Holland Flowers Festival

Top Pick: Flower Festivals of Europe

Moving to mainland Europe could afford you the fantastic ability to mix easily with the diverse and thrilling cultures of our sister nations. For the green-fingered amongst you, here’s our top pick of European flower festivals and shows on the schedule for 2011:

1.    International Violet Meeting (Toulouse)
Moving to France? During February Toulouse plays host to visitors from around the globe, mutually intent on celebrating the cute violet flower! This free festival resides at the Place du Capitole, and includes a nail-biting violet contest, exhibitions, lectures, food markets and – of course – plant stalls!

2.    Holland Flowers Festival (Zwaagdjik-Oost)
From 23rd-27th February, The Greenery venue is decked out with Holland’s premier flower festival! And it’s not all tulips, shows include daffodils, narcissi, hyacinths, crocuses and irises – to name but a few. Moving to Holland in February? Make the festival your first big cultural event! The companion lifestyle fair is almost as popular at the festival itself (another reason for moving to Holland in February!)

3.    Past and Present Vegetables (Saint-Jean de Beauregard, France)
Who says flowers should get all the attention? Relocating to France with a little organic veggie cultivation in mind? September sees the arrival of this quaint show, set in the stunning grounds of the chateau Domaine de Saint-Jean de Beauregard. Although the chateau hosts various festivals throughout the year, this one achieves notoriety amongst amateurs and professionals alike (we suspect it to be something to do with the superb lunches and afternoon teas on offer!)

Moving to France Beware of Local Traditions

Moving to France Beware of Local Traditions

If you are one of the many Britons who are thinking of moving to France to begin a new life, the chances are you will have already spent many years taking holidays there. This is usually how people form an attachment to a particular town or region, but before you rush headlong into buying a property there are some important factors you should take into account before moving to France. We have to be realistic about this, because there have been many stories of people leaving Britain to set up a new home in a rural idyll only to find that the reality can be very different to the dream.

Ten years ago, a friend of mine moved with his family to the Limousine region and was initially delighted by the reception they received from the locals. Everyone was very friendly, to the extent that when my friend mentioned he was carrying out some building work on the property he had bought his new friends immediately offered their help. The thing is, a couple of weeks later when he was relaxing in the afternoon sun, his neighbour arrived at the front door and demanded  that he come and help with some work at his home.

You could argue that this kind of thing will happen if you were planning on moving to Holland or moving to Germany, but apparently this is the local tradition in Limousine. If someone does you a favour, they can demand ‘repayment’ at anytime, so be warned!

Moving to Belgium from the UK

Avoid Delays When You Move to Europe – Get Expert Help

Sometimes people get the itch to leave the UK and move abroad after a holiday somewhere sunny like Spain or Portugal. In some cases, a new job or a promotion might mean a stint somewhere exotic overseas or just a short hop away in Europe. Even if you are only relocating just over the channel, moving to Belgium or moving to Holland and you’re only a short boat or plane ride away, it won’t all be plain sailing. Remember you’re going to have to adapt to a whole new country with its quirks, traditions, legal system, language and culture.

In some parts of Europe you can find well established expat communities. Anyone moving to southern Europe to escape the harsh winters and inconsistent summers of the north will find plenty of Brits who have already done the same thing. This will help you to adjust, but don’t get too caught up in the expat scene or you might you not get to explore and enjoy life among the locals. In some countries it’s pretty different. Moving to Belgium or moving to Holland for example, you won’t find so many expats, but at least the natives speak pretty good English. Don’t use this as an excuse not to make an effort though with the local languages. You’ll get far more respect and enjoy a much richer experience by doing so.

Wherever you’re thinking about moving to in Europe, you’re going to need to find a removal company that can help you with the logistics of getting your belongings out to your new home. It’s a lot more complicated than just moving domestically. Shipping goods and possessions across international borders requires additional planning and paperwork. Specialist international removers can help you with the whole moving process, from packing up, through the form filling, to safe delivery of your possessions at the other end. Don’t leave anything to chance. The last thing you want is endless delays as you try to start your new life abroad.