Here in Holland

It has been a very very very long time since I posted anything. But I still see people listening to the back catalogue  - so should I start with with some new stuff? If you think so let me know hereinholland@gmail.com - I am intrigued.  Talking of intrige - one of the things I have been working on in the last few years is a True Crime podcast Codname Badger  - that's the logo here - here&apos...

We live in crazy times - the Corona virus has got us all under its malevolent spell. In this edition I talk to psychologist Vassia Sarantopoulou about tips on keeping sane during this time of fear and social distancing. Vassia is the woman behind Antiloneliness.com There are lots of tips in the podcast and here are some links Vassia wanted to share too. Washington Post tips for couples Tips from a...

I've been working on a new idea - a podcast all about dog stories. Having recently become a dog owner for the first time it struck me how many stories people start telling you when you are out with your pooch. So, let's do it, I thought, and here is the first ever Shaggy Dog Stories podcast.  Please share with anyone you think will like it and if you have a dog story you would like to sh...

This a collection of funny stories recorded at the Feel at Home Fair in The Hague. Internationals from around the world share their thoughts on the wonderfully weird world that is The Netherlands. The fair was organised by The Hague Online in February 2020. Thanks to Billy and the team for letting me roam free with my microphone. At the end of the podcast there is a bonus story from a pilot projec...

In this episode I'm joined by author Ben Coates . Ben is a Brit and he's been in The Netherlands for about ten years - he previously wrote a book about his experiences here "Why the Dutch are Different" and he featured in an earlier podcast talking about that. This time he talks about his new book - The Rhine . The book starts in The Netherlands and follows the river Rhine all...

What to do when things get tough and you start getting into a negative spiral…we all feel down at times but what to do to stop this getting out of control?  And how can we develop habits that will keep us happy and in balance? Internationals can often feel disoriented so how best to organize your life to be happy and fulfilled. I’m joined by Psychologist Bjarne Timonen who has written a book – the...

What's it like being an international mum in The Netherlands? And what's it like as a woman here when trying to combine a career and a family. My guest in the podcast is Steliana van de Rijt-Economu she's originally from Romania and has been bringing up her kids in The Netherlands for the last four years. She is also an Organisational Development Consultant and executive coach. And...

There's a famous quote about Dutch politics which says: "if  Dutch politics ever gets interesting then something has gone terribly wrong." This is nonsense. Dutch politics is fascinating. This time in the podcast I'm joined by historian and Dutch politics expert and insider Pieter Gerrit Kroeger. We talk about what's hot now in Dutch politics, how the system works, what th...

More than 50% of internationals in the Netherlands have mental health issues according to new research from Healthcare for Internationals, a non-profit focused on improving healthcare for internationals in the Netherlands. These are initial findings and more will follow - but it's an alarming rate. Internationals are suffering anxiety, loneliness and depression. In this episode I talk to psyc...

This time an interview with Marjan Minnesma the director of Urgenda . The organization achieved international fame after taking the Dutch government to court and winning. The first case in 2015 was a landmark ruling with the court saying the government had a duty of care to tackle climate change an take it seriously. A reduction of 25% CO2 emissions by 2020 was the minimum requirement the court ru...

This time a story I made when I was working at Radio Netherlands in 1998 - it's a documentary I made about running the Rotterdam Marathon. The music is a bit over the top - but what the hell. I thought I would share here as more than 20 years on I have dusted off my running shoes. If you want to share a story with Here in Holland you can record it via the Whats App number 06 124 28 387 - or s...

Recorded at the Feel at Home Fair 2019 in the Hague this edition of the podcast has internationals rating their lives in the Netherlands out of 10. There's lots of sharing of funny stories and experiences too. If you want to share a story with Here in Holland you can record it via the Whats App number 06 124 28 387 - or see the links below to get in touch.  The Feel at Home Fair is organised...

