A Place to Live

When I moved back to the Netherlands I thought it would take me at least a year to find a place to live. When I inquired at City Hall about my prospects of finding suitable housing they told me it would take at least 6 to 7 years. 
Because of my (at the moment) non existing monthly income I would be entitled to social housing which means that the rent of the property has to be below a certain amount in order for me to get financial aid down the road.
I had to sign up at Woningnet (where all available social housing is listed), and had to make a profile. Based on this I could look at properties and the site would show me how my chances would be to acquire that (rental) property. 
So one day I decided to do just that (it was Monday July 22) and I started looking at the houses and apartments. My eye caught a brand new senior apartment complex in Utrecht. Would this be something for me? There were 15 2 bedroom apartments available and 7 3 bedroom apartments.  The 3 bedroom apartments had a great number of sign ups. Only one person had signed up for a 2 bedroom. That evening I talked about it with my relatives and decided to give a shot at the 2 bedroom apartment.  When I signed up already 4 people had signed up too. The  sign up time would close the next morning at 8 AM. The site told me my chance of success of acquiring this apartment was 0 %. 
Two days later I received an email that they offered me a 2 bedroom apartment.
I was in shock and could not believe it. How about 0 % success? Maybe I was at the right place at the right time to get this?
On open house day I looked at the different 2 bedrooms and liked what I saw. I made a list of my favorites and turned that in and on August 6 I received a phone call telling me that the apartment on the 12th floor would be mine if I wanted it and if all the paperwork was okay. 
I could not believe that I would be so lucky to find housing within 3 months of my return. 
I made sure all the paperwork I had to turn in was received in time. There was a small hick up but with the help of City Hall and 10 Euro I got the proper document that was missing and so it all worked out. 
I signed the rental agreement yesterday and will receive the keys this coming Monday.

So everyone asks me " How come you already get housing?" 
I think it is very simple.
I fit all the criteria: over 55, income below certain scale, been living abroad for over 4 years and I don't have independent housing at the moment. But the most important thing why I am so lucky is that there are plenty of 2 bedrooms available but not enough people who want them.

Ain't I lucky?

A new home for me?

I must have signed up at the right place at the right time: I was shocked to be offered a brand new apartment in a senior apartment building in the city of Utrecht. I had just signed up for social housing and did not expect a positive response at all. 
Ever since I got the email, I am in a state of confusion, excitement, anxiety and unbelieve. Is it really true? Will I really get an apartment? All signs point in that direction.
My sister and I had a first check of the available apartments last Thursday and we both like them very much. The space is very roomy: a living room and 1 bedroom. The complex is accessible for wheel chairs so the doors are extra wide, no thresholds. After looking at 3 apartments I had to compile a list of my preferences numbered 1 - 10. I want to live as high as possible so my choices were for housing on the 9th through 13th floor. On Tuesday I will get a phone call which apartment they will offer me and on Thursday I can look at that specific apartment again and decide if I want it or not.
The fun part is that I can buy all new stuff because I am starting over again. What color scheme do I want? What style?
With my siblings I have been looking at furniture, washers and dryers, beds, couches and so on.. I am browsing the internet, comparing prices and making and altering my budget.
Can't wait for Tuesday.

My new bike and me

Proud owner of my e-bike.

An exceptional day

 3 good things happened today.

1. To get a dutch driver's license was easy. Since I was still in the possession of a dutch driver's license that was valid after June 30, 1985 (although expired) I could just pay the fee, turn in a picture and in 5 days time I can pick up my new driver's license. Thank God no need to take lessons or take the driver's test.
But for my own peace of mind I do intend to take one lesson since cars in general have a clutch. I also want to borrow a book and study the traffic rules and signs and bring myself up to date.

2. I am the proud owner of an electric bike. This is the best buy I ever made. Whenever I bike, the wind won't bother me since I will get the support of the motor/battery.

3. I am invited to look at a brand new apartment building in the city of Utrecht. The complex is for 55 and over. I signed up for a 2 room apartment and am excited to take a look next Thursday. Who knows.. maybe this will be the place I am going to live.

A first: tapas

The weather was beautiful and sunny so my sister took her husband and me to a tapas restaurant in Utrecht. I have never had tapas before so I was excited to try something new. 
The nice thing about restaurants in Utrecht is that if you want to eat in the center of the city you most likely end up in one of the restaurants at the canal. Imagine sitting outdoors at cellar level and all (foot) traffic and shops are at street level. On the canal a steady stream of boats is passing by, most of them crowded with people enjoying the sun, wine, beer and food.
Tapas are snacks, canapes or finger food that originated in Spain.
Our first course consists of a plate with 4 shells filled with olives. mixed veggies, 2 slices of meat and pieces of cheese. Stupid of me: I forgot to take a picture. 
For the main course we could pick 4 different items of the menu. The pictures will speak for themselves. Dessert also consisted of a plate with ice cream, chocolate cake and fruit cup. In stead of dessert we opted for a coffee with sambuca (anise flavored liqueur). Our sambuca had 3 coffee beans, representing health, happiness and prosperity. The waiter lit a bit of the sambuca plus beans on a spoon and put it back in our glass.
The tapas meal was filling: although each bowl is small, the food was plenty.  All in all it was a delicious experience. I will definitely eat tapas again.

 

Blessings of the Internet

Well, I have to learn new skills, especially how to browse the internet in the Netherlands.
How to get from A to B by public transportation? I spent lots of time figuring out how to travel to Doorn, to my brother Peter, and got so stuck on web sites that were far too complicated to compare, until my sister told me to just go to: ov9292.nl. Now it was a piece of cake: you just type in your home address and the address you want to go to and useful information pops up, including cost of your ticket. Now you can plan your trip.
Then I had to find out how to find job postings, how to find housing for rent, how to compare bicycles or health insurance, where to find a doctor, a dentist etc. and I realized how much time I lost when I was looking for information and did not know what word to use to get my search started.
You have a name and city but no address? Just go to telefoongids.nl (yellow pages), type in the information you have and if you are lucky the address pops up. No zip code? Go to zipcode.nl, enter the information and the zip code pops up. 
For people in the Netherlands it is probably not a big deal but coming from abroad I had no idea how much information is easily accessible once I knew where to look. 
In the mean time I am getting quite familiar with public transportation. I noticed how many changes were implemented since I left the country. I love the fact that one card (with enough balance of course) allows me travel all through the country: just scan your card when you hop on or off the train, tram or bus. I also love the fact that you can read all the information on screens in train, bus, tram or metro: where it is headed, when you will arrive. I know people criticize public transportation a lot (never on time, too expensive, no information when there are delays)  but so far, so good, nothing negative to tell.


With Harry and Yvonne in the train to Harderwijk and myself in light rail

Dutch new herring; a great seasonal delicacy.

Every year, in June, the Dutch are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first catch of herring, which is called "maatjesharing". This is the first young herring fit for consumption.

This fish is prepared in a specific way: it is cleaned, frozen and salted for a couple of days. After salting it is filleted in a specific way: the head is removed, as are all the bones and the skin, but the tail is left on. The tail is often used as a handle to hold the fish when lowering it into your mouth. New herring can be eaten with or without onions.

Many people love to eat it with onions. New herring has a soft texture, tastes lightly salted and smells fresh. It is usually bought at a market stand and eaten there as a snack.

The good news is ...it is a very healthy snack.