About
About this mess
A South African in Zandvoort, writing about life in the Netherlands: the useful bits, the weird bits and the stuff I just need to get off my chest.
Based inZandvoort, NL
In the Netherlands4 years
Before thatA year in Germany
Originally fromSouth Africa
Hi, and welcome. I’m a South African who has been living in the Netherlands for four years now, after spending a year in Germany first. These days I live in Zandvoort, a few minutes from the beach, the dunes and a race circuit that gets very loud once a year.
Why this blog exists
I used to blog years ago, deleted it for reasons I can’t remember, and missed it. So Borderline Deranged is my second attempt.
Partly it’s a place to share things I’ve figured out the hard way, like finding a house, getting a Dutch driver’s license or tracking down proper boerewors, so the next person has an easier time. And partly it’s a place to complain about a company when it deserves it, without handing my thoughts to a social network I’d rather not support.
What you’ll find here
Guides for South African expats, travel stories, the best of whatever I can find, events worth leaving the house for, honest reviews and the occasional thought that doesn’t fit anywhere else. Mostly around Amsterdam, Haarlem and Zandvoort.
Reviews are my honest experience, good or bad.
Say hello
Got a question, a correction, a tip for a good event or a better boerewors supplier? I read everything, eventually.