Many Dutch people would like to move to England. This is of course not without reason. The United Kingdom is very popular among the Dutch because of the beautiful nature and the lifestyle of the British. Many Dutch people also choose to move to the United Kingdom because of the world-famous vibrant cities and the rich English culture. The English language also ensures that the step for a move to England is lower than to other countries.
Moving to England
Of course, it is not just like that that you suddenly decide to move. Maybe you are going to work in England, do an internship or maybe you know England because of your many trips to the beautiful cities in the country. Are you also one of the people who will soon move to England? Then you can find all the pros and cons of moving to Great Britain in this article.
Help with your choice to emigrate to England
In this article we want to give you as clear a picture as possible about emigrating to England. That is why we have chosen to discuss not only the advantages, but also the disadvantages. Such an international move is not nothing and you must of course take into account that your new place of residence can be a little different from the old and familiar Netherlands. Think of the culture, for example.
Benefits of living in England
Let's start with the benefits of moving to England:
Health insurance
England does not have a healthcare system like the Netherlands. This may sound scary when you read it like this, but you really don't have to worry about it. England has a world-famous public health service. This is called the National Health Service (NHS). This is funded by taxes in the country. Once you start working in England and have a job, a percentage of your salary will automatically go to the health service every month.
The English language
When you emigrate to a country where they speak a language that you do not know, it can all be extra stressful. Imagine moving to Thailand for example and having to learn Thai. This is of course very nice, but the idea of learning a whole new unknown language is still a bit scary. Fortunately, English is spoken in England and this language is no problem for the majority of Dutch people.
When emigrating to England, you will not have to deal with a language barrier. This means that you can arrange all your affairs well. It also ensures a faster integration process and you will also feel welcome in this way. If you do not speak the language of a country, you can feel excluded and it will often be a lot more difficult to build your life and, for example, find a job.
The English culture
The English are known worldwide for doing things a little differently. Especially compared to other Europeans. For example, the country still has its own currency, the British Pound, and they drive on the left instead of the right. The culture is therefore a little different. The English are a lot more formal and a lot more polite than the Dutch. This is very nice when you have to deal with a lot of other people. This is also how they raise their children and you will notice this in the way many English people interact.
A rich culture
England is world famous for its rich theatre culture. They have of course a rich history of poets, writers and political figures. Think of Shakespeare, Churchill or 'Queen Elizabeth'.
The English pub
Who doesn't know it? An English pub. Where the English meet with friends and family to eat and drink. There is beer in abundance and you can order delicious fish and chips. Do you have a hangover the next day? Then you can order a delicious English breakfast the next morning in the same pub. Delicious with beans, bacon and an egg!
Public transport
Most Dutch people have been on a city trip to London. In this beautiful and large city, you may have noticed that public transport is very well organised. The London metro system is also known for this abroad. There is also a good system for trains and buses in the country. This gives you various options when you want to travel. It sometimes happens that the English themselves have a few complaints about public transport, but that doesn't make living in England any less beautiful, right?
The English countryside
When you move to England, it is also nice to know that England has beautiful nature reserves. You can live in the middle of a big city or in the middle of nature. There is something for everyone. English nature is very diverse. For example, the country has rugged mountains, plains, hills, lakes and beautiful beaches. Often it is the case that certain areas have their own characteristics. In recent years, more and more Dutch people have also started visiting England because of the nature.
Disadvantages of living in England
Now that we have discussed the advantages of living in England, we must of course also discuss the disadvantages. Here we want you to be able to weigh up all the pros and cons of your move to England for yourself.
Housing market
Just like in the Netherlands, the housing market in England is problematic. The prices for buying a house are very high and renting a house is unfortunately not easy either. However, house prices in the larger cities such as London have fallen in the past year. One says it is because of Brexit and the other says it is because of the corona pandemic. We have no idea, but we are happy about this of course. Yes, a house in the center of London will never be very cheap, but every little bit helps, right?
As a tip, we can give you that you simply have to do good research on the housing market before you actually take the step to emigrate. Look carefully at the housing market in terms of rental properties, but also look at the homes for sale. This way you can form a good picture for yourself and know what you can expect.
The weather
England, like the Netherlands, is known for its changeable weather. One moment it can rain heavily and the next moment the sun can suddenly start shining. Unfortunately, England does not have many hours of sunshine either. When emigrating, people often look at the weather of a country, but with England you better not do that. Unless of course you like rain, cold and cloud. Then we have said nothing!
The English language
As you may have read before, the English language is also on our list of advantages. This is due to the fact that we Dutch people often just speak English. But why is it also on the list of disadvantages, you may now think. This is due to the fact that England has so many different accents and dialects. And these beautiful different forms of the English language can make it quite difficult for us Dutch people to understand it. You can often ask them to speak a bit slower and then it usually works out fine.
Your personal situation
For most people, emigration is a big step. Of course, it is also scary, because how are you going to build a new life and make new friends? In fact, this also depends a bit on yourself. You can move to England, to one of the popular cities, but if you don't try hard, it will all be a bit more difficult.
International moving companies
The pros and cons are an important aspect when you are going to emigrate, but don't forget that you also need an international moving company. These international companies specialize in moving abroad. Due to their years of experience, they know exactly what is needed for a move to England, for example. This way, you no longer have to think about whether you need a permit for your moving van. How handy is this? Together with the company, you can make a handy checklist to see who does what. This prevents confusion and everything can go smoothly and quickly.
Costs of moving to England
It is very difficult for international moving companies to make exact price calculations without any background information. This is because the costs for these international moves depend on your personal wishes and needs. For example, do you have a lot of or large items? Then larger moving vans are needed. Are you moving to one of the big cities or the countryside? Is it an emergency move? These are all examples of factors that can influence the price.
Compare free quotes
Via Moova you can check with an international moving company who will be the cheapest before you move. You can do this by requesting quotes from different moving companies. We understand that you do not have the time to look up and call all these different moving companies. That is why we have come up with a solution for you.
Moova
On our website you can request moving quotes from different moving companies within 2 minutes. This is completely free and without obligation. This means that you will not be tied to anything afterwards. After your request you will receive the quotes by email and you can then make your choice at your leisure.
Finally
We will of course try to help you as best we can, but it is also important to do some further research yourself about emigrating to England. Look around on the internet, contact important authorities and perhaps you have friends and family who know a thing or two about it.
Do you have any other questions?
We hope that we have been able to answer your questions in this article. Do you perhaps have other questions? Then you can always look at our other articles. Who knows, we might answer your questions there. Is this not the case? Then you can always contact us and we might be able to help you further.
