Marloes & João(34)

It sounds like a cliche: Dutch woman meets Portuguese man on vacation. But that is really how it happened. João worked as a surf instructor in Sagres, I was there with friends. We had a holiday romance that never stopped.

After a year of long distance — FaceTiming, flying back and forth — we decided to live together. João wanted to return to Coimbra, his hometown, to study physiotherapy at the university. As a nurse I could find work anywhere.

Coimbra is a hidden gem. A historic university city with 40,000 students, affordable and vibrant. No tourist crowds, but plenty of culture, music (fado!) and a lively restaurant scene. Our rent for a three-room apartment near the university is €600 per month.

As an EU citizen I did not need a visa, but registration at the Camara Municipal was required for my residence certificate. Getting my Dutch nursing diploma recognized took four months through the Ordem dos Enfermeiros. Now I work at the Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra.

Portuguese bureaucracy is slower than Dutch, but not impossible. I had my NIF within a week. The SEF appointment for my residence registration took longer — two months waiting time. Patience is a requirement.

What I have learned: if you move for love, invest in the language and culture. I now speak B2-level Portuguese, I cook bacalhau and I go to mass with João's family on Sundays. Integration is not optional if your relationship is to succeed.