Relocating to the Netherlands: a teenager’s guide
16-year-old Anoek Groot, wrote about the struggles and highlights she experienced while uprooting herself at the age of 13 to move to the Netherlands with her family. It began as a school project that she has developed into a book: ‘From Rice to Potatoes’, which she will share freely with fellow third culture kids – a term that Anoek identifies with.
Having settled down now in ‘Kijkduin’, and built a life here with family and friends, she wanted to “break down the rigorous process of moving abroad” with her book. And she hopes that it can serve as a “guide to help other expat teens” – something she wished she had when she was preparing to migrate here.
On relocating
Anoek moved to The Hague more than two years ago with her Dutch father, Malaysian-Chinese mother and two younger siblings. She credits her close family bond for emotional support during the challenging first months in a new country. “It does get better” after that she claims.
Having grown up in Malaysia, she counts “Leaving my friends” and adapting to a new education system as the most difficult aspects of the relocation. Though tough at first, she has opened herself up to making new friends, and actually prefers the International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years Programme that she is following here.
Life in the Netherlands
When asked about her life in the Netherlands, she feels “pretty well settled down”. Though she misses some aspects of life in Malaysia – especially the food! – she feels accepted in the Netherlands and love the open-minded people and culture here. She enjoys the freedom that this safe city has afforded her and bikes around like a true Dutch resident.
In her spare time, she enjoys walking her dog in the dunes with friends, plays tennis and is an avid reader. She also trains regularly at 'Het Hofbad' swimming pool for competitive swimming before the coronavirus restrictions, and hopes to continue when the situation improves.
Advice and tips for expat teens
“It gets better.” Says Anoek. The first few months will be difficult, but “people are a lot nicer than you think” and it is possible to develop good friendships. “Try to be open, put in the effort to get to know people, and put yourself out there. Join clubs and activities, ask questions, and just talk to people.”
A self-proclaimed introvert, she assures that an outgoing personality is not a prerequisite to making new friends. It is a skill she has developed, and credits her migration experience as a catalyst for her personal development.
Anoek believes that her experience has opened up her world and given her the confidence to manage new situations. When asked about her future plans, she says that she is open to explore studying in other countries, but Malaysia and the Netherlands will always be her home.
You can download Anoek Groot’s ‘From Rice to Potatoes’ here.
We have explicit permission from the author to share her work on this platform.
