oranjeroots

Moving to a new country isn’t one big moment — it’s a thousand tiny ones. Lots of little wins along the way to celebrate.

Some days feel exciting, some feel overwhelming, and most fall somewhere in between. But over time, I have realised that it’s not the milestones that made the Netherlands feel like home. It was the smaller things that slowly softened the edges of the transition.

Here are the little things that helped me settle in.

1. Finding “my” grocery store

Not the cheapest one. Not the biggest one. Just the one where I knew where everything was. I still have days where my awkwardness and anxiety is through the roof and I’d rather not get the item I wanted than ask someone where something is! Weirdly I also was very excited about the food shopping situation and figuring out what my favourite store is! Albert Heijn is currently winning.

2. Bringing some of my furniture and sentimental things from home

So I was in the fortunate position of moving straight in with my partner who happens to have a fair sized home. I was on the fence about how much stuff I was going to keep to bring over from my house in Scotland. But I opted to bring over a lot of pictures and ornaments, mugs, hobby stuff, cushions, bedding and it honestly was just nice to see all my things here and really solidify that this is now my life. It genuinely takes a while for your brain to catch up to the fact that you’ve moved countries, and having my own things here helped that process along.

3. Learning the local language (even badly)

I’m still learning, but even simple phrases like “fijne dag” or “pinnen, alsjeblieft” helped me feel a bit more connected. People are usually more receptive when they see you trying.

Speaking the local language matters to me — it makes day‑to‑day life easier and helps me feel like I’m actually integrating. The challenge in the Netherlands is that almost everyone speaks excellent English, so they often switch as soon as they hear your accent, which makes practising Dutch a bit harder.

4. Saying yes to small invitations

A coffee. A walk. A neighbourly chat. I didn’t force myself into big social situations, but the tiny interactions slowly built a sense of belonging. My partners family have been amazing and I’ve been so lucky with how welcoming they have been. I’ve still not made any organic friends as yet here, although I’m still very new here, but any social outing or meet up is super nice to break up your time while you are job hunting.

5. Decorating one corner of the house first

Not the whole home. Not the Pinterest-perfect version. Just one corner that felt cosy and familiar. A plant, a lamp, a blanket — something that made the space feel lived in rather than temporary. A space that is well used to me is my desk, so making it exactly how I wanted it with the aesthetic that I’m used to, again, just made things feel like home. My partner has also been amazing in giving me freedom to go mad with decorating as well, and he’s been really doing everything he can to make me feel at home as well.

6. Letting myself have “bad days”

Some days you miss home for no reason. Some days you’re tired of translating everything in your head. Letting those days exist — without guilt — made the good days feel even more meaningful. It’s completely normal to be feeling alone sometimes, and hoping you get a job and that everything works out how you planned it. Some things will go to plan, and some things won’t, but that’s the adventure of it all as well.

7. Learning how public transport works

Figuring out the basics of public transport made everyday life much easier. Once I understood how to tap in and out with my OV‑chipkaart, where the train station is, where you can travel to, how to get to major cities or other towns, it just makes getting from A to B more accessible. It took away that “new place” uncertainty and replaced it with a bit of confidence. Still can’t beat the bicycle in my eyes.

8. Having a predictable weekly rhythm

Establishing a simple weekly routine helped everything settle into place. Having set days for laundry, groceries, cleaning, or errands gave the week a structure that felt familiar, even in a new environment. It wasn’t about being strict — just having a rhythm that made life feel less chaotic.

So to sum up…

Settling into a new country doesn’t happen all at once — it’s a collection of small routines, familiar objects, and everyday moments that slowly make life feel normal again. Over time, those little things add up, and the place that once felt unfamiliar starts to feel like home.