Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 11, 1999 11:28am | #1

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   Dan - sounds like you're off on a grand adventure. Good luck. I'd sure like to hear from you once you get settled in. I bet the building practices differences would really be interesting. - jb

2. 
   Cooper_San | Jul 12, 1999 05:12pm | #2

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   Dan

   Sorry I have no advice for Holland but I travel and work for a living.(Virgin Islands,China,Japan)
   The most important seems to be getting a contract or agreement that is very solid.Too many will take advantage of a poor situation.I hear Germany and Spain are good for North American style homes but the trend seems to be going all over the globe.Good luck and keep us posted Andrew

1. 
   Ken_fisher | Jul 13, 1999 01:33am | #3

   *Dan:I'd love to hear about your adventures as well. I'm certain it will be an experience that you will treasure:) How's your Dutch? I've often thought of relocating for something new but I feel a language barrier and the use of metric would be awfully hard to adjust to. Best wishes!

3. 
   Guest_ | Jul 13, 1999 01:49am | #4

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   Dutch is a near impossible language to learn, but most of the Dutch speak quite good English, and virtually all of them speak German. Many pride themselves on speaking with an American accent, employing American idiom. Listen to a Dutch popular music station, and you'd swear it was the old WLS in Chicago.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 13, 1999 01:53am | #5

   *Andrew,Am interested in hearing your experiences of working in other countries. Maybe you could start a topic on this. What is China like?RegardsMark

4. 
   dan_seelig | Jul 13, 1999 08:33am | #6

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   Beste Barry,
   Ik spreek nederlands een het is niet zo moeilijk.Ik versta niet alles maar het is welhaast zeker genoeg.
   u moet het probeer.

   Barry,
   I speak Dutch and it is not so difficult.I do not understand everything but is very probably enough.
   You must try it!
   dan

1. 
   dan_seelig | Jul 13, 1999 08:40am | #7

   *ken,Thanks for your reply.My dutch is not great but it gets me by.I worked in Eindhoven in jan.and I did not find the metric system too hard to adjust to except when I went to the lumber store to get some 2x2s and the man said here are some 50x50s.I thought for a moment that was a little too big!This is a bit frightening but what the heck! dan

5. 
   Guest_ | Jul 13, 1999 09:32am | #8

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   Yikes!

   Dan, are you the guy in the middle? The guy on your left looks like he could be Swedish, except he doesn't have horns on his helmet.

   I lived in Belgium for 6 years. If you make it south, you'll be amazed at the difference in construciton techniques as soon as you cross the border.

   Missing Europe.

6. 
   dan_seelig | Jul 13, 1999 06:35pm | #9

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   hello,
   I am pretty sure the guys in the picture are both nederlanders.

7. 
   Guest_ | Jul 13, 1999 06:55pm | #10

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   Dan,

   I attempted speaking Dutch while in the Netherlands, but my vocal cords gave out. Maybe I was trying too hard. Anyway, German and French are easier on the throat. Good luck on your new endeavor. Oh, better take a folding rule with you. You probably couldn't get a standard four footer through some of the canal houses.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 14, 1999 07:24am | #11

   *Hi fella's I was just wondering if you bring any of your tools with you,and what did you use and think of their tools. Thanks, John

8. 
   dan_seelig | Jul 14, 1999 09:33am | #12

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   hoi,
   When I worked in the netherlands I brought all my hand tools and my cordless drill to use.My client rented some power tools like a skilsaw.I did not like it much compared to my saw here but they have some interesting stuff like a combo table/chop saw!I do not think OSHA would let that one in here.When we go I want to have my saw converted to 220V.
   dan

1. 
   Cooper_San | Jul 15, 1999 04:59pm | #13

   *I never worried about the metric system.It's by far the easiest.It's mostly transfering it to the other language.1052mm in Japanese is sen go ju ni mm.I bring my tools everywhere but you can't be in a temporary situation.I spent about $1000 Can coming east but now I'm heading back with about $4000Can in shipping costs.I said before that you have to have a good deal and the truth is hard to find but if your flexible and use your head,9 times out of 10 you'll be OK. Mark China is a strange one.40 labourers for every carpenter.Sometimes there is 200 people on your jobsite.Getting money is really difficult but I had the backing of a Japanese company,so it was OK.(Lots of Aussies in Japan and they can almost drink like Canadians)Also as I just found out,all good things come to an end and it's time to leave.Searching for something new after a brief holiday in Bali.I'm thinking of Canada's newest territory Nunavut.Cheers Andrew

1. 
   Dutch_boy | Jul 16, 1999 09:06am | #14

   *Well, construction is a lot different. Typically brick homes, or cast concrete. No wood framing. Talking about tools, most are similar/the same. Dewalt and Makita are readily available here, so bring them, and buy a Dutch 220 v charger. Of course we also have Black & Decker, and Bosch is pretty common.Amsterdam is great for a couple of days, but the rest of Holland is much nicer (as you well know, having been in Eindhoven).Start looking in the Dutch yellow pages on the net, you could start here:http://www.telefoongids.ptt-telecom.nl/index2.htmlveel plezier in Amsterdam!

9. 
   dan_seelig | Jul 16, 1999 09:06am | #15

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   hello,
   my wife and I are moving to Amsterdam in a few months and I am trying to link up with any Dutch carpenters out there.If anybody knows such a person please let me know.Also anyone who has experience working construction in Europe that would help also.Thanks ,Dan