Two Years as an American Expat in Amsterdam

On September 1, 2017, Jon and I stepped off the plane at Schiphol airport and into a new life. As of this week, it has been two years as an American expat in Amsterdam. It’s kind of hard to believe. Time has passed so quickly.

I spent some time the other day revisiting my very first post as an American expat and my post last year at our one year Amsterdamiversary. Last year was a bit of a celebration. We had made it a year! We can really say that we live here now and it’s not just a quick stint abroad. Now that it’s been two years, our Amsterdamiversary passed with less fanfare.

Jon and I spoke about life as an American expat in Amsterdam just the other week. How proud we are to have been here this long. We’re both very comfortable in our life here. We’ve settled into the culture, we’ve been in the same apartment, and we’re both secure in our jobs.

Last year, my experience was so much different than it is writing today. I was let go from my job at 72andsunny due to my visa, spent several months out of work, and was just getting back on my feet when I wrote that post.

This year, I’ve been working with Bloomeffects for just over a year and helping out Jon’s company for a little longer. I’m regularly traveling to New York for work. I spent a good chunk of the year working as a spin instructor and left the job recently (read about it in this post).

We’ve been on so many trips, including Dublin, London, Bordeaux, Paris, and Antibes. With more planned for the next half of the year, including a trip to Australia to visit my parents who began life as American expats there this year.

At this point, one of the questions I get asked most is when we will be moving back to the States. And just like when we stepped off that plane two years ago, I’m not sure. I know we’ll be here through the end of next year, but beyond that anything could happen.

Right now, I’m not in a rush to leave life as an American expat in Amsterdam. But I will admit that the city is starting to feel quite small. This is actually the longest period Jon and I have lived in one place, so there’s a small amount of restlessness. But that’s where the travel comes into play. Ask any expat, and hands down the best part of living here is the access to travel.

I’m excited to see what the next year of life as an American in Amsterdam has in store. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that it’ll be full of life lessons, surprises, and adventures.

Xx, Kelsey