Interview with Heike Sitte

This interview shares the personal story of an expat who came to the Netherlands with a student visa and was not directly supported by All About Expats. They may have been able to use some of our services, such as the Orientation Year (Zoekjaar), Relocation Service, the 30% ruling, or Employment & Career Tools (ECT). This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace personal advice. For more information about our services, please feel free to contact us.

Heike Sutte, born in East Germany, has been living in Amsterdam since 2008. With a background in geo-ecology and career in the energy industry, she shares her experiences as an expat, from studying and working to family life, integration, and building a home in the Netherlands.

“I’m originally from Germany, and I traveled a bit around the world before ending up here in the Netherlands. It wasn’t really planned to stay here that long. My partner and I moved from the U.S. to Amsterdam, where I did a master’s program. That was a one-year program. After that, we stayed because I found my first job and life here turned out to be very nice. It’s such a beautiful place. I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2008, 17 years now.”

Heike had visited the Netherlands before. She took part in exchanges with Dutch students while still in high school, which allowed her to take small trips to The Hague, Utrecht, and Leiden. Beyond that, she had never stayed in the Netherlands for a longer period, this was all before she began her university studies. I only settled in the Netherlands after a longer journey. First, I did some volunteer work and research, including in Paris and Denmark after high school. After studying in Germany, I completed part of my education in the U.S. I ended up living there for two years before coming to Amsterdam.”

“After high school, I did a European volunteer project aimed at promoting international relations. I went to Denmark to work with children in a primary school setting. I lived with a host family and learned Danish three times a week. But after learning Dutch, I’ve practically forgotten all my Danish. Before that, I had traveled within Europe: Malta, Spain, Portugal, but not beyond. I had also participated in school exchanges with the Netherlands. So yes, I traveled, but not extensively. I enjoyed working with children, but I mainly wanted to be somewhere else and experience other cultures. I didn’t have a specific country in mind; I looked at which programs were available and ended up in Denmark and then Paris.”

“After Paris, I returned to Germany. I first had to figure out what I wanted to study after high school and the volunteer project. I eventually chose geo-ecology at a technical university. It’s a technical degree for environmental science with a lot of physics, maths & chemistry followed by courses in Geology, Hydrology, Pedology, Ecology, Meteorology etc. The program lasted three years and was during the transition from the old German ‘Diplom’ system to the new bachelor/master system.”

“After three years, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree. I wasn’t convinced that this is what I wanted to work in a job my whole life. Therefore I proactively took a break from study after finalizing the bachelor thesis, so that I could focus on gaining practical experience. I worked six months in a research institute in a lab, then in Munich in a consultancy focusing on environmental management, where companies were certified for environmental standards like ISO 14000. Later, thanks to friends, I went to the U.S., where I worked for an NGO in Seattle and lived with a host family. I worked on a renewable energy campaign to pass a new law and conducted my own research project on waste-to-energy vs landfilling. This would help NGO’s to develop their position on this topic. In Seattle, I met my current husband.”

“In 2007, I started an international master’s in Amsterdam. The introduction week was like a festival week. I immediately met many international students. There was some academic content, but very limited, it was mostly social. International students quickly formed their own group. ‘That happened naturally because the international students didn’t know anyone, so we immediately formed a close group. Dutch students often moved from class to class with people they already knew, and they tended to stick together. It took a few months before the groups really mixed.’”

“After my studies, I got my first job in Amsterdam at an innovative sustainable energy company called Evelop, in the biomass department. They also worked on wind and solar projects. I was a project developer, which suited my background perfectly. So first I finished my studies in the Netherlands, and then I started working.”

Heike ended up in the Netherlands after her work in the U.S. She wanted to pursue a master’s degree, and the Netherlands offered the most advantages. “I pursued a master’s in Environmental Management. I looked at master’s programs in different countries, like Scotland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. I already knew that I liked Amsterdam from my exchange experiences during high school, and I also received a full scholarship from the DAAD from Germany, which made the decision easy. From the U.S., I first flew to the Netherlands alone, found a place to live, and picked up a few things at home in Germany. My partner arrived two months later from the U.S.”

