France, Belgium, or the Netherlands

Welcome Sean!

It's never been easy to make a choice that will affect your life for years
I don't think I am the most objective person here ... as I grew up in the south of France I would prefer this place

Hello seanmcclintock.
Great that you come in Europe. Wherever you will be, you would always find something beautiful or great.
Well, I am a French girl (from the South of France), living in the Netherlands. So I don't know if I am able to not be partial, but I''ll try.
Here are your arguments  :


France
pro - Would know a second language in a year (would have to) : That's true. And when you practise regurlarly, it is not so difficult. With speaking the national language, you will be better integrated.
pro - "Joy of Living" culture (less work, more play) What can I say more than that ? I know : It's not completly true. Anyway, we have got a very specific ''art de vivre''
pro - Better weather in the south  :True also, but the south is big.

con - Language barrier : Well, I deeply believe that now, Young people (under 30 years) are really able to speak english, even they make mistakes. So in my point of view, this is a little bit ''cliche'', to still consider a huge language barrier.
con - Southern France - Other areas not as accessible? I don't really understand this point. we have also big airports in other cities than Paris, but the country is not so big as the USA, so Paris is the real Hub. By the way, I was living in Bordeaux before, and it's only 1 hour of plane or 3 hours of train to travel from Bordeaux to Paris.
con - Paris - expensive? See previous point : you can live in another place, with a better life quality. But if you choose to live in Paris, Yes that's true, it''s expensive. But less than London...


Belgium (I'm not very keen on, so I pass)
pro - Can speak French and English
pro - Other areas or Europe more accessible

con - Not as romantic as "living in France" (whatever that's worth)


The Netherlands
pro - Can speak English : Yes, that's true. TV, cinemas, many things are in english, even some ads !
pro - Bike culture (we like to ride) : a real pleasure, execpt when it's snowing from january to march...
pro - Other areas or Europe more accessible : Schipol (Amsterdam airport ) is one of the biggest in Europe ; many connections.

con - Conservative culture? : What ???  Are we both talking about the country which authorized euthanasia, homosexual wedding, marijuana in the coffee shops and the prostitutes in the windows??? There is not really a conservative culture, but sometimes, it's perhaps more linked to a religious rigour, a strict way of thinking. But it's also a country where you have to act very very very strangely before people judge you. This is very comfortable in the everyday life.
one more detail : Dutch people are really nice, but it could be sometimes difficult to meet them, to be friend. They are not so open as we are in the South of France, and for me, it was surprising. But now, after 6 months, I just begin to get friends. Ok, It's more difficult because I'm not in Amsterdam, but in a small town, with not many expatriates people (I know only 2 others...)

con - Dutch language difficult to learn? YES !!! I often say that I need more teeth to speak with a good dutch accent (because the way to breath when speaking and the way to produce new sounds are so differents).
Furthermore, it will be probably more difficult for you than for me  : only a few speak french, and my english is not so good, so I really have to jump into the dutch language. But for you, everybody is speaking so good english that sometimes you can ask why learn dutch ??? One of my friends is English, he's married to a dutch woman, they have 2 children, they are here in the Netherlands for 3 years and half, and he still doesn't speak dutch !!! Because when people realize that he's English and that his dutch is not so good, they jump from dutch to english : no way to improve. So we're having dutch lesson in the same language center...
con - Amsterdam - expensive? Yes, really, but I think that in fact, every european capital is expensive. You have to make a choice.

Here are pieces from my own experience. If you need more details, don't hesitate to ask. ++

Marine >>> I just loved your arguments!
I'm Angolan living in Southern France. I wouldn't trade Montpellier for Paris or any other city while I can! I lived in 5 different countries, travelled a lot (depends on the point of view) and Montpellier is from far my favourite favourite city!
Regarding Netherlands, never been to Amsterdam but I have Dutch family living in Meerssen, near Maastricht. I wanted to go this year to Amsterdam to see one of my cousins, but I have no idea how I am going to do that before heading back to Angola.
I have Dutch family, but I sure didn't learn any Dutch while there or with my cousins. But as I lived in South Africa, I learned a few words of Afrikaans and could understand some sentences. My cousin says that for her, Afrikaans is like Dutch baby talk
But since I was born, I was surrounded by different languages. By the age of three, I spoke French, Spanish and Portuguese. And I've learned recently that when you are a toddler in that kind of environment, you have more chances to learn and improve a new language even if you're an adult.

My children will have to follow my steps

BTW, welcome Sean!

Thanks so much Marine! Your insight is very helpful.

I prefer France of the three. French culture has always appealed to me. They have a richer and more developed feel to life compared to the British (forgive the generalization and personal opinion).
I lived in Paris and cycled across France several times (everyone is pro cycling, unlike my experiences in Spain).
Great museums, art, writers and architecture..
French is certainly a language worth learning.
France is a Latin culture.
The food is the best.
They are sound on Jazz!
In the end, though, after the table has been cleared away... it all comes down to the Calvados!