Of Apartments and Red Tape: Settling in in Maastricht

I have arrived!

Well strictly speaking, I met Dan at the Amsterdam airport on April 2nd and we drove down to Maastricht in a borrowed car. The flight went well overall. The cats came through the flight very well (they might disagree); terrified, but without messing their carriers. It took a few days but they’ve discovered all their favorite hideaways in the new apartment so far, including on top of my kitchen cabinets. The delay in posting here was, of course, related to a lack of internet and overall busy-ness as we worked to get the apartment in shape and start my residency paperwork.

The apartment itself is pleasant. It is a smallish one bedroom with a loft space large enough for our bed or maybe an office. We purchased some furniture via Ikea, but I’m waiting for the rest of our things to arrive with the movers so I can set it up. In the mean time we’re still living in an in between state. We’re sleeping on a borrowed air mattress and using borrowed kitchen things. You will have to wait for pictures. In the mean time, here are a few pictures from our back porch.

I was raised in Vermont, so I missed having this sort of outdoor space while we lived in Boston. Patio furniture was probably the first furniture we purchased when we moved in. I find sitting out here very relaxing; as if everything inside was just right.

The red tape is related to being able to stay in the Netherlands legally (the Dutch are known for their complex regulations). The visa I obtained in the USA allowed me to move to the country. Now I need to obtain a temporary residence permit to allow me to live and work in Maastricht. Since my visa is based on Dan’s knowledge worker visa, it was necessary to provide detailed documentation indicating that we are married to the local town hall. Then we needed to provide my visa and proof of residence so I can register at my current address. Having completed that at the town hall, I visited the IND in Rijswijk to get a passport stamp as a temporary, temporary residency permit. I can now return to the town hall to start the process on my so-fi number (which allows me to open a bank account, get paid, etc) and finalize my residence. If my application is approved, I will head back out to Eindhoven to pick up my ID card in a 3-6 weeks. Dan, thank goodness, has been with me every step so far and already has his ID card.

Beyond playing house and paperwork, I haven’t had much time for anything else. Access to an internet cafe about 15-20 minutes walk from my apartment means I may have time to do internet research and post more frequently. Stay tuned for more pictures and a new podcast Dan & I are trying out.

2 Responses to “Of Apartments and Red Tape: Settling in in Maastricht”

1. kbogan says:

   April 13, 2009 at 4:33 pm

   It sounds like things are going well despite needing to wait for furniture and all the red tape. The view from your porch is fabulous. I hope you are having an amazing time so far.

   Reply
2. kbogan says:

   April 13, 2009 at 4:35 pm

   It’s like you guys are still here. I’m listening at work and cracking up.

   Reply