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Domain: expatica.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to expatica.com.

Comments · 55

  1. Re:What about Valve? by Attaturk · · Score: 1 · on Blizzard's Uncertain Future Probed

    A Vivendi subsidiary would never have been allowed to delay their first title for nearly 2 years.

    I used to work for VU on the games side before and during the 'merger'. People went over two years alright. I can't say for sure that it happened on a first title but it definitely happened. When we visited one particular developer's office (nameless naturally) all they'd really achieved in two years was a 12 page promotional booklet and a pathetic amount of research. Although the reverse of the wallchart behind the pool table showed a pretty hectic tournament history... ;-)

    What happened to the Havas involvement in Middle Earth? What happened to Bablyon 5? What happened to WON.net? Dig around a little and you'll soon see that the list of tragedies within VU is considerable and apparently ever-growing. My sympathies are with Blizzard. I know exactly what the 'VU uncertainty factor' feels like. At least whatever happens they no longer have to put up with Jean Marie Messier. And I hope for their sake that they'll be sold to a group under better management.

  2. Who needs voting machines? by mkweise · · Score: 2, Informative · on Inside Electronic Voting Machines

    See for example Switzerland's first vote via the Internet passed successfully
    and
    American expats will be able to vote in the 2004 US election over the Internet following the launch of a new experiment.

  3. Re:Now THAT'S a monopoly! by mindriot · · Score: 3, Insightful · on Munich Spurns Steve Ballmer's Software Rebates

    Actually, This article says:

    Microsoft has lowered its price offer by 15 per cent in order to prevent the city switching to Linux

    That would be a bit less then. So I still wonder where that 90% is coming from, and if that's a 90% discount on the complete price... more likely, some components were reduced by 90% so that the overall discount is closer to 15%.

  4. US invasion plans for Holland startle the Dutch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic · on Cray SX-6 Installed in Alaska

    Those fucks.

  5. Re:In Holland It's Complicated by qaggaz · · Score: 1 · on Will Americans Have Trouble Finding IT Jobs, Overseas?
    As another expat in Amsterdam, I can relate to some of your experinces. But, in Holland, everything is complicated. (including getting a bank account, telephone, apartment; but I digress) As an IT professional, you should not have too much of a problem, provided that you can document significant job experience and a college degree.

    Before you even think about moving here check out http://www.expatica.com for information regarding life in the Netherlands (and soon other european countries).

    You will also want to apply for a special tax break that is offered to professionals in certain fields, including networking and IT professionals. This used to be termed the "35% ruling" because in entitled the holder to a 35% tax exemption for the first 10 years in the Netherlands. The bad news is that this exemption has been reduced to 30% effective next year. The good news is that the top tax bracket has been reduced to 50%, so if you are in the top bracket (and you don't have to make too much to put you there) you will still net more than you would have under the old system. The net effect is that taxes are on par with what you are used to paying in the US.

    By far the easiest way to eliminate the immigration hassle is to find some way to transfer within an international company that has a Dutch office. If you can pull this off, your case should proceed quickly.

    In any case, YOU should not have to worry too much about the complexities involved. Any company that you would want to work for will have an international HR contact that will apply for your work permit (tewerkstellingvergunning) and help with relocation. As for the residence permit (verblijfsvergunning), I found the process simple, but irratating. You will need all of your documents in order (be sure to get an 'apositile' from your state department of records for legal records like birth and marriage certificates) before you make your initial appointment. You probably won't have some document (or, rather, as one official put it, "you don't have the right seal on your birth certificate"), so you will have to make another appointment, get the right documents in order, and try again.

    Somethings are actually easier than you think. For instance, buying a house and getting a mortgage are easier than in the US.

    For whatever its worth, I moved 18 months ago, and if I knew then what I knew now, I would not hesitate to make the same decision. I still don't know the language very well, but I find Amsterdam in particular to be very international. You will probably be working with people from all over the world.

    As for the pay issues, it varies widely. If you work for a Dutch company, it would be wise to expect a lower salary, but additional vacation days and maybe a car lease. On the other hand, international companies which have offices here tend to pay their employees about the same as their US based counterparts. Good Luck!