“I think it’s important that work-life balance is respected,” says Aliia from Kyrgyzstan. She was born in a small town in the mountains. “Some people call it the Switzerland of Central Asia.” After high school, her family moved to Canada. She went to university to study engineering in Vancouver, where she met her husband.
Together, they wanted to explore other countries. “We chose between the Netherlands and Switzerland. I knew that work culture in the Netherlands values work-life balance, which is important to me. We also celebrated our honeymoon in Aruba, where we ate Dutch bread and pastries. That reminded me of my hometown, where we also eat bread almost every day. That was another reason why I chose the Netherlands.
Nomadic lifestyle
“Kyrgyz food culture, shaped by a nomadic, livestock‑based lifestyle, can feel surprisingly similar to Dutch home cooking: a lot of red meat, potatoes, and simple vegetables, with few spices. Traditionally, Kyrgyz families relied heavily on meat, dairy, potatoes, and onions, especially in winter, when fresh vegetables were harder to get. Hence, Dutch cuisine doesn’t feel that much different.”
Living centrally with a friend
They chose Rotterdam as their new home base. “It’s one of the best places to live because it’s very central and easy to reach from many places via a train or a plane. My husband had a good friend living in Rotterdam; We visited him and his fiancé during a summer vacation.” By the end of our trip we really ended up liking Rotterdam, so we chose to look for an apartment in this city. During our stay, while on the train, I heard many different languages, like English and Russian, but also languages I didn’t recognize. I really liked that Rotterdam appeared as a quite welcoming international city.”
Finding a home was not easy. “When you are new, you have to prove that you are reliable in the housing market. Luckily, we found a website made for expats looking for their first rental home. That helped us a lot.”
Exploring neighbourhoods of Rotterdam
The couple now lives happily in Rotterdam Alexander and enjoys the city more than they expected. “Rotterdam has a strong art and culture scene. There is so much to discover—music, museums.”
The couple uses bicycles to explore the city. Every weekend, they cycle to a different neighborhood to discover new places.
Learning Dutch for daily life and meeting new people
Aliia is learning Dutch to find her place in the city. “I like social places where I can hear and practice Dutch and learn more about Dutch customs. For example, I discovered the Central Library. It’s huge, and there are many activities, including free Dutch lessons. In addition, I’m now self-studying beginner Dutch for free through Delft University of Technology. At the end of the course, I hope to have simple conversations, like in the market or on the train. That will help me feel more connected and make it easier to integrate.”
She is also meeting people in other ways. Having been part of choirs in both Kyrgyzstan and Canada, she has also joined a choir in Rotterdam. “I really enjoy it. It’s a nice way to meet new people.”
Aliia plans to fully immerse herself in the city and stay for a long time. She is currently looking for a job as a mechanical engineer. “The Netherlands has a strong engineering sector, especially in product development, which is what I worked in before.
Aliia also looks beyond work. “I like the way children are raised here—encouraging them to be independent, while still caring for them and giving them space to grow.”