Saskia (38) originally comes from Egmond in the Netherlands but now lives together with her Australian husband Brett (42), their daughter Marley (born November 2025) and their dog on Australia’s east coast, in Mackay, Queensland. In March 2022, she migrated permanently to Australia. Although it wasn’t always certain, this step ultimately proved to be the right path for her.
In October 2022, Saskia and Brett bought their home just two streets away from the beach. “If there’s a bit of wind, we can hear the ocean from our bedroom,” Saskia says. “That still feels special every single day.”
From Egmond to Australia
Saskia grew up in Egmond and completed the Flower & Design programme in Alkmaar in the Netherlands. She worked as a florist for many years and brought her love for flowers and plants with her to Australia. Although she doesn’t currently work as a florist here, her knowledge and passion for greenery are something she carries with her everywhere.
Life in Mackay, located in subtropical Queensland, works quite differently from the Netherlands. “Here we grow vegetables in winter, but that certainly doesn’t apply to all of Australia.
The biggest difference lies in the climate where we live. Plants I used to know as houseplants in the Netherlands sometimes grow into large outdoor shrubs here. And because of the intense sun, you really have to think carefully about where to plant things.” What does she sometimes miss about the Netherlands? “The four distinct seasons.”
Australia as a dream, migration as a journey
Saskia’s love for Australia started at a young age. “My aunt once travelled to Australia. We picked her up from Schiphol airport when I was still young, and her stories made such an impression that I really wanted to see the country for myself.”
In 2010, at the age of 23, Saskia travelled to Australia for the first time on a Working Holiday visa. She worked on a farm in Queensland and not only found her way there but also built friendships that would later play an important role in where she is today.
In 2018, Saskia decided to travel again. Via Asia, she returned to Australia, this time on a tourist visa. She stayed with Jackie, the daughter of the farmer she had previously worked for, at a campsite tucked away in a rainforest by the sea. There, she extended her stay by applying for a second Working Holiday visa.
When that visa expired at the end of 2019, Saskia had to return to the Netherlands. “At that point, I wasn’t one hundred percent sure yet whether I wanted to live in Australia permanently. The plan was to return in early 2020 and only then make that decision. Because of my visa situation, I had to make that choice sooner than planned.”
First contact with Visa4you
Back in the Netherlands, Saskia started researching her options online and came across Visa4you. She completed a visa check, the first step in her migration journey. Soon after, she got in touch with Hester and together they explored the possible pathways. At that time, the best option was a Skilled Migrant visa under the occupation of florist, with nomination from New South Wales.
“It was exciting,” Saskia recalls. “My flight back to Australia had already been booked before I contacted Visa4you, so everything felt a bit chaotic. I was already packing my bags and thinking, what am I getting myself into?”
In February 2020, Saskia travelled to Australia again, just before the COVID‑19 pandemic truly escalated. Via Brisbane, she travelled with Jackie to Mackay. There, she met Brett, a good friend of Jackie’s. “It was a fun evening and there was a nice connection. Nothing more than that at the time, but I did think: he’s a really nice guy.”
Long-distance love and a different visa path
When Australia closed its borders and Saskia’s visa expired, she had to return to the Netherlands. Slowly, her contact with Brett became more intense. What followed was a period of daily phone calls, often just twenty minutes a day, due to Brett’s long working hours in the mines and the time difference. “We called our Sundays ‘Cheesy Sunday’,” Saskia laughs. “Hours on the phone with a cheese board next to us.”
Meanwhile, Saskia continued working on her English test for the Skilled Worker visa, with Brett helping her practise. Due to COVID, the visa process almost came to a standstill. Eventually, their relationship grew serious enough for Saskia to switch to a Prospective Marriage visa.
In February 2021, Brett was allowed to travel to the Netherlands. They lived together in Amsterdam for four months and got engaged in July 2021. Despite weekly travel exemption applications submitted by Hester, Saskia was unable to travel to Australia for a long time. Eventually, they got married in February 2022 and just two weeks later, Saskia migrated to Australia.
“Not something I’d recommend,” she laughs, “but sometimes life just unfolds that way.”
Adjusting to real migration
In Mackay, Saskia met her in-laws for the first time. She had given away many belongings, with the rest shipped over by sea. They still live in the same place along the Queensland coast.
“Even so, this felt very different from my earlier travels. This time, I was really migrating.” Everything was in English, phone calls felt intimidating, and practical matters took a lot of energy. “Even something as simple as changing my driver’s licence to my married name felt complicated. It took about six months before things started to feel natural.”
The first year wasn’t always easy. Homesickness, FOMO when seeing pictures of ice skating or cosy moments with family and friends back in the Netherlands, and small everyday things she missed: cycling, spontaneously meeting friends at a café, the cosy, compact feel of Dutch life.