A New Blog for 2012

2011 has brought lots of changes to the van Mulligen household. One of the consequences of these changes is that my focus has been solely on my role as a mother for the last few months.

Time restraints have left this blog a little neglected in recent months and whilst I haven't had time to sit in front of my PC and write, I have had lots of time to think.

Becoming and fulfilling the role as a mother in a country not your own brings its fair share of challenges, questions and unforgettable experiences. The language and culture are different. The systems and support processes are unexplored territory for new parents abroad. Sometimes it's hard to know where to start, where to turn and what it all means.

With the birth of my third child in the Netherlands, I've decided it's time for a change in direction for my blog writing too.

I am excited to share the creation of a new blog entitled "Life with a Double Buggy". My new blog will focus solely on parenthood, and particularly the expat parenthood journey. It will be a platform to share my parenting experiences here in the Netherlands. I hope it will help and entertain other expats out there.

That's not to say that A Letter from the Netherlands is dead, far from it. It will remain here and I will also post on different topics here and there when I can. In short, whilst this blog is still being read it will continue to occupy this space!

I hope that many of you will follow me over to "Life with a Double Buggy" and I look forward to reading your comments along the way.

A Baby Boy!

I have let people know on Facebook and Twitter about the safe arrival of our latest addition - but until now have not found the time to provide a proper blog update - and after a prod in the week - here it is.

My third son made his appearance at 9.09am on Friday 7th October weighing a kilo less than both his brothers at 3520 grams but making up for it in his length of 52cm.

The weeks since have been quite 'pittig' (as the Dutch say) with a re-admittance to hospital for me (nothing like being taken away in an ambulance to get the street's attention and freak your children out) and reflux diagnosed for the little one. Sleepless nights are certainly no stranger to me and his dad.....and I can honestly say I have gained a good understanding of the ins and outs of the Dutch medical system for later blog posts.......

However, things are getting back on track for us all.

Thanks for all the congratulations and well wishes over the last few weeks.

A Little Update

Some of you may have noticed there has been a bit of a blogging gap since the end of August - and all I can say is that I did warn you...... It's been a mad few weeks making the last preparations for our impending arrival and the blog has fallen by the wayside in the rush to get ourselves ready.

Back in July we had the builders in to split up our top floor in to two rooms. This was after a prospective house move came to nothing and we decided to stay put for the foreseeable future. It was a dusty but fast moving week. We then had someone in to install new radiators in the new rooms... and then we could start decorating. Looking after two children, being 36 weeks pregnant and up a ladder painting a ceiling and washing baby clothes and buying baby essentials certainly added up to a heavy, tiring few weeks. Blogging on top of it all never entered my head.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel.... or in other words the due date is looming and we are ready! The baby's room is all set for our new arrival and my youngest has a new room of his own too (albeit with furniture delivered by Babypark.nl that looks like it fell off the lorry on the way here or was used as a show model, but that is an ongoing battle with them and another useless Dutch customer service story for a rainy day).

So there you have it - the last few weeks in the Van Mulligen household and the reason for the lack of blog postings....... I am now officially two weeks in to maternity leave so work wise life has pretty much ground to a halt - but watch this space! My study has been rehoused and is back up and running so I may just be back to chip in every now and then.

Pregnant and Have Your Own Business in the Netherlands?

Photo: Roberta Hayes-Holmes

Then you may well be entitled to maternity pay. Yes, hard to believe but if your earnings are sufficient you may well be entitled to paid maternity leave in the weeks leading up to and following the birth of your baby. Even without an employer.

This has been in force since 2008, and is designed to allow women with their own business time to rest before the birth, and time to concentrate on their recovery and baby after the birth. You are entitled in principle if you:

• have your own business (with or without personnel)


• freelance for a living or practice a profession independently (e.g. as a nanny, doctor or household help)


• you are the partner of a zzp'er

Don't get too excited - you're not about to retire on tax payers money and revel in a life of luxury with your new born. Think more along the lines of minimum wage but it is better than a kick in the teeth at a time when your mind probably won't be on your business. Here are some useful terms:

zzp'er - zelfstandig zonder personnel (sole trader in other words)

ZEZ - de Zelfstandig en Zwanger-regeling

UVW - Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemers Verzekeringen (in other words the Dutch Labour Office)

You are entitled to the maximum benefit if you worked at least 1,225 hours in the previous tax year. The benefit lasts for 16 weeks and is made up of two parts - a zwangerschapsuitkering which kicks in either 4 or 6 weeks before your due date (depending on your choice) and the bevallingsuitkering which begins the day after the birth and lasts a minimum of ten weeks (depending on whether your maternity leave started 4 or 6 weeks before the due date). the amount you receive is based on your earnings in the year before your leave, but will never exceed 110% of the minimum wage.

You apply to the UVW at least two weeks before you want your maternity leave to start. You can find the paperwork here to fill out.