“Moving and finding housing in 2008 was already difficult. People underestimate how tough the housing market is in the Netherlands. At first, I found an attic room far from the city – probably not entirely legal – where I stayed for three months until we found something better. Eventually, we found a good place behind the A10, through a German woman who temporarily moved out, keeping our rent the same as we paid. I’ve always stayed in Amsterdam and moved a total of five times. We sometimes had problems with illegal subletting or strange landlords. Eventually, we found a place where we stayed for ten years. In 2018, we were finally able to buy something of our own.”

Buying a house in the Netherlands is challenging, but even more so in Germany. “It’s not part of the German culture that you buy a house right after graduation. It’s something that you do what you have a secure job and plenty of cash available. “In Germany, you need much more personal capital. Mortgages need to be repaid much faster, and the government provides much less tax support for buying than here. In the Netherlands, it’s more common to buy early, and the benefits are greater.”

“I’ve never really felt homesick that strongly. I’m always curious and feel at home wherever I am. Even when I was younger and doing volunteer work in Denmark, I never felt homesick. Even now, my partner and I think about moving from time to time, but there’s no country we feel like we must go to. Not Germany, not the U.S. So Amsterdam is a great place to stay, it’s international, although one day we might like to live somewhere else for half a year, just for the experience.”

Heike doesn’t feel fully at home in any one country. “It’s hard to say. Sometimes it feels like I’m not truly at home anywhere. You change over the years, and meanwhile, the places you come from or live in also change. Those two things don’t always match anymore. Sometimes I feel: I’m no longer entirely German, but I’m not really Dutch either. It’s like hanging between two worlds. When I returned to my old country, I realized this feeling didn’t go away. I had changed as a person through my experiences. You also look very different than you used to. It almost feels like you can’t go back, because you’ve developed and become a different person. That no longer fits in the old environment, it’s an in-between feeling. But it doesn’t bother me, because I can feel at home in the house we bought.”

“Handling practical matters as a student was really frustrating. In 2008, you also needed a ‘registered address’ to get a BSN” Getting a place where you are allowed to register was very difficult back than. It was a kind of bureaucratic vicious circle that almost everyone struggled with. Luckily, the university had a partnership with one bank, which allowed you to skip one of the two steps. Otherwise, it would have taken much longer.”

Today, at All About Expats, we can confirm that the process Heike experienced in 2008 was completely different from now. We constantly stay updated on regulations and ensure that whatever issues you face, All About Expats can assist you with legal, immigration, and integration matters. Nowadays, the Netherlands has become much stricter, with many smaller rules that need to be followed. We keep our knowledge up to date every month and maintain numerous contacts with authorities to support highly skilled migrants working in the Netherlands.

“I don’t like to generalize, but if I had to say something, in Germany there’s a stereotype that the Dutch are more relaxed. And that stereotype – in my opinion – is true. Everything in the Netherlands is a bit more laid-back. For example, when it comes to building houses: in Germany, everything has to be precise, there are norms to be followed and certifications to be gathered before a construction project is being released. In the Netherlands, it doesn’t have to be completely strict, despite the regulations for construction. Everyone is fine with things being a bit looser. Some houses are even slightly crooked, look at our house in Amsterdam; that wouldn’t be allowed in Germany.”

“Germans also tend to think that the Dutch are less rigid and strict. For example, when it comes to time: in Germany, you’re always on time. Always. Being late almost never happens. At work, there are even competitions to see who can arrive earlier than their colleagues. In the Netherlands, someone might walk into a meeting ten minutes late, and everyone just says, ‘Oh, that’s fine.’ Or look at contracts: in Germany, a contract means exactly what it says. In the Netherlands, a contract is more flexible, it’s about the parties intent and the context.

“Regarding working hours, we start later in the Netherlands. Germans start much earlier: 8 am, that’s normal. In the Netherlands, most people start around 9 am, but they finish an hour later here in NL. So the total working hours end up being similar. And the workplace is less hierarchical in the Netherlands. Managers really listen to you. In Germany, I’m not so sure; from my previous experience, that wasn’t as common.”

