I’ve always loved the promise of moving to a new place. Changing cities, houses and routines makes me feel alive. The possibility of a new experience entices me.
In late 2024, my husband, Manoj, and I traveled to Hawaii to run the Honolulu Marathon. The race marked the completion of our quest to run a marathon in every state in the U.S. Finishing this goal meant it was time for something new.
Manoj and I had wanted to live in Europe for a long time. We both value a slower lifestyle, ease of travel and better access to health care. We felt we would not get these things living in the U.S. We researched our options and discovered that the Netherlands offers Americans the opportunity to move there through the Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT).
The DAFT is a visa program that allows Americans to work as freelancers in the Netherlands. When we decided to move, I was working as a contractor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. My contract was set to end in March 2025. I wanted to get back to freelance writing, which I could easily do with the DAFT. Manoj already worked for himself as a graphic designer, so a freelance visa wouldn’t be a significant professional change for him.
