@mwl Wrt. Netherlands, they're nearly universally bilingual in English, and Dutch is a Germanic family language, so not impossible to puzzle out text. Notable problem is the rightwing swing in politics in recent years (anti-immigrant sentiment is significant, and while it won't be in your face it may affect your interactions with government services).
Jul 5, 2026, 2:42 PM@cstross thanks. The rightward swing is worrisome, but they're still waaaay left of anyone here.
@mwl @cstross Not to mention the right-wing fuckery wouldn't apply to you *too much*, given your skin colour...
I wish they'd collectively sod off, though (the right wingers, that is).
Housing, yes, that'll be your biggest issue. Housing is a bit of a shitshow. Steer clear of the "Randstad" area (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, mostly) and it's (very) slightly less problematic.