International Resource Centre

We  arrived in Arnhem in October 2003 from Southeast Asia, the Philippines, where my husband and I had been working and living for 8 years. When we arrived in the Netherlands, we knew immediately that the weather would not be nearly close to what we were used to.

 

We knew, however, that we would find beauty in the peaceful, natural surroundings of Arnhem, away from the pollution  of the megacity - Metro Manila - where our children were born. It has not been an easy shift.  We were looking for a house to rent  close to the Arnhem International School (AIS). Our dream was to find a nice traditional Dutch style house in the area surrounding Oosterbeek,  half way between Wageningen and Arnhem Zuid, where work and school were located respectively. Instead, due to the cost and shortage of houses for rent, we ended up in Bemmel, a cosy little village, between Arnhem Zuid and Nijmegen. We learnt to appreciate our three-year stay there as we adjusted to the challenges of the new environment and the very different culture we experienced here.

The prime challenge we encountered as a family was where to get information that we could understand. Unlike other expatriates, we were on our own with no relocation support. So, I started collecting the scattered pieces of information that I came across in different places and from different people. Then, I thought of a guide. A guide that could bring together all the information that international people were looking for in this area.

Here it is. The guide offers carefully selected information relevant to expatriate families who are settling down in Gelderland and who want to make the best use of existing facilities which can support their stay. The guide is not meant to be a comprehensive directory, but a living and regularly updated resource. Suggestions and entries are welcomed and encouraged.

We hope you will find the Guide useful. For suggestions or comments feel free to write to us.