, especially during the first two weeks of arriving in the Netherlands, but knowing they’re there to support you makes a big difference.