Mia Gradidge

Moving to the Netherlands and feeling unsure about almost everything? I know exactly what that is like. It is precisely why I enjoy helping other internationals find their way.

Born in Namibia and raised in South Africa, I studied a Bachelor of Commerce in tax and law, followed by an LLB, and then worked as a candidate attorney in intellectual property and family law. When my husband was offered a job in the Netherlands, I embraced the chance to live abroad, something I had always wanted to do.

Since then I have settled in well and come to appreciate the Dutch directness. TaxSavers was a natural choice: I love law, I enjoy tax, and the Dutch system has a logic all of its own. Working with my team and making a difference to someone's day is what I value most — a conversation only feels complete when a client walks away at ease.

Having been through the same uncertainty myself, I can relate to what internationals face: finding a home, arranging insurance, sorting out health cover. People are often afraid of getting something wrong, and tax is where that fear runs deepest, because it works so differently from their home country. The Dutch three-box system takes some getting used to. In South Africa, for instance, you only declare capital gains and there is no wealth tax at all, so having to report everything here naturally raises questions.

That is exactly why I write articles. A clear explanation can take away much of that worry before it even starts. If I can help someone understand how the Dutch system works, and why, they can face their tax return with far more confidence.