“In my last role, I worked as a Senior Business Developer in offshore wind. That involved participating in tenders and bids, analyzing new markets, building partnerships, researching legislation, and looking at spatial challenges around offshore wind. The role was very broad in scope, but focused within a single sector. Now I’ve stopped working in this sector, and I’m not yet sure what I’ll do next. Offshore wind is at an all-time low. The energy transition is huge, the work is mostly with the grid operators and energy storage providers at the moment. I’m also considering freelance work. I’m just exploring different options. As an expat, it’s not difficult to find a job. Of course, it helps that after 17 years I speak Dutch fluently, which opens up more opportunities, but there are quite a few roles that international expats can fill.”

“The Netherlands is open to international workers. My preference is for international companies because I feel more comfortable with the language. Although I deliberately spent years working in Dutch contexts to better integrate. After that, I switched back to English in offshore wind. Now I also speak Dutch fairly well, and some Dutch companies want to become more international. My languages are German, English, and Dutch, this is a huge advantage. If you can speak Dutch, it gives you an edge with employers.”

After living together for several years, Heike and her partner are now also the proud parents of a child. “We have one child. She is three and a half, so still very young. It’s really wonderful to start a family here. In Germany, there is a much longer period of paid parental leave. “In Germany, you definitely get a year of leave. Or even longer, but then you get less pay.” Employers are also required to hold a position for a long period: “After three years, the company must keep your job or provide a comparable position.” The contrast with the Netherlands remains significant for Heike: “It feels strange for me… it’s only four months.” She explains that in the Netherlands, it’s common for babies to go to daycare quite early. She personally chose to stay home longer: “I stayed home until my daughter was seven months old. That felt better for me.”

“A topic we’re currently focused on is choosing a school for our daughter. I could talk endlessly about schools; there are so many choices. There are different philosophies: Waldorf, Dalton, Montessori, and many more. In addition each school has it’s own focus areas such as a cultural profile or they offer bilingual education with english. I’ve probably visited ten different schools by now.”

“I also eventually discovered that children in Dutch primary schools don’t receive grades. No one told me this; it was simply assumed to be known. But for someone coming from another country, that is not obvious at all. In Germany, children do get grades. School starts there at six years old, and the first grades are given in primary school. I personally got my first grades at seven. We really like the Montessori concept, but none of the schools clearly explain what Montessori actually entails during introductions. It remains very brief, and you still don’t fully understand what it involves. For families coming to the Netherlands, I would say: do your research, stay informed, and make sure you understand how the system works.”

At All About Expats, we support entire families with the documentation needed to move to the Netherlands. We guide each family member through the complete immigration process. Once you’ve settled as a family, much of the information, like the insights Heike shares about schools, can be extremely helpful. Be sure to also read our other expat stories to learn from the experiences of families who have relocated to the Netherlands.

Over 17 years, Heike has had to learn quite a bit of Dutch, and it didn’t come easily. “I had to learn Dutch when I started my second job in the Netherlands, in Ede. The entire company spoke Dutch, and no one spoke English. They didn’t speak English with me, so I really had to learn by being completely immersed. In hindsight, it may have been a bit too much at first. It’s quite intense, and communication can be challenging, but you learn an incredible amount in a short time. It’s not impossible.”

“I really learned to speak Dutch well at work, but I also took a class with the municipality of Amsterdam and completed my NT2 course. Dutch and German are quite similar, which made it much easier. You just have to adjust a few words. I’m still not perfect, especially with expressions, but I learned the basics quickly.”

“The hardest part for me has always been speaking. Speaking fluently is the most difficult, especially in the beginning. Part of it is pronunciation, but it’s also about having the confidence to do it. At first, there was a lot of uncertainty, especially when you’re young and starting at a company without knowing the language. Managing everything at once is overwhelming, not impossible, but definitely something to be aware of.

“Making friends is difficult in the Netherlands. The Northern culture is different from the Southern culture, where everyone is open and easygoing. In the Netherlands, friend groups are often closed-friendly, but hard to get into. I made friends through international connections. Sometimes friendships developed because one friend from my international group was in a relationship with someone from the Netherlands. That’s how I ended up in Dutch circles.”

