Irish expats abroad: Irish woman living in Amsterdam reveals how she bought property in Dutch capital

A Dublin woman has revealed how purchasing property in Amsterdam is easier on the financial front than compared to living back at home, as she admitted there was ‘nothing enticing us back’ to Ireland as of yet.

Beth, 30s, was in search of a change of scenery after the COVID-19 pandemic and through work, was offered to relocate to either Amsterdam or Paris.

The digital marketer opted for Amsterdam due to the English language being commonly used in the Dutch city, with her boyfriend of six months emigrating alongside her.

‘It was a bit risky, but we’re both in our 30s and we can make decisions,’ Beth told Extra.ie, ‘Luckily, it worked out!

Beth revealed that ‘for the moment’ the couple are happy where they are, admitting ‘there’s nothing pulling us back.’

She clarified: ‘Obviously, friends and family, for sure, is something that you miss out on and it is a compromise, but that’s part of it.

‘We’d go back a couple of times a year. It’s so quick and there’s multiple airlines you can go on, and it just feels so accessible.’

Beth added that it’s ‘no big deal’ to travel between Dublin and Amsterdam and flights can be got for decent pricing, particularly if booked a couple of months in advance.

Speaking to Extra.ie, she revealed that last year she and her partner bought an apartment, but noted that buying property is thought of differently in the European city.

‘At home, if you can afford a house, you might buy one and live in it for 20 years or something like that, whereas here in the city it’s quite common to buy an apartment and a couple of years later you might sell it because there’s expats coming in and out all the time,’ she explained.

‘People all thought I was going to live here forever when we bought, but we bought because it made more sense. The mortgage was eventually going to be the same or cheaper than rent, and they give 100% deposit. It wouldn’t have been possible for us to do this back home.’

Beth noted how once you have a permanent work contract and a salary which can cover mortgage repayments, the bank will give you a guarantee.

One of the Dublin woman’s favourite things about life in Amsterdam is the multitude of cultures.

‘There is a good few Irish people — one of my closest friends is from Clare and I just met her randomly at a wine and cheese event that was posted on the Irish in Amsterdam [Facebook] page,’ Beth said.

‘In general, it is a huge expat community so I’ve friends from all different countries.’

She later added: ‘It’s incredible to sit in a café and you can hear five or six different languages being spoken.’

Another major bonus for living in Amsterdam is the ‘incredible’ transport — something anyone in Ireland will never relate to.

Is cost of living better than compared to Ireland? Beth answered that it was much the same, with beer and wine likely the only things cheaper due to less tax on the alcoholic beverages