It is often said that asking a person to describe their own culture is like asking fish to describe water. How do you describe something that you have been surrounded by all your life, without being aware of the fact that it is different from other environments? It is only when you enter a new … Continued

As Far as a Cannonball Would Travel   Ask anyone if they know of a big park in the Netherlands, and they are sure to come up with De Hoge Veluwe National Park. However, another park that is at least equally as deserving in fame is de National Park Maasduinen in the northern part of … Continued

Being in control – also during the last stages of your life – is something that more and more people are looking into. This has resulted in a huge increase in the number of living wills over the past years. A living will is drawn up with the help of a civil law notary. In … Continued

When moving from one country to another for job reasons, one of the issues expat parents have to deal with is choosing the right school for their child(ren) – in terms of creating the best conditions for obtaining the diplomas necessary for facing the global future. After all, the kids of today often already consider … Continued

By Edith van Ruitenbeek   In the Netherlands and many European countries, cohabitation, instead of marriage, is an accepted way of living together – at least for tax purposes. However, for family matters and for residence permits it is not. In other countries, cohabitation presents even more of challenge, something that should especially be taken … Continued

The Power of an Elevator Pitch By Nannette Ripmeester and Sevi Christoforou Every job seeker has heard about the importance of having an elevator pitch ready, in case they find themselves stuck on an elevator with the CEO of their dream company and have only 30 seconds to impress them. Now, even if you believe … Continued

More than 30 years ago, a Community Needs Assessment undertaken by the American Community Council “…recognised the sombre reality that numerous families were experiencing significant stress and personal problems during their settlement and integration”. While the most recent research is more quantitative than the one done earlier, the general conclusions align: relocating to a new … Continued

Ask the question, What is the national flower of the Netherlands? and people will answer: the tulip. However, as many of you might already know, the tulip did not originate here. It arrived here in a rather roundabout way. Popular in the courts of the Ottoman sultans, several tulip bulbs were given as a gift … Continued

By Yolanda Bokhorst   Don’t we all want the best for our children? We provide them with a safe and sheltered home, we raise them well, make sure they get an education and try to give them the tools to find their way through an increasingly complex world.   What role does money play in … Continued

By Deborah Valentine   “Succeeding in Change – Agility and Change Management” was the title of a networking event – Hague Hub – organised by the International Leadership Academy and OPCW in The Hague earlier this year. One way of doing this, the author argued at the event, is to ensure that you have people … Continued

By Melanie Genssler   Chronic illnesses, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are experiencing a rapid, world-wide spread. The World Health Organization has reported that, in 2001, chronic illnesses represented approximately 46% of the global burden of disease, and 60% of the 56.5 million total reported deaths. The burden is expected to rise to … Continued

On the 21st of May, the Dutch parliament voted to review the law for spousal alimony, with the aim of limiting the period during which spousal alimony is paid out. According to the majority in Dutch parliament, now that society has changed, the old law is no longer adequate. The new law limits the duration … Continued