Meet
Elizabeth
From Cape Town to the Netherlands
I’m Elizabeth. I grew up in Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa, and 12 years ago I packed up my life and moved to the Netherlands. I arrived in The Hague with nothing but a big purple suitcase, a new job, and no family or support waiting for me.
Those first months were exciting but also lonely, confusing, and at times overwhelming. The rental deposit for my first apartment was so high that I couldn’t even afford a mattress. I slept on a small couch in the lounge and lived on bread and water for weeks until I got my first proper salary.
I had to figure out everything from scratch — from getting my degrees certified by the Dutch authorities to navigating banks, housing, and even the tram lines. There were days I laughed at myself, days I cried, and plenty of nights I wondered if I’d made the right choice.
But I stayed. Over the years, I built a life here, met my Dutch husband, and now we’re raising our child together in the Netherlands.
My Career Background
Professionally, I have a background in corporate communications, marketing, SEO, and higher education, and I’ve worked in all these fields here in the Netherlands. One of the very first things I did after arriving was register my own company at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. Today, I run WordWorx full-time — my micro-agency where I partner with international corporate clients in the Benelux. So yes, I know what it means to arrive with nothing and to slowly build a career, community, and family in a new country.
Certifications
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BA Degree in Socio-Informatics, Stellenbosch University
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BA Honours Degree in English Studies, Stellenbosch University
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MA Degree in English Studies, Stellenbosch University
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PGCE, Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Unisa
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Basis Kwalificatie Examinering (BKE), Dutch Higher Education Teaching Certificate, The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Why I Help Expats
My career gave me the skills to explain complex things clearly and support people through change. But what really drives me is this: I remember exactly how it felt when I first moved from Cape Town. Alone, uncertain, and desperate for real answers.
That’s why I created Move to the Netherlands. It’s not about legal advice or visas — it’s about the real-life, practical side of settling here. Things like:
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Choosing the right city or neighbourhood
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Understanding schools and education
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Banking, insurance, and daily essentials
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Dutch culture, habits, and unwritten rules
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Finding resources and support systems
I want to give others what I didn’t have at the start — someone to talk to who has walked the path before.