I'm an American who moved to the Netherlands 9 years ago. I love the bike culture, but I miss Trader Joe's and speaking English.

Business Insider | 10-09-2026 11:32am |

Jaime Bancroft-Gennaro, a 50-year-old consultant and coach, moved from the United States to the Netherlands in 2017 to improve her family's quality of life. She appreciates the Netherlands' bike culture and sense of community but misses American conveniences such as Trader Joe's and speaking English. Her family's transition involved embracing Dutch culture and overcoming language barriers. She shared her experience in an as-told-to essay.

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