Homes for Expats guides Americans through the emotional and practical journey of relocating to the Netherlands.
A New Beginning That Started With One Difficult Move
The rain had just started to fall when Cherene Kruger stepped out of a rental viewing in Utrecht. She had been in the Netherlands only a few days at the time. Her children were jet-lagged.
Every apartment she visited seemed to come with another unexpected rule or a stack of paperwork she did not understand. As she stood on the sidewalk, watching cyclists stream by with ease, she felt the weight of starting again in a country that was not yet home.
That moment could have remained a memory of frustration. Instead, it became the seed of something larger. It became the beginning of Homes for Expats.
The Mission That Grew From One Family’s Leap
Cherene arrived from South Africa in 2014, eager for a fresh start and a safe, connected life for her family. Yet the housing market proved overwhelming. Listings were cryptic, viewings moved quickly, and even the most well-prepared expats found it difficult to make decisions without local knowledge.
This experience inspired the creation of Homes for Expats. What began as one woman’s challenge soon transformed into a service dedicated to helping Americans and internationals navigate the complexities of the Dutch housing market with clarity, confidence, and comfort.
Cherene also brought together a team of women who shared her story. Each member has lived abroad, navigated uncertainty, and discovered what it means to build a home far from familiar ground. Their collective experience became the heart of the company.
Why Americans Continue To Choose The Netherlands
In recent years, more Americans have looked to the Netherlands for a safer and calmer way of life. They are drawn to well-designed cities, public transportation that works, excellent healthcare, and a culture that values balance and belonging.
However, newcomers often find that the Dutch housing system requires a level of insider knowledge that is not easy to acquire. Americans who arrive through programs such as the Dutch American Friendship Treaty visa (DAFT visa) face additional complexities that come with establishing life and business in a new country.
Homes for Expats supports these clients without offering legal or immigration advice. Instead, the team offers clarity on the culture, expectations, and real estate practices that shape everyday life in the Netherlands and unparalleled real estate advice.
The Turning Point That Shaped A New Kind Of Real Estate Service
What truly sets Homes for Expats apart was a simple but rare decision. The team chose to focus on people before properties.
Rather than treating each client as a transaction, they built a service that begins with listening. They learned that every expat arrives with a story. Some come with excitement and ambition. Others come with fear, exhaustion, or the hope for a clean slate.
The agency’s rise reflects this approach. Homes for Expats has assisted more than two thousand five hundred clients and earned more than two hundred and seventy-five, five-star Google reviews. The company also collaborates with trusted partners, including the Utrecht International Centre, Den Haag International Centre, the Dutch Review, and IamExpat. Dutch mortgage professionals regularly refer international clients to these realtors because they trust the team’s care, expertise, and steady communication.
In Cherene’s words, “We did not build a real estate company. We built the support system every expat wishes they had when they arrive in a new country.”
What Makes Homes For Expats Different Today
Homes for Expats continues to grow as a women owned and expat led business with a strong commitment to kindness, compassion and clarity. Their clients value the way the team explains each step of the process, prepares them for cultural differences, and stays available long after the move.
Many agencies focus on contracts. Homes for Expats focuses on the life that begins once the keys are handed over. Clients describe the company as a guide, a mentor, and sometimes a lifeline during an overwhelming transition.
This emphasis on human connection has reshaped the experience for Americans who arrive in the Netherlands unsure where to begin.
The Emotional Reality Of Starting Again
The first months in a new country often come with conflicting emotions. People feel grateful for the opportunity yet uncertain about where to go next. They search for community while missing what they left behind.
Homes for Expats understands this emotional landscape because every member of the team has walked it. Their empathy is not trained. It is lived.
By combining practical knowledge of Dutch real estate with genuine support, the team creates a sense of stability for clients who are building their lives from the ground up. For many Americans, that support becomes the difference between surviving the move and truly settling in.
A Service Built On Connection
Cherene often says, “Most agencies stop at the contract. We stay long after the keys are handed over because we care about the life that begins inside your home.”
This philosophy shapes everything Homes for Expats does. The team encourages clients to ask questions, explore their new surroundings, and build routines that help them feel rooted in their chosen city. They see each home not as a transaction but as the starting point for a new chapter.
Discover A New Way To Start Life In The Netherlands
Homes for Expats invites Americans to begin their Dutch journey with clarity and confidence. Whether clients are looking for a rental, searching for their ideal long-term home, or preparing to relocate under a specific program, the team offers guidance that is personal, supportive, and grounded in real experience.
To learn more about Homes for Expats or to explore their services, visit their website at Website. Readers can also connect with the team on Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
