Hello everyone,
My wife and I are planning a 7–8 day scouting trip to the Netherlands in late February, as we’re considering a possible move in the next couple of years. We’d love to hear from people with on-the-ground experience — whether you currently live there, have lived there in the past, or have spent extended or repeated time in the Netherlands.
A bit about us for context:
- We’re in our mid-40s, no children
- We currently live in suburban Westchester County, NY (near NYC)
- I work from home
- My partner is a freelance corporate photographer so she would travel into major cities for work rather than commute daily to a single office
- We’re used to a walkable town center, a quieter day-to-day pace, and regular train trips into a larger city
For this trip, we’re thinking of basing ourselves in one town or small city and taking day trips by train — both to explore different areas and to get a sense of what everyday travel and rhythm might feel like.
Places we’re currently considering include:
- Leiden
- Haarlem
- Delft
- The Hague
We’re not looking for a “best” answer, but rather how these places actually feel over time, particularly from an American perspective.
We’d especially appreciate insights on:
- Day-to-day livability and rhythm
- Ease of getting into larger cities by train
- Whether a place feels self-contained vs. primarily commuter-oriented
- Any tradeoffs that only become apparent after spending real time there
If you’ve spent time in more than one of these places, we’d especially welcome any compare/contrast observations.
Thanks very much for any perspectives you’re willing to share.