THE NETHERLANDS

By C. Clark

Introduction

I’m a proud Military Brat and had the incredible opportunity to live in Germany during the late '70s and early '80s. Of all the places I’ve lived — including during my adult life — Germany still holds a special place in my heart. Not because I want to live there forever (the U.S. is still my home, despite the increasing challenges for Black Americans), but because Europe offers so much variety. I love exploring new countries, cultures, and languages — even if I haven’t quite figured out why languages fascinate me so much.

To kick off the “Travel Treasures” section of my magazine, I’m starting with one of my favorite childhood travel memories: The Netherlands. My recent interest in job opportunities abroad led me to revisit this memory — and to explore what a future there could look like.

The Netherlands: Childhood Memories

I loved visiting the Netherlands! My father had a medical conference in Rotterdam, so we packed the car and drove from Frankfurt to Rotterdam. It was winter, so we didn’t get to see the iconic Dutch tulips in bloom, but the windmills made up for it. Watching them spin as we drove along the countryside was magical — like something out of a picture book.

We stayed in Rotterdam for a few days, and one day took a trip to Amsterdam. I was old enough to remember the visit, but not quite old enough to truly appreciate all that the city had to offer. Now that I’m older, I’d love to go back — this time with deeper historical knowledge and a camera in hand. I plan to revisit the same places we explored before, but with a new lens: research the history, film it, and share it on my blog and YouTube channel. InsertphotosfromchildhoodNetherlandstriphereInsert photos from childhood Netherlands trip hereInsertphotosfromchildhoodNetherlandstriphere

The Netherlands and the IT Industry

Another reason I’ve been so curious about the Netherlands is its reputation in the global tech community. As I began researching jobs in Europe, I discovered that the Netherlands is a rising star in digital innovation. It’s considered one of the top tech hubs in Europe — particularly in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science, and FinTech.

Here are just a few highlights:

• Amsterdam is home to major international tech companies like Google, Oracle, IBM, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and many thriving startups.

• The Hague — the political center of the Netherlands — is also a growing location for IT and cybersecurity firms. AWS has a presence there, and the city promotes tech as part of its economic strategy.

• The Netherlands ranks high on global digital competitiveness indexes and is known for its excellent broadband infrastructure and tech-savvy workforce.

• English is widely spoken in professional environments, making it more accessible for American job seekers.

The Dutch government also encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, with strong support systems for startups — especially those focused on sustainability and emerging technologies.

While we didn’t visit The Hague on our trip, it’s definitely on my future travel list. From the photos I’ve seen, it looks just as beautiful and rich in culture as Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Looking Ahead

Although I eventually paused my plans to move to Europe, the Netherlands — along with Canada — remains at the top of my list if I decide to explore life abroad again. Whether for work, adventure, or simply the joy of rediscovery, the Netherlands will always be one of my most treasured travel memories — and a potential chapter in my future.