Husband and Wife Moved Abroad After Deciding There Was No Perfect Time to Relocate

Why They Chose To Go

Hodgin had lived in Richmond for about 10 years after growing up in Army family postings around the world. She and Lyman had previously spent two years in Seoul, where they moved shortly after marrying, before returning to the United States.

After Hodgin’s father, Lyman’s mother and close friends died, the couple began considering another move abroad. They had no children, some savings and ties to the Netherlands, where Lyman had attended graduate school.

Hodgin said the losses made them ask what they were waiting for. The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty, which allows Americans to live in the Netherlands as freelancers or entrepreneurs, also made the country a practical choice.

Work And Family Ties

Lyman works for himself, while Hodgin left her agency to start a consulting business. She planned to freelance in the Netherlands if her consultancy did not go well, drawing on her advertising network there.

Leaving their parents was the hardest part of the decision. Lyman’s father is in his 90s, and Hodgin’s mother recently turned 80; Hodgin said she promised to return for major family events. She said their parents were excited for them.

A Lean Move Overseas

The couple moved in January, completing the process in six months. They had sold their house about a year earlier and were living in an apartment, then sold nearly everything else to reduce costs.

They earned close to $12,000 from selling their possessions, which helped pay visa and moving expenses. They shipped a half-crate and flew with nine suitcases, a large artwork and their cat.

They found a renovated two-bedroom apartment in an old building, with a patio. Because housing is scarce, especially for people without Dutch income, they paid six months’ rent upfront to secure it.

Settling Into Dutch Life

Hodgin said the move still feels surreal, and that business is going well. She has made friends through social media and with neighbors, and values the sense of community and mutual respect she experiences.

She described Open Monumentendag, or Open Monuments Day, when more than a thousand historic sites across the Netherlands open to the public for free. Festivals also take place frequently, she said.

The transition has brought difficulties too. Hodgin is learning the language, though many people speak English, and she said the move cost more than they expected even after they padded their estimates.