Hi all, I'm a Product Manager at a Brazilian tech startup and I am in the final stages of 2 hiring processes. Both tech startups with PM roles in machine learning products. One in Delft (close to Amsterdam) and the other in Berlin. Here in Sao Paulo/Brazil we work trying to follow Silicon valley best practices and I like that. What city would be less different from US, or even specifically Silicon Valley? Also, any of these cities would be better for a future move to US, Canada or UK? I'm 27 yo Brazilian, 3 years of experience with data and Product Management (Microsoft, Aol and an unicorn startup), married, no kids. I don't speak nether Dutch or German. Compensation ~ 60k (pre-tax) in both companies Note: I'm aware about taxes and weather there. I hope I can work on US someday or at least Canada, but until then, that's what I've got. Thanks
Delft is really small town and an hour from Amsterdam. Between these 2 I would choose Berlin. But between NL and Germany I would choose NL, especially Amsterdam
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From Berliner point of view(never been to Delft, but traveled Netherlands a few times). Besides obvious - Berlin is bigger city and you can find more stuff to do, Delft is a really small. Berlin has bigger tech scene than Delft, unless you move to Amsterdam. Weather in Berlin is much better. However, Netherlands has tax ruling for first 5 years(as a new comer you pay less taxes for the first 5 years - google details), that is why 60k in Netherlands is not the same as in Germany. If you want to work in US or Canada I would potentially choose a location which has some US/Canadian companies. Regarding Silicon Valley best practices - from my experience it highly depends on a company, the only thing I can tell you - you most likely won’t see those in typical German companies. Language reality - you much less need Dutch in Netherlands than German in Berlin. You can leave with English, but I have heard it much pleasant experience in Netherlands than in Germany ;) If you want to get some insides about Berlins company you have offer from - pm me, I might know this company and can give you some useful info
Thank you for your comprehensive reply. Yeah the 30% tax ruling is great. I'm from Brazil so it's like if I had an old Honda Civic and I was trying to decide which is better, Jaguar or BMW :) But for what I heard Germany seems more old school and it has even more bureaucracy than Brazil, while Netherlands is more modern. I wonder if this is the case.
Germany might be considered more conservative overall, and has stricter laws in some areas. Fluency in English is also less common. Delft is a pretty nice city, sort of mini Amsterdam with canals (I lived there two years); however it's definitely much smaller and more of a student city. Rotterdam is close (15min) and Amsterdam (1hr) is obviously the heart of cultural life in the country. That said, keep in mind that northern European countries are relatively similar in culture, and there won't really be a difference in chances to move to North America unless you get citizenship (6+yrs). You should consider moving to Europe for Europe, not as a path to the US ;)