When you move abroad, it’s not just your furniture that has to make the journey—it’s your digital life, too. The apps you’ve come to trust, the ones you tap without thinking, often don’t cross borders as easily as you do.
If you’re relocating from the U.S. to the Netherlands, here’s a guide to what will feel familiar, what won’t, and how to reassemble your digital toolkit without losing your mind. Think of it less as starting over, more as learning the local dialect of modern life.
Streaming: Familiar Names, Slightly Different Worlds
Still works:
You can keep your Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video accounts. They’ll function much as they did back home—though the catalogs may differ.
What changes:
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American-only platforms like Hulu, Max, and Peacock won’t work without a VPN.
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Dutch subtitles or dubbing may default on children’s content.
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You might discover new European shows that quietly shift your tastes.
Tip:
Your playlists and profiles follow you. The soundtrack to your life doesn’t skip a beat.
Shopping: Goodbye, Prime Obsession
You’ll find Amazon.nl here, but the selection is sparse and shipping lacks the breathless speed you’re used to.
What locals use instead:
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Bol.com – Think of it as the Dutch Amazon, but less chaotic and more pragmatic.
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Coolblue – Excellent for electronics and appliances, with a sense of humor woven into its customer service.
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Albert Heijn – The go-to grocery store, with solid online ordering.
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Picnic – App-only grocery delivery in reusable crates, often with friendly little jingles. Sustainability meets suburban efficiency.
Tip:
Dutch retailers love iDEAL, a direct bank transfer system. If you’re used to paying with a credit card, you’ll need to adjust. More on that below.
Food Delivery: A New Cast of Couriers
Uber Eats is present in major cities like Amsterdam, but plays a supporting role.
Instead, try:
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Thuisbezorgd – The dominant delivery app. Name means “Delivered at home.”
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Deliveroo and Just Eat Takeaway exist in some places but are downsizing.
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For lightning-fast groceries: Flink, Getir, and Gorillas. They zip around on e-bikes with your oat milk in tow.
Tip:
Restaurants tend to prioritize in-house dining. Delivery is efficient, but rarely extravagant.
Banking and Payments: Welcome to iDEAL
What you’ll notice quickly:
Your U.S. credit card won’t get you far. Even Apple Pay, if tied to an American bank, may hit snags.
What to do:
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Learn iDEAL, the backbone of Dutch digital payments.
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Use Tikkie (created by ABN AMRO) to split bills with friends—quick, casual, and embedded in daily life.
Tip:
Cash is an antique. Even cafés and market stalls prefer cards. You’ll miss fumbling for coins less than you expect.
Transportation: Efficiency Over Flash
Uber:
Still available in cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, but taxis are pricier than in the U.S. and rarely necessary.
What you’ll rely on instead:
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NS – Dutch Railways. Punctual, clean, and interconnected.
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9292 – An app that weaves together all public transit.
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OV-chipkaart – One card for all trains, trams, buses, and metros.
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Shared scooters like Felyx, Check, and GO Sharing.
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OV-fiets – Rent a bike at most stations. Cheap and liberating.
Tip:
Don’t underestimate the bike. It’s not a niche lifestyle here—it is the infrastructure.
Mail and Packages: Slower, But More Personal
U.S. shipping services like FedEx or UPS still operate, but expect delays and fees.
Local players:
Tip:
Packages are often left with neighbors—an informal system based on trust. If you’re out, your parcel might be enjoying tea two doors down.
Prefer a bit more control? You can opt to have parcels delivered to designated pickup points—like lockers or counters at local supermarkets, or a secure location such as a Bieseklette, which also offers guarded bike parking. You’ll usually have a few days to collect your delivery, which makes the whole process feel calmer and less like a guessing game.
Other Shifts to Note
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SIM Cards & Phones: Grab a local SIM from KPN, Vodafone, or T-Mobile NL.
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News & Weather: NOS, NU.nl, and BBC News give a good mix. For weather, Buienradar is sacred—especially for dodging rain while biking.
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Healthcare: Most doctor’s offices use different portals. You’ll register directly with a huisarts (GP), and they’ll guide you into the labyrinth from there.
A Quiet Reassembly
At first, the transition feels like a hundred small inconveniences. A card that doesn’t swipe. An app that won’t open. A craving you can’t fulfill in 30 minutes or less.
But over time, something shifts. You begin to adapt not just to the tools, but to the tempo they enforce. Life here is efficient, yes—but also measured. Systems reward planning, not impulse. They trust you to be an adult. They don’t sell speed so much as they expect stillness.
One day, without fanfare, you’ll realize you haven’t opened Amazon in weeks. You’ll glide through your day with a bike, a debit card, and a few native apps. And somehow, your new life will feel not just livable, but gently better.
