The Netherlands feels familiar to people because so many people speak English, and there are a lot of things from American culture that come from Dutch culture – Jana

The real question that everyone needs to ask themselves is, what do you want your life to look like? What kind of a country do you want to live in, and what kind of a country do you want your kids to live in? – Bethany

Useful Resources

• The We're Moving to Europe Membership Community: Practical Support and Guidance for Planning your Move from the US to Europe
• We’re Moving to Europe Free Substack
• Jana's Resource Facebook
• GTFO Tours
• Netherlands Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND)
• Funda (house hunting platform)

Production Team
Host and Researcher: Casey Kelly-Barton – We’re Moving to Europe

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas – Unscripted Creatives

[0:03] Introduction to the We’re Moving to Europe Community
[1:47] Welcome to the Episode
[2:18] Meet Bethany and Jana of GTFO Tours
[2:40] Their Backgrounds and How They Met
[3:52] Why They Chose to Move to the Netherlands
[4:52] Starting GTFO Tours and What It Offers
[6:20] Early Success and Tour Launch
[6:38] Why Americans Are Attracted to the Netherlands
[7:37] What Is the DAFT Visa and How It Works
[10:27] Income, Freelancing, and Family Considerations
[12:13] Entrepreneur Visas vs. DAFT
[14:06] Dual Strategy for Spouses and Work Options
[15:09] The Housing Challenge in the Netherlands
[16:32] Schooling, Taxes, and Administrative Hurdles
[17:54] 30% Tax Ruling and Planning Ahead
[18:56] The Bureaucracy of Moving and Starting Over
[19:25] Keeping US Jobs and Managing Time Zones
[21:08] The Reality of the Dutch Housing Market
[22:56] Misconceptions About Rent and Pitching Yourself
[23:44] Budgeting and the Role of a Makelaar
[25:07] How Bethany Found Her Apartment
[26:02] Alternatives to Living in Amsterdam
[27:35] Picking Cities Based on Lifestyle and Needs
[28:53] The Housing Crisis vs. the US Context
[30:15] Reasonable Timelines for Moving
[31:57] How Complexity Affects Your Timeline
[33:07] Downsizing and the Cost of Moving Furniture
[34:12] Don't Wait Too Long to Move
[35:24] Life Vision and Family Considerations
[36:01] Debt, Financial Mindsets, and Cultural Differences
[37:23] Building Community in the Netherlands
[38:02] How to Make Connections as an Expat
[40:24] Surprising Benefits of Living in the Netherlands
[41:51] Bethany on Dating and Emotional Balance
[42:58] Closing Remarks and Where to Find More Info
[43:34] Outro and Credits

Sound Library
All the music was composed especially for the We’re Moving to Europe podcast by Sage Barton. Copyright 2025, Sage Barton.