Community Blogs

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

• Mar 11

Understanding the education system in Luxembourg can be a daunting task; it can be more difficult if there’s a language barrier. However, you can choose from a ...

Thomas W

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Mar 11

Higher Education in the Netherlands After six years here, I've watched countless international students make the Netherlands their educational home. The country...

Warsaw, Poland

• Mar 10

Polish forms of address: Use "Pan" (men) and "Pani" (women) in formal situations, first meetings, professional settings. More formal than English culture.

jamesmitchell

Berlin, Germany

• Mar 10

12.9% of Germany is foreign-born. High living standards and strong economy, but locals can be unfriendly. Excellent healthcare, education. High taxes offset by quality of life. HSBC ranks it 27th for expats.

David Miller

Warsaw, Poland

• Mar 10

Sto Lat is Poland birthday song meaning "100 years." Sung at birthdays, weddings, namedays. Lyrics: Sto lat, niech zyje nam!

jamesmitchell

Brussels, Belgium

• Mar 10

Belgian hospitals need doctor referrals for non-emergency treatment. Belgium has 103 hospitals with 6 beds per 1,000 residents. Health insurance (mutuelle) is required and covers most costs.

Sophie

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Mar 9

Dutch bank accounts are practically essential - landlords and employers need them. ABN AMRO and ING are expat-friendly. You need ID, BSN, and Dutch address. Some banks allow opening before arrival.

Vienna, Austria

• Mar 9

Austrian CVs should be in German, 2-3 pages, with photo. Wear formal business attire to interviews. Salary discussed in first/second interview. Job ads show minimum salary.

viennalife

Warsaw, Poland

• Mar 9

Polish soups are hearty main meals: barszcz (beet with uszka dumplings), żurek (fermented rye with kiełbasa in bread bowl), rosół (healing chicken broth), grzybowa (wild mushroom).

jamesmitchell

Lisbon, Portugal

• Mar 9

Portugal has progressive tax brackets for 2025. Non-residents pay 25% flat rate. IFICI (NHR 2.0) offers tax benefits for skilled workers. File returns by June 30.

Rome, Italy

• Mar 9

Call 112 for emergencies in Italy - the Europe-wide number connects to ambulance (118), fire (115), or police (113). Life-saving treatment is free. English support varies.

Marco R

Warsaw, Poland

• Mar 9

Polish breakfast: jajecznica (creamy scrambled eggs with mushrooms), żurek (sour rye soup for breakfast!), placki ziemniaczane (crispy potato pancakes), open-faced sandwiches-hearty meals.

jamesmitchell

Warsaw, Poland

• Mar 8

Best Polish dishes: pierogi (potato/cheese dumplings with sour cream), bigos (hunter's stew), kielbasa (smoked sausage), żurek (sour rye soup in bread bowl), sernik (twaróg cheesecake).

jamesmitchell

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Mar 8

The Dutch Physiotherapy SystemAfter six years in the Netherlands, I've been impressed by the quality and accessibility of physiotherapy here. According to 2020 ...

Rome, Italy

• Mar 8

Among expat parents’ most pressing concerns is how they will find healthcare for their child when moving abroad. Between a different language, customs, and h...

Marco R