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Thanks so much @peter_v and @greeno! I'll definitely go to the Mauritshuis, I was a bit disappointed when I thought it was closed. I've just seen that it's 14euro entrance, eek - I forget how spoilt we are in the UK with free museums and galleries!
I'll have cycled to the Hague from Berlin so I'm all up for a day of just wandering about - and I do love a chilly windswept beach (I'm not joking). Sounds like the Hague is going to be right up my street!
Another question - any particular recommendations for a veggie (or veggie friendly) restaurant? Thanks! :)
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Actually I know two very good ones. The first is a restaurant so opens from 5, but it's very relaxed - only been once but really liked it. The second is a lunch place / cafe.
http://www.restauranthagedis.nl/
http://www.baklust.nl/Sounds like a good trip. If you need anything when you're there drop me a pm, i live local, moved over from london last year.
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We have an official cycling professor! From the USA ;-)
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Hello Netherlands based LFGSS'ers...
I may be potentially moving to The Netherlands with work. I am quite keen as I have enjoyed my time spent there previously. The opportunity is also a good career step for me.
I would be based in Boxtel, so figure commuting (by train) from 's-Hertogenbosch, Eindhoven, Tilburg and perhaps even Breda would be possible. I have never been to any of these places before so have no idea what they are like. Any help?
Aside from work I am (obviously) into riding bikes, socialising, drinking beer, looking at architecture, taking walks etc. I am looking for somewhere pretty chilled and importantly, safe to be.
Any advice or guidance would be massively appreciated!
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Brabant rules, good choice! I'd choose Eindhoven or my home town Tilburg (both more or less lively student towns with Universities and good music venues) as ideal for commuting both by train or bike to Boxtel.
Den Bosch ('s-Hertogenbosch) is a nice city to visit with historic centre (which both Tilburg and Eindhoven lack, Tilburg because of its history starting as 5 villages that grew together into a town and Eindhoven because of the war; British and German bombs) but predominantly many old people. Breda likewise historically but doesn't have any attractions I know of that would justify a move there. I'm biased of course.
All towns mentioned above have nice surroundings, nature reserves and parks and are much closer to the great outdoors (big euphemism in NL) and there's way less highways and industry and suburbs here in Brabant than around Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague.
Oh and it's close to Belgium which is a big plus.
Ask away by pm or in this topic if you want to know any specifics.
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I worked near Eindhoven, in Geldrop, for three years. I've lived in Eindhoven and den Bosch and much preferred den Bosch. It's much smaller, almost a village, but really beautiful, lots of amazing ancient architecture. I think you need to get under the surface of Eindhoven to make friends there, which I never really got to. Everyone in den Bosch was really friendly and it has a great vibe. By the time I left the chef in my local was cooking me stuff not on the menu because he thought I might like it.
The cool thing is that you can get anywhere in like an hour by train, there are loads of nature reserves and quiet Essex style roads right on the edge of the city and a great terrace cafe culture.
I'm going back at the end of the month to see friends and watch the start of the Tour de France actually, can't wait.
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I grew up in Tilburg and have been living in Utrecht for some 9 years now. Of the cities you mention, Eindhoven is the biggest in numbers, Den Bosch is the prettiest (nice historic city centre) and the smallest and the most expensive. Eindhoven has some modern stuff going on because of their Technical University and some kind of renowned (?) design academy. Tilburg is about as big as Eindhoven and a lot bigger than Den Bosch. All is relative of course, coming from London(?).
Commuting by train in the Netherlands will be busy, but not as horribly crowded as the London Underground. You can use 9292.nl or ns.nl to plan your journey.
All three are located in the province of Brabant. Some people love Brabant, others don't care much for it. The main attraction seems to be the 'gezellige' people - many speaking with a distinct accent, known for beer drinking and being somewhat laid-back. I myself fled Brabant when I came of age because I thought the people were uncultured and stupid, which would be the main criticism and/or stereotyping directed towards people from Brabant. I have since made peace with both my slight accent and my heritage.
