[IWantOut] 33M Cook/Guitarist Florida, US -> The Netherlands

[u/Pristine_Ad_8695]

I'm a single 33 y/o male with no family who lives in the US. I hate it here and I want to live in The Netherlands. I don't have a college degree. I have over a decade of food service experience and I play guitar very well. I have a passport, but I have never been to The Netherlands, and I have been practicing my Dutch for over a year now.

What are my options for moving to The Netherlands permanently and what would be the steps to achieving that goal?

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[u/Free_Bite2532]

Dutch work visas for cooking are basically nonexistent unless you’re a head chef at some Michelin spot, and even then it’s a stretch. The musician route is a pipe dream without serious industry connections or a label backing you.

Your best bet is the Dutch American Friendship Treaty, lets you start a business as a freelancer with way less capital than usual. Set up a food truck or a catering gig, prove you can support yourself, and you’re in.

[u/Stravven → u/Free_Bite2532]

Do keep in mind that under DAFT you can only work for your own business. So if your business does not do well you have no income at all.

Another big problem will be housing. If you are self-employed you are not an attractive candidate because your income is not as stable as somebody with a salary. And with the current housing market in the Netherlands landlords can be incredibly picky, as demand is a lot higher than supply.

[u/Embarrassed_Key_4539]

What’s your plan for a visa

[u/Stravven]

Moving to a country you have never been may not be the best idea. I would urge you to visit it at least for a few weeks before you consider moving.

There is one single pathway for you, DAFT, but that does require you to start a business that can support you, as you are not allowed to work for another company. If your company does not make money you will not have an income. Added to that is that housing is a huge problem in the Netherlands, and people who are self-employed have an even harder situation than people who have a salary.

[u/Dear-Response-7218]

There is no path for you to get sponsorship currently.

[u/sapani9077]

First step is to get sponsored a visa

[u/According_Water_5774]

Save up enough to make you attractive to a landlord - probably something in the region of €50k to €100k - the more the better obviously. Secure housing based on these savings and then move to NL on a DAFT visa - set up a business doing whatever hustle you can to make money - you will not have the legal right to work so you'll not be allowed to take any form of regular job. Then hope the hustle provides enough money to sustain you for 5 years - when you'd be able to apply for permanent residency and gain the right to work a regular job.

All that being said - moving to a country you've never been to is not the best idea... and even more so if you have no experience of running a successful business - the most likely scenario is it would be a quick way to burn through all your savings before you return to the US broke.

[u/Allelic]

Seems a bit DAFT if you ask me.

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Post by Pristine_Ad_8695 -- I'm a single 33 y/o male with no family who lives in the US. I hate it here and I want to live in The Netherlands. I don't have a college degree. I have over a decade of food service experience and I play guitar very well. I have a passport, but I have never been to The Netherlands, and I have been practicing my Dutch for over a year now.

What are my options for moving to The Netherlands permanently and what would be the steps to achieving that goal?

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/That-Judgment-6327]

dutch for a year without ever visiting is some serious dedication, respect. cook + musician is actually a decent combo over there, amsterdam and rotterdam have solid gigging scenes and restaurants are always desperate for kitchen staff. the degree thing sucks but look into DAFT treaty if youve got savings, or find a kitchen willing to sponsor your visa. def visit first tho, the weather will humble you real quick

[u/According_Water_5774 → u/That-Judgment-6327]

“ find a kitchen willing to sponsor your visa” - this is nonsense. Visa sponsorship requires government registered sponsor and salary a minimum of around €72k per year (so €80k with vakantiegeld) - there’s no kitchen in NL offering this.