FROM UNKNOWN IN THE UK TO THE MOST WELL-KNOWN EXPAT IN THE AREA: HARRIET’S ADVENTURE IN ZUID
Moving to a different country is stressful. A new place, new people and a new life. Do I fit in, will I make new connections, even with that language barrier? These were all questions in Harriet McKnight’s mind before her big move to Amsterdam. To help her out, boyfriend Jeroen made the secret Instagramaccount @mygirlfriendharriet, that gained over 100.000 followers in less than a week. Without even knowing it, Harriet became a local celebrity. We asked how the past months have been for her, what her favorite spots in Zuid are and the biggest difference between the Brits and the Dutch.
Logical next step
Her move to the Netherlands felt very natural for Harriet. “It was easier for me to move to the Netherlands than the other way around. I’m able to keep my job as a flight attendant and I fly back and forth almost every week.” Her British identity will always be a very important part of who she is. “I will never be fully Dutch and I also don’t want to be. I’m proud of my British roots. I want my kids to go to a British school, it is part of who I am after all.” Laughing quietly, she adds: “And no uniform, that is something I’ll never get used to.”
City with a village feel
What Harriet loves the most about Amsterdam is the village-feel it has. “Amsterdam is a big city, but it feels very small and cozy. The independent coffee spots are so cute, I completely understand why they’re so popular here. Everyone is also great at English, so I felt very welcome from day one.” She already has a few favorite staples: “Het Vondelpark of course, I also love de Beethovenstraat and we love going to Brasserie Van Dam.”
From hug to handshake
The biggest difference? “When people meet each other for the first time here, they shake hands. I always go in for a hug when I meet new people, but no one does that here,” Harriet explains amusingly. “Dutch people are a lot more direct. British people tend to beat around the bush out of politeness.” There are a few more typical Dutch things on her bucket list. “I would love to go see the tulips, and I can’t wait for Kingsday, we already have our orange shirts. And I hope to spend a lot of time on the canals this summer!”
