Portugal is a beautiful country and it is located on the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. If you have not yet decided that you are going to live there, it is certainly worth visiting. Not only are we Dutch people often found there as tourists, but research has also shown that many Dutch people move to Portugal after their retirement. Why not emigrate earlier? Sounds like a good idea, right?
Of course, the country has its disadvantages as well as its many advantages. We will discuss these so that at the end of the ride you can see if you really want to go to Portugal movingFor example, have you thought about an affordable moving company?
Get well informed
Emigrating to Portugal means that you will have to deal with the Portuguese culture. Yes, you may have been there on holiday many times, but living in Portugal, so really emigrating is a different story. Abroad, people have their own habits, you have to deal with other cultures and adapting can sometimes be more difficult than expected for us Dutch people. Therefore, try to give yourself enough time for the process of emigrating. There will always be ups and downs. This is part of life. Whether you live in Portugal or the Netherlands. Only in a foreign country, you have to give yourself, again, a bit more time to deal with certain situations.
Living in Portugal has many advantages..
What is typical in the Southern European countries is also the case in Portugal. Think of the close community, being involved, being helpful, friendliness and the always curious people. Once you live in Portugal you will see that the neighbors can become your best friends and you will also see that Portuguese people quickly establish warm relationships with each other. An advantage that you can get from this is that you can quickly make new friends.
The nature
The country wins prizes every year for the most beautiful beaches in Europe and this is not the only beautiful thing the country has to offer. It also has beautiful forests, rivers and mountains. How wonderful would it be if you could see nature blossom to its full glory every year in spring?
Furthermore, the country has beautiful sights. When you read about the history of the country and the architecture, you will fall in love immediately. We can tell you this with full confidence! Especially in a city like Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. This city also has beautiful beaches.
Portuguese food
Portugal is known for its delicious cuisine. Think of delicious fresh fish, but also a lot of meat. And the fresh vegetables that the Portuguese can prepare so well. You can also taste a Portuguese cheese or a typical glass of port.
The climate in Portugal
Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula, just like Spain, but it does have a completely different climate. Portugal is of course located on the Atlantic Ocean and is therefore generally a lot cooler than Spain. This is due to the cool seawater of the ocean. Portugal generally has a mild maritime climate. This means that it has warm, dry summers. The green north has somewhat cooler summers. The winter in the country is also mild and quiet, but a lot cooler and wetter than the summer months.
Fun fact: Portugal has almost the most hours of sunshine in Europe, making it one of the best climates in the world.
Buying a house
The process of buying a house in Portugal is very simple. In addition, the prices for us Dutch are very favorable. This is of course useful if you do not have a very high budget. In recent years, the prices of holiday homes in the holiday areas have increased, but are still very cheap for foreigners.
When buying a house, always seek guidance from a certified real estate agent. They know all the pitfalls when buying a house and can assist you well.
Livelihood
Portugal is a country with a very high standard of living, but this is in combination with the very reasonable cost of living. This is not often the case! It is therefore also one of the cheaper destinations for holidaymakers in Europe. The daily costs for food and drink or groceries are also very low compared to Spain for example.
Public transport is also very cheap.
Disadvantages of emigrating to Portugal
What is very difficult and what one can actually imagine is that the Portuguese language is quite difficult. Compared to other things, this is often a stumbling block. People find learning the language after such a move still a bit difficult. But in the end, this is very important. You want to talk to the new neighbors and answer their questions.
Forest fires
If you are going to emigrate to the south of Portugal you also have to take into account the forest fires that often rage there in the summer. Sometimes the fires pass the houses just a few hundred meters away, but imagine if they do not pass the village from a distance? This is a scary thought and something very important to think about when you emigrate to Portugal.
Electronics
You may have noticed it, or maybe not: electronics are considerably more expensive in Portugal. This is due to the fact that there are few new items available in Portugal. In the Netherlands, we have much more availability and many more shops. You simply do not have these in Portugal. Online shopping is also not as well developed as in the Netherlands, which of course makes the supply even smaller. Also, the transport costs to Portugal are often more expensive for companies, because Portugal is of course on the edge of Europe.
The language
The Portuguese language is a real stumbling block for many Dutch people when emigrating to Portugal. Especially the pronunciation of the Portuguese can make it all difficult for us Dutch people. This is because the Portuguese often speak inwardly. In doing so, they connect the words with each other and also speak very quickly.
Tip: basic knowledge of Spanish
If you already have a basic knowledge of Spanish, this will give you a huge advantage in learning Portuguese. If you already have a basic knowledge of Spanish, you will be able to read texts in Portuguese quite quickly. The only big difference is the pronunciation.
Salary
If you are used to a Dutch salary, it will be difficult to get used to the salary in Portugal. The average annual income in Portugal is around €20,000. This is probably a lot lower than what you are used to in the Netherlands. Many people cannot get used to this and will therefore quickly start something for themselves in the online world.
Tip: Dutch companies
There are also many companies that have their offices in Portugal. Also Dutch companies. As a Dutch person you can easily find work at these companies and the advantage here is that the salary is also a lot higher than when you go to work at a Portuguese company. Here as a Dutch person you do have a bit of an advantage.
Life in general
In Portugal, you have to work hard, just like in the Netherlands, but the people are a bit more relaxed. In addition to the hard work, the Portuguese are also real bon vivants and can always be found in a bar or restaurant with friends or family in their free time. Fortunately, life in Portugal is a lot cheaper and you can often do this. However, it is true that if you go to work in Portugal, your income will also be a bit lower than in the Netherlands.
Best books about emigrating to Portugal
Many people are thinking about making their dreams come true in Portugal. These books give you super good insight into everything that comes around the corner when emigrating to Portugal.
Enjoy reading!
Practical tips
It is often said that good preparation is half the battle. Therefore, prepare yourself as well as possible for your emigration. Try to have all the paperwork in order in advance. Read up a bit on the laws and regulations in the country. Furthermore, you can find a lot of help online on forums or in special Facebook groups. Here you can not only find a lot of information, but you can also always ask your questions.
Finally
Before you decide to live in Portugal, first make a tour. Don't just go to the well-known places, such as Lisbon or the Algarve, but also try to visit the smaller villages. Even though the level of English in Portugal is not very high and many people do not speak English, you will always be embraced by their warm culture. That is the nice thing about Portugal, that people like to see newcomers and like to have a conversation with you. In the big cities, the level of English is a bit higher. It is actually a bit comparable to neighboring Spain. That is of course a country that is a bit more well-known among us Dutch people.
And whether you are going to work in Portugal and earn a Portuguese salary or have income from the Netherlands. You will always be able to live well there. The wages in Portugal are in proportion to the cost of living in the country. So if you have Dutch income you will almost be able to live like a king! Think of going out for a nice meal or even the groceries will be a nice outing in Portugal. So life there will not be very difficult.
Chase your dreams
Whether you choose Portugal or another country to move to, you will always see that all countries have advantages and disadvantages. Especially if you want to live and work there. The best advice we can give you is; chase your dreams, then everything should be fine.
