From left to right Barbara, Maryam and Monique
At Dutch Expat Solutions, we believe that every expat coming to the Netherlands deserves a soft landing. That is why it is always special to see how families start to feel at home here step by step. Such was the case with the family of highly skilled migrant Maryam Poorbayat, who moved to the Netherlands from Iran last September. On Ascension Day, I, Monique, visited this family in Breda. What followed was a frank conversation about obstacles, hope and new opportunities.
An exciting start
Maryam found a job in Bergen op Zoom through LinkedIn. After two job interviews and a good click with the company, she was given three months to move to the Netherlands with her family. That may sound manageable, but as with any emigration, the first challenges soon surfaced. For example, Maryam worried about her 18-year-old daughter Barbara, who had just graduated in Iran. Would she still have access to education here?
There was also the stress around housing - a familiar pain point for many expats. "We had no idea where to start," Maryam later recalls. "Which cities are suitable? What are the rents? Which neighborhoods suit us?" Fortunately, through Dutch Expat Solutions, they quickly got in touch with someone who helped them find housing in no time. "It went so fast that we almost thought it was too good to be true," she laughs.
From uncertainty to self-confidence
The first months in the Netherlands were anything but easy. Maryam could not start working until November, her husband did not yet have a job, and Barbara was initially denied admission to a university. Still, they did not give up. Barbara was admitted to the International School Breda to redo her high school and prepare for university. "I'm so glad I got this opportunity," she says. "I have discovered many new opportunities here. Since I have been in the Netherlands, I have really started to love my life more."
Maryam now enjoys working in Bergen op Zoom and her husband has found a job as a maintenance mechanic at PostNL in Rotterdam. There are two cars in front of the door, and Barbara cycles to school every day. During the visit in Breda, they not only caught up, but also ate together - although funnily enough, the planned dinner at a Dutch restaurant ended at the KFC.
A message of hope
Barbara would like to share her experiences with peers who are themselves considering moving to the Netherlands. She has gained many insights that can help other young people. More on this soon.
The visit was followed by another heartwarming message from Maryam: "Thank you, we had a wonderful time." A family feeling supported, seizing new opportunities and building a life in a new country - that's what we do it for.
Are you a knowledge migrant or about to move to the Netherlands as an expat? We would like to help you. From housing to work, from education to integration: at Dutch Expat Solutions you will find everything under one roof.
