I am the kind of expat who is more likely to base his vote on who has the most colorful campaign poster because he has not got an idea what they are saying…really funny. I didnt know expats were eligible to vote though!
Is voting compulsory in Holland? At least you don’t have the Walloons versus the Flems – elections in this country are so complicated that I try to give a blank vote each time. I couldn’t work out how to do that the first time we went ‘electronic’, but have it down to a T now.
I’m jealous. I think I’ll have to wait three or four more years to qualify to vote, but my EU-citizen boyfriend got his voter registration in the mail the other day. Not that I’d really have clue on how or who/what to vote for, since Google translate can be useful but also a bit confusing or, you know, wrong. Perhaps not the best way to base political decisions. What happened to politics based on watery tarts with swords?
Party polliticing aside, what I don’t get is how you’ve managed to live here for the past 8 years? Not registering yourself? But you need to register to get a BSN. You need a BSN to practically do EVERYTHING over here! Like get/hold down a job! Have you not been paying taxes for 8 years? No-one at your work mentioned the fact that they had no BSN/SoFi number on file for you?
Gez – I had everything. A SoFi number, medical insurance, a job contract. I was paying taxes, electricity bills, water bills, the lot. But it was just the part of going to city hall and saying hello. No one told me I had to do it so I did not know. I amused since I had everything else I was set.
Still not quite sure on how you managed to get a SoFi number without being a registered resident :)
Granted, I was the reverse you when I moved over. I’d been dating my (Dutch) girlfriend for about 18 months before I moved here to be with her (in March 2008), so she helped me get all the paperwork sorted, register at the town hall, etc. Still trying to find a job though – I just hope I don’t have to wait 7-8 years for something decent to come along!
Where are you from Gez? I’m an EU citizen (I don’t know if you are too) so somethings are easier for me to sort out with a lot less paper work. Maybe that is it?
All the while I was reading this, I was desperately trying to remember where you live, just to make sure that I’m out of reach in case you have the deciding vote in the Z. council elections!!! :o) You are NOT a resident of Z., are you? Right? RIGHT?! :o)
Oh, I’m a Brit, for sure. The paperwork I was talking about was things like the BSN, registering with the IND (complete with sticker in my passport!), and so on. As for my lack of job, that’s where that lack of paperwork kicks in – no respectable qualifications above A-levels to speak of, and no desire to flip burgers for a living.
Ah… I was lucky there. My job helped me sort everything out (including stamp in passport). But as far as actually helping me get registered… they didn’t tell me I had to do that.
Sander Says:
The sad thing is, you’d probably still be making a more informed decision than many native voters ;)
February 8, 2010 @ 11:57 am
Orangesplaash Says:
I am the kind of expat who is more likely to base his vote on who has the most colorful campaign poster because he has not got an idea what they are saying…really funny. I didnt know expats were eligible to vote though!
February 8, 2010 @ 8:03 pm
zed Says:
Is voting compulsory in Holland? At least you don’t have the Walloons versus the Flems – elections in this country are so complicated that I try to give a blank vote each time. I couldn’t work out how to do that the first time we went ‘electronic’, but have it down to a T now.
February 9, 2010 @ 9:33 am
Alison Says:
I’m jealous. I think I’ll have to wait three or four more years to qualify to vote, but my EU-citizen boyfriend got his voter registration in the mail the other day. Not that I’d really have clue on how or who/what to vote for, since Google translate can be useful but also a bit confusing or, you know, wrong. Perhaps not the best way to base political decisions. What happened to politics based on watery tarts with swords?
February 9, 2010 @ 11:41 am
kiki Says:
Just don’t vote for the guy with the silly hair, okay?
February 9, 2010 @ 12:07 pm
The girlfriend Says:
@Kiki: I won’t let him!!!! No worries :D
February 9, 2010 @ 12:47 pm
Invader Stu Says:
Sander – I would not be surprised if that ends up being true.
Orangesplaash – I didn’t either until I got the letter… unless they think I am Dutch.
zed – I don’t think it is. I hope I’m not about to get a pair of Dutch heavies on my doorstep.
Alison – Watery tarts with swords? We used to do that?
kiki – Why not?
The Girlfriend – Oooowwwwwww :(
February 9, 2010 @ 1:16 pm
The girlfriend Says:
because the man with the funny hair doesnt like foreign people living in ‘his’ country
February 9, 2010 @ 2:20 pm
suus Says:
Yeah, his hair is as funny as it get’s. *sigh
February 10, 2010 @ 12:13 am
suus Says:
I have the feeling that was bad English. I mean: the only funny thing is his hair. The guy is….Yuck
February 10, 2010 @ 12:13 am
Gez Says:
Party polliticing aside, what I don’t get is how you’ve managed to live here for the past 8 years? Not registering yourself? But you need to register to get a BSN. You need a BSN to practically do EVERYTHING over here! Like get/hold down a job! Have you not been paying taxes for 8 years? No-one at your work mentioned the fact that they had no BSN/SoFi number on file for you?
February 10, 2010 @ 8:34 am
Invader Stu Says:
The girlfriend & suus – Like Don King?
Gez – I had everything. A SoFi number, medical insurance, a job contract. I was paying taxes, electricity bills, water bills, the lot. But it was just the part of going to city hall and saying hello. No one told me I had to do it so I did not know. I amused since I had everything else I was set.
The full story is here: http://www.invader-stu.com/holland/?p=385
February 10, 2010 @ 10:07 am
Gez Says:
Still not quite sure on how you managed to get a SoFi number without being a registered resident :)
Granted, I was the reverse you when I moved over. I’d been dating my (Dutch) girlfriend for about 18 months before I moved here to be with her (in March 2008), so she helped me get all the paperwork sorted, register at the town hall, etc. Still trying to find a job though – I just hope I don’t have to wait 7-8 years for something decent to come along!
February 10, 2010 @ 12:40 pm
Wendi Says:
Always go with the candidate who has the most teeth.
February 10, 2010 @ 3:04 pm
Invader Stu Says:
Where are you from Gez? I’m an EU citizen (I don’t know if you are too) so somethings are easier for me to sort out with a lot less paper work. Maybe that is it?
Wendi – Even if it’s too much teeth?
February 10, 2010 @ 4:46 pm
Aledys Ver Says:
All the while I was reading this, I was desperately trying to remember where you live, just to make sure that I’m out of reach in case you have the deciding vote in the Z. council elections!!! :o) You are NOT a resident of Z., are you? Right? RIGHT?! :o)
February 11, 2010 @ 2:58 pm
Invader Stu Says:
Aledys Ver – Maybe I am. Maybe I am not. Mahahahaha!
February 11, 2010 @ 7:43 pm
Gez Says:
Oh, I’m a Brit, for sure. The paperwork I was talking about was things like the BSN, registering with the IND (complete with sticker in my passport!), and so on. As for my lack of job, that’s where that lack of paperwork kicks in – no respectable qualifications above A-levels to speak of, and no desire to flip burgers for a living.
February 11, 2010 @ 9:26 pm
Invader Stu Says:
Ah… I was lucky there. My job helped me sort everything out (including stamp in passport). But as far as actually helping me get registered… they didn’t tell me I had to do that.
February 12, 2010 @ 10:53 am