This time in the Here in Holland podcast – how to become a Dutch citizen. I sit down with immigration lawyer and Dutch citizenship expert Hermie de Voer and get the inside info on what it takes for internationals to get Dutch nationality.  And we talk about the possibilities of having dual nationality too. If you like Here in Holland why not become a patron? For a small monthly contribution you’ll...

I’ve decided it’s time for a campaign to get the best Dutch proverbs and expressions translated literally into English and accepted in every day use.  There are so many brilliant Dutch expressions and it is a crying shame they are not given the spotlight on the world stage they so richly deserve. Nu komt de aap uit de mouw - now the monkey comes out of the sleeve is my favourite but there are load...

We live in a selfish world and at the end of the year self-indulgence can switch into overdrive what with Christmas hols and New Year festivities. Looking for a bit more out of life? This is the podcast you've been waiting for. Find out how by helping others you can help yourself. An interview with Brigitte Vonck from Serve the City Amsterdam If you like Here in Holland why not become a patro...

Brexit is fast approaching – what does it mean for the tens of thousands of Brits in the Netherlands?  The truth is that it is chaos. In the podcast this time an interview with Sarah Parkes and Tricia Tarrant from the British in the Netherlands group. Facebook page The group is part of British in Europe   Also featured is British businessman Stephen Huyton from Thermopatch International . For info...

Lots of funny stories about mishaps and misunderstandings in the podcast this time. The stories were recorded at the Expatica Fair in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam.  If you like Here in Holland why not become a patron? For a small monthly contribution you’ll be supporting the show and with more patrons then I'll have the chance to make more shows and try new stuff. Become a patron today...

This time, why don’t internationals here in the Netherlands trust Dutch healthcare? Surveys show only 30% of internationals trust Dutch doctors. It’s a staggering figure…and this lack of trust can lead to some random decision making with people going go abroad for healthcare and even quitting the Netherlands altogether. And all this while the Dutch have one of the most advanced medical systems in...

Moving to the Netherlands with a family can be tough at the best of times, but what if you have two autistic sons and your partner is dying of cancer? For journalist Gordon Darroch this nightmare scenario was a bitter reality. And now he has written a wonderfully moving and intimate book about being faced with the hammer blow that brought life as he knew it crashing down around him. All The Time W...

To end the second season some favourite stories form the podcast so far. I'll be back in September with season3. Thanks for all your support. If you like Here in Holland why not become a patron? For a small monthly contribution you’ll be supporting the show and with more patrons then I'll have the chance to make more shows and try new stuff. Become a patron today Links: Here in Holland e...

This time I’m talking to someone who has just been in the Netherlands for a few months. He’s Steven Morgan - by day, mild mannered IT guy, by night and weekend – stand-up comic, musician, writer and actor. We talk about his expectations of the Netherlands – his comedy and what it’s like doing stand-up for an international audience and about some of the funny scrapes he’s been in since arriving in...

As we know there are lots of internationals in the Netherlands and they get up to some truly remarkable thing. This time in the podcast the challenge of producing a major musical on shoestring budget, with a severely limited rehearsal time and an amateur cast from around the world. Will it be alright on the night? In Players Amsterdam Keep listening to find out what it takes to make all of this ha...

Thaeer Muhreez is a Syrian filmmaker. I worked with Thaeer at Radio Netherlands Worldwide – the first part of this podcast was recorded two years ago whilst we were colleagues. I recently listened back to the recording and thought it would be fitting to share the story here and I also wanted to meet with Thaeer again and find out what happened to him…and the wife and one-year-old daughter he was f...

The theme of the podcast is 'extraordinary' - recorded at a recent expat fair in Amsterdam the podcast features great stories from internationals from around the world who have come to the Netherlands. Stories of confusion, of battling through the tough times and stories of victory and love conquering all. If you like Here in Holland why not become a patron? For a small monthly contribut...

This time in the podcast Ben Coates the author of Why The Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands. Ben talks about the chance encounter that brought him to the Netherlands and the weird and wonderful experiences he went through get to know his new home. If you like Here in Holland why not become a patron? For a small monthly contribution you’ll be supporting the sho...