his book helps the Dutch understand France

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Native of Reusel, small town of The Netherlands located on the Belgian border, Jeroen Sweijenhas been roaming the Breton land for around twenty years.

This inhabitant of Châteaubourg (Ille-et-Vilaine) of 50 years old launched a new challenge two years ago: to explain in a book the workings and complexities of France to his Dutch compatriots.

“It all started from the observation that there are more and more Dutch people who want to settle in France,” says this history buff, eager for knowledge, in the preamble.

“At home in France”

Author of numerous books in Dutch, notably on the heritage of France and Brittany, this proud Castel resident took on the challenge of writing a sort of “French administration for dummies” for the inhabitants of his native country.

This beautiful work of 448 pages entitled At home in France, published in September in the Netherlands by September, is constructed as a practical educational guide, punctuated by numerous themes explaining the country of Molière in all its complexity.

21 chapters covering as many themes are presented in this guide: business, work, health, education, money, banking, taxes, administrative organization of France, etc.

“Literally, the title At home in France has three meanings in Dutch: to be there physically, to feel good morally, and to have mastered the tricks of the country,” explains Jeroen Sweijen, presenting the cover of his new book. “There are a lot of requests for information on these topics, but A complete guide that brought it all together was missing. »

The Dutch attracted to France

This little encyclopedia aims to respond to a real and growing need observed by the author over the years.

France has always been a country that attracted the Dutch. There is really an attraction for this country, the diversity of its landscapes, the richness of its heritage, the gastronomic and well-being side, because there is significantly more space in France and the countryside is calmer.

Added to this attraction for France is the Dutch economic reality. “Everything is expensive there. The country is experiencing a housing crisis. The population density is such that it is very difficult to find housing, so some residents want to change their lives. »

An approach followed by Jeroen in the early 2000s, but for other reasons. “I went on Erasmus to Caen when I was a student. I met my wife there and I stayed,” he recalls, wearing a gentle smile.

Iinstalled in Ille-et-Vilaine since 2003, Jeroen Sweijen, an executive in an IT company, had to stop working in 2014 due to a neurological illness. “I have since reinvented my life. Today, I write in particular for Dutch magazines in addition to books and the role of correspondent for Vitré’s Journal for the region of Châteaubourg. »

Practical advice

After writing several books around his passions of history, geography and the French language, Jeroen took on a new major challenge.

“You have to be completely crazy to write this book and say to yourself that you are going to explain the entire French administration to a foreigner », laughs this toponymy enthusiast.

Throughout his work, the Castelbourgeois strives to dissect each layer of the French administrative millefeuille based on examples.

“How can I buy land? What are my rights if I rent? How does Social Security, CAF, school, property tax work… It’s a huge job,” he admits in the end.

Former culture assistantin Châteaubourg and corresponding for The Journal of Vitré, Jeroen Sweijen has, over time, managed to tame this administrative colossus.

This correspondent activity allows me to meet all levels of the population, to discuss all subjects, to attend town halls with their issues and all their aspects. All this allows me to have a complete overview. I have always wanted to know and understand how the world around me works.

The book is aimed at two types of readers. “The Dutch who come to settle permanently in France and those who buy a second home, because they regularly come on vacation to France. »

He also talks about the cultural differences between the two countries: “In the Netherlands, for example, when a child is born or for other celebrations, they announce it in the street with a decoration in the garden. This is not done here, except for weddings. Dutch logic does not work in France, you have to try to understand French logic, and this book is there for that. »

Attached to his territory, Jeroen slipped a few winks into his book. “Most of the illustrations are from the Pays de Vitré,” he laughs. What could possibly encourage other Dutch compatriots to join Brittany?

Practical : At home in France, published by September, 448 pages, €32.95. Available to order at the Châteaubourg bookstore A book on the shelf, online on Amazon.fr, or by email at [email protected]

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