Anyway. Right now my choice would be Eindhoven because it seems to have more going on. The old Philips factories have been retired and the industrial area they occupied has been transformed into something of a cool/hip place. You will find some of the silliest people of Brabant in Eindhoven, but also the biggest football club (I ha- dislike them). There's direct trains to Breda through Tilburg, and to Amsterdam through Den Bosch and Utrecht.
The three cities have a maximum distance of 25 minutes by train between them, so you should probably check all of them out. Compared to London, rent in Brabant can be considered low, I think. So you could always move. If you're being hired from GB to work in Boxtel I'm going to assume they have made you a pretty decent offer.
As a final thought: if you do not care for concrete and 70's and 80's horrid and cheap architecture at all, you could also consider living in one of the villages around Tilburg, Den Bosch or Eindhoven. Some are boring, some are backwards, but some are considered very pretty and rustic. Because of this it's not always cheaper to live in a village. You will have the advantage of living semi-outdoors and will be able to ride to work on good bike paths every day.
Come visit and have a look around. Everything is close by and mostly well maintained around here. Enjoy our postwar riches while they last :)
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Oh my word; thanks so much @peter_v, @dbr and @Smolders! Fantastic, fantastic responses. That has given me some great places to start my research.
The variety of potential places to base myself is a huge attraction, and what I was hoping for. I will be in company-provided accomodation (or possibly a hotel) for a month or so then I will move into my own place. So as suggested, I will make sure I check out the different places.
I am not moving from London actually, and don't come from a vast city either. Town life is preferable to city life for me. The proximity to the rest of Europe is a huge draw for me too.
Thanks again all. I look forward to giving you an update if this proceeds, and I'm sure I will have more questions.
Should I be fortunate to end up making the move I will buy each of you a beer when you are passing through!
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Breda likewise historically but doesn't have any attractions I know
of that would justify a move there. I'm biased of course.
breda is a very nice city to live, vibrant historical centre, much better then say, tilburg...;)* im from near breda and lived a long while in eindhoven during studies. my experience though is, that despite there being quite a bit of quite large cities (for dutch thinking), the mentality is quite rural/traditional. cities and likewise mentalities, don't go there.
but that is just my own dig and some of the reasons i left.. it is nice, safe, and, quiet.
*tilburg and breda have had beef since centuries, hence....;)
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Be sure to visit de Schoffel farm sometime; great eggs :)
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Brabant is a nice region. I don't care much for the cities but there are some awesome country roads to cycle on. Just follow the dykes.
The nearest velodrome would be in Apeldoorn but it's currently closed because of a renovation. If you wish to do track cycling you would have to go to Amsterdam or Alkmaar.
If you want I can add you to a Facebook group that has the agenda for Dutch fixed races (Alleycats, criteriums etc).Don't expect to learn Dutch, no one will let you XD. Even if you know a few things to say, the moment people realize you aren't Dutch they will automatically switch over to English.
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a cold biertje is always nice, especially in that kind of weather... I'm meeting a friend over there who is celebrating his birthday, the plan is to have a look at the course - when company allows. I'll send a pm when we go over there! have a nice ride anyway, one of the great things of cycling is that you'll create your own personal breeze :)
hats
greeno
peter_v
Cocoon
dbr
Thuekr
Smolders
Rodolfo
Heldring
Arawn
moog
Machine-
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@Gustav
I'd have made exactly the same recommendations as peter_v, defo do those.
Depaas is a nice place for beers indeed. You'll no doubt walk through Grote Markt too which is always lively and good for a beer, and there's a pub nearish to lola's called huppel the pub which is just a normal nice pub with great staff and a relaxed atmosphere.
Opposite huppel there is a great little french restaurant/pub called le cafe that does great steak et frites and duck too if you're after a nice meal. Also good for just a beer.
Wrong time of year, but if you're lucky enough to get blue skies, get down the beach near the harbour for a walk and a coffee. The hague centre is tiny which is good for stumbling across places, but it's not bursting with day time activities. Take a book. Anything in particular you're after let me know.
Oh and cremers if you want a doob.