Bram(35)

As a DevOps engineer at a German company I could work anywhere. Leiden was fine, but after yet another rainy Monday I started researching alternatives. Madeira came out on top: subtropical climate, no mass tourism, and a government that actively welcomes digital nomads.

The Digital Nomad Village in Ponta do Sol was my first stop. A government-backed initiative with coworking spaces, community events and affordable housing. I stayed three months and then decided to move to Funchal permanently.

Funchal is surprisingly modern. Fiber internet at 500 Mbps for €35 per month, a lively city center with restaurants and bars, and the famous Mercado dos Lavradores where I buy exotic fruit every week that I had never even seen in the Netherlands.

My apartment in the Sao Pedro neighborhood costs €850 per month — two bedrooms, balcony with sea view, and five minutes walk from the center. The IMI (property tax) for owners is lower here than in the rest of Portugal, making Madeira extra attractive for buyers.

I arranged the D7 visa from the Netherlands. The Portuguese embassy in The Hague was helpful, though it took four months. Tip: start your NIF application through a fiscal representative before you even submit your visa application. It saves weeks.

What makes Madeira unique is the nature. After work I hike levadas — centuries-old irrigation channels through laurel forests. On weekends I dive, surf or drive to the mountains. It feels like I am on vacation, every single day.