“I also met a few Dutch friends quite by chance, and those friendships have lasted, now about 17 years, but there aren’t many. To some extent, I like structure and planning, like the Dutch do, but not too much. If you have many international friends, you also learn to adapt to their way of socializing. Often, everything is organized within a larger friend group, and everyone is welcome. I like that approach, and I find it more enjoyable.”

“Nu.nl is the app I use to get Dutch news updates, and Spiegel for Germany, and New York Times from the US.” she explains. It helps her not only stay informed but also see the differences between countries: “It’s really interesting to notice the differences. Especially in the U.S., they sometimes have completely different ideas.”

She also follows politics, particularly former minister Rob Jetten: “I follow Rob Jetten on LinkedIn so I can see his updates.” She admires his knowledge and style: “I noticed that he really understands what the energy industry needs in the Netherlands. He’s very eloquent and can explain complex topics in a simple way.”

Although Heike cannot vote at the national level, she can vote in local elections in Amsterdam, she still feels involved: “I can’t vote in the Netherlands, but I do want to understand what’s going on.” She doesn’t know many Dutch celebrities and doesn’t watch much Dutch TV. “I’m not very familiar with Dutch celebrities,” she says with a laugh, other way around Dutch TV personalities who became famous in Germany. “When I was younger, there were Rudy Carel, and Linda de Mol, very famous in Germany, with their lovely accents.”

Although Heike has now lived in the Netherlands for a long time, she notes that food remains one of the clearest cultural differences. “I’m a fan of pancakes” she says immediately. It’s one of those Dutch dishes she has really come to enjoy. Yet there are snacks she doesn’t love as much: “Bitterballen are not my favorite. I’ll eat them if I’m hungry, but I would never choose them myself.” She emphasizes that there’s really nothing she truly dislikes: “I don’t hate anything, but some things just aren’t my thing.”

What she does miss is the German baking culture. “I miss the good Kuchen and the good bakeries.” Bread, in particular, remains a stark contrast for her. “German bread is much more dense. Bread in the Netherlands is very soft. Even the smaller rolls are very different. The baking culture is just very different. We have completely different things, made in a completely different way.” Lunch habits were also a cultural shock. “In Germany, you eat a warm lunch. That’s normal,” she explains. The Dutch sandwich culture took some getting used to: “Here it’s mostly bread. I’m used to it now, but it did take some time.”

“My accent doesn’t really sound German anymore. When I speak German, people sometimes don’t know exactly where I’m from, it sounds either German or English. My mindset has also changed a bit after living in the Netherlands for so long. I’m probably more relaxed than I used to be, for example about time. I’m no longer as punctual and rigid in planning as my family in Germany is accustomed to.”

“Dutch people speak many languages, far more than in other countries, and that has a lot to do with how they operate. They are clever in negotiation and also excel in communication skills, which they start learning early at school.”

“I’m glad I’m here. Amsterdam is a beautiful city to live in. The size is perfect, not too big, not too small. There are plenty of cultural events to attend if you want. If you live here long enough, you really learn to appreciate that. I could imagine living somewhere else temporarily, maybe half a year or a year, but not permanently. There’s no country where I think: ‘That’s where I have to go.’ Germany doesn’t feel like my home anymore, and neither do the U.S. So for now, the Netherlands is the best place. But I never rule anything out.”

“Amsterdam is wonderful to live in, but we’re considering moving because our house is small and we’d like a garden. Many people leave Amsterdam to find larger outdoor spaces, for example in Haarlem or further north. We also looked at Zaandam, but it’s more expensive and there aren’t enough options that fit what we need.”

If Heike were to give advice to a new highly skilled migrant coming to the Netherlands, she would say: “Always weigh the pros and cons carefully and research the country thoroughly to make sure the opportunity is truly worthwhile. But it’s always worth taking the leap if you have the chance, because it’s a way to gain knowledge and broaden your horizons. Don’t forget to keep your options open and never burn your bridges.”

Do you have a story you’d like to share about moving to, working in, or living in the Netherlands?