David and Jacolene’s Journey to a New Way of Life in the Netherlands

David was recruited by FairPlay Engineering in October of 2022 at the age of 45. He relocated with his wife Jacolene from South Africa to the Netherlands. Jacolene also went on to accept a position through FairPlay Engineering a year after they relocated. They have spent the last 1.5 years living in the Netherlands and sat down with us to reflect on their journey and share what they gave up, what they learned and if it was worth it.

David and Jacolene dared to completely change the course of their life’s story by embarking on a new adventure in the Netherlands after years of building their lives in South Africa. Their journey is not just about relocating, but also about adapting, embracing new things, and shifting priorities.

David and Jacolene, both in their forties, made a bold decision to leave behind their established lives in South Africa and start anew in the Netherlands one and a half years ago. Many, understandably, questioned their choice, wondering why they would give up so much of what they had worked for. They questioned themselves at times too! But before accepting the position to relocate with FairPlay Engineering they reached a point where they had achieved financial and professional stability but they felt they were missing something. They felt drawn to the work-life balance, new experiences, opportunities to travel, and a more relaxed lifestyle in the Netherlands.

The transition wasn’t without its challenges. Their perspective on life and priorities underwent a significant shift. Moving from a spacious, newly built home in South Africa to a smaller apartment in the Netherlands meant letting go of a lot of comforts and conveniences. As their entire life felt like it was changing, they focused on their objective – to have quality time together, to have the freedom to explore and to work in positive environments –  and embraced their transforming lifestyle.

David and Jacolene found the work culture in the Netherlands to be refreshingly different. The emphasis on work-life balance, reasonable 40-hour work weeks, and pleasant work environments allowed them to enjoy their professional lives without sacrificing personal time. The healthy job market in the Netherlands, although competitive, also offered opportunities to Jacolene after her initial career break after relocating. She had to be flexible at first, accepting a position that was not in her exact area of specialty, but ultimately finding a position that is exactly in her niche and she is very excited about.

Pack the beautiful scatter cushion – “Homes in the Netherlands are much smaller than in South Africa, so much of our furniture wouldn’t fit here. But I (Jacolene) wish I had brought along small useful or decorative items to make the house feel like my own.” Setting up house is expensive when you arrive with South African Rands, she wishes she had brought a few of the small decorative items, like picture frames, decorative pillowcases or throws. As well as useful small items like kitchen utensils and appliances. There were also nearly new, small Brabantia trash cans, that would be expensive to replace now and in hindsight could have come along. (Anyone who has relocated will know there will always be something that you still think about years later that in hindsight could have come along!)

Commit and don’t question it for the first year – They decided to keep their house in South Africa and they were planning to just try out the Netherlands for a few years to see how it went. Renting out their house in SA and keeping a lot of our furniture in storage took extra money and effort. It also took an emotional toll having to maintain the property in South Africa and allowing themselves to reconsider going back, it felt like keeping the back door open. “I (David) wish I had just let it go sooner and freed myself up to just focus on being here and committing to make it work here. If we could do it again we would just jump in with both feet without looking back because we know now there was nothing to be afraid of. Looking back took energy that we could have used to be positive about the future.”

Don’t make a fuss about where you will live for the first year – “We thought a lot about the first apartment we would rent. We worried about the space, the area, our furniture and in hindsight, we would have been fine anywhere for that first year. We weren’t used to the idea that most areas are perfectly fine to live in, even in the city. And most people live in apartments which are much smaller than we were used to. We expected to need a lot more space but looking back the first year went by so quickly and after that, we had a feeling for the neighborhoods and where we really wanted to live. If we could do it again we would choose one of the cheaper options to save on rent during the first few months and it would have been completely fine.”

Focus on finding your way with your partner – “When David accepted the position that brought us to the Netherlands it put a lot of pressure on him as the “Knowledge Migrant”, but ultimately it is something we did together and could not have done without each other’s support. I (Jacolene) chose to take a career break at first to help us settle and navigate the first few months. This meant sacrificing having a second income for a while but looking back it gave us time to breathe and focus on supporting each other as we made the shift. I had to be patient but I knew for our move to be a long-term success it was just as important for me to find my way in the Netherlands. I was committed to finding my place, looking for work and eventually finding the perfect position for myself too. Looking back now I can see how everything worked out in time.”

The pace of life, the freedom to take a train or walk around safely, and the healthier work culture here are now things they can’t see themselves living without.

Relocating was expensive, even more expensive than we expected. It definitely did not come without its challenges. It is difficult to start a new life and build up something for yourself. But we have absolutely no regrets and we think it was worth it to prioritize, not the money but the quality of life.

Despite the occasional challenges and moments of doubt, David and Jacolene have enormous contentment in their decision. They appreciate the slower pace of life, the walkable neighborhoods filled with green spaces, and the overall sense of security and well-being they experience in the Netherlands. “We feel like we will live longer here, spending more time relaxing and prioritizing time for actually enjoying the weather on sunny days.”

“Thanks to the FairPlay Engineering and The Relocation Company teams for taking this journey with us, and guiding us through this important change. We will always stay part of the FairPlay family.” – David & Jacolene