Jan & Marieke(55)

We had been dreaming of emigrating for years. Every winter in Amsterdam felt heavier — the grey weather, the crowds, the rising costs. When Jan took early retirement, we knew: this is the moment.

Portugal had been on our list for a long time. We had vacationed there and fallen in love with the Algarve. The climate, the friendly people, the affordable restaurants — it immediately felt like home.

The NHR tax regime was a major factor in our decision. Our pension is taxed much more favorably in Portugal than in the Netherlands. We hired a tax advisor who arranged everything for us.

Buying a house was exciting but also complicated. Portuguese bureaucracy is different from the Netherlands. Luckily, we had a great real estate agent who spoke Dutch. After three months we had our dream house — a villa with pool for half of what an apartment in Amsterdam would cost.

Healthcare was a concern, but it turned out to be unfounded. Through the SNS (Portuguese health system) we have access to good care. We also took out supplementary private insurance for extra peace of mind.

Now, two years later, we wake up every morning to an ocean view. We cycle, hike and enjoy fresh fish on the terrace. Our friends from the Netherlands love to visit — some are even considering moving themselves.