A woman who was laid off by tech giant Amazon in 2023 relocated to the Netherlands with her children and says she feels happier and safer living there as compared to the US. Denise Segler is divorced from her husband and moved to a European nation to start afresh, according to a report by Business Insider.
‘I fell in love with Europe at 18’
Segler had dreamed of living in Europe since a school trip when she was 18, she told the outlet. In addition to finding the Netherlands more affordable, she believes Europeans enjoy a better quality of life and a healthier work-life balance.
“I fell in love with Europe at 18 during a school trip and promised to live abroad someday. I didn’t know when or where, but I would make it happen,” Business Insider quoted her as saying.
By 2024, she told the outlet, that she actively started promoting her own business as an IT project manager and visited another European nation – Ireland. There she spent two weeks alone and one with her 27-year-old. It was during this trip that she realised that she could live comfortably in a place with which she was not familiar.
Cheaper food, cellphone and Internet services
Before moving to the Netherlands, she did extensive research into different kinds of European visa options and came across one which allows American business owners to live in the Netherlands. This was the Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa. The main requirement was maintaining a minimum balance of $5,278 in a business bank account.
“The visa was attractive to me… Then I looked around, and other things were cheaper: cell phone and internet services. I thought, ‘Why not give it a try?’”
Segler highlighted that food is also cheap there. A possible reason behind this could be the farmers’ markets in the country. She also enjoys the local bread, noting that many stores bake it fresh in-house.
“Eggs usually come in packs of 10, costing between $3 (Rs 249) and $4 (Rs 345), depending on the type,” she shared.
She applied for the visa in August 2024, and it was approved the following month. In November, she moved to the Netherlands. Though she had never visited the country before, everyone told her good things about the place, which gave her the confidence to take the major step.
‘Very lucky to be living here’
Business Insider reported that she lives south of Haarlem, the capital of North Holland, and feels, what she described as “very lucky” to be living there. Her neighbourhood is well-connected, with a nearby train station, market, restaurants, and cafés. A local real estate agent helped her find her apartment, and she paid six months’ rent upfront.
“In some ways, the area reminds me of parts of Seattle, like the South Lake Union neighbourhood,” she further said.
Since finding housing in the Netherlands can be challenging, the report noted, with a shortage of available apartments. As a result, many newcomers must remain flexible about location or prepare to spend significantly more on rent.
Segler told Business Insider: “My apartment has a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small second room that I use as an office. There’s also a combined living and dining area that leads past the kitchen.”
‘Funding expenses from retirement account’
She also told the outlet that she spends more money on rent and has been funding her expenses by withdrawing from her retirement account. Still, she saves money on essentials like internet, health insurance (which is mandatory), and other utilities.
“In the US, I was on COBRA, which cost over $800 (approx Rs 69,000) a month. Here, I pay €190 (approx Rs 19,000 ) a month. It could be cheaper, but I added dental coverage and extra benefits for chiropractic care,” she was quoted by the outlet as saying.
‘I feel safer here’
Although Dutch is the official language, Segler said most people speak English. She has been learning French since childhood and occasionally uses it as well. Aside from a few minor encounters, she has not witnessed locals being rude to those who speak English. “People take me for a tourist and are glad that I have a few words of Dutch….The people here are kind of direct, but I don’t mind that much.”
When it comes to socialising, Segler admitted it can be difficult to make friends at first. However, she said that there are meetup groups and dating platforms.
“I feel safer here,” she told the publication as she looks back at her decision to move to the Netherlands. “There aren’t as many guns, and I am living in a safer neighbourhood than I was in the US,” she added.
Segler shared that she has now lived in the Netherlands for five years. Her visa is set to expire next July, and while she’s unsure about applying for citizenship, she says she’s undeniably happier living abroad than she was back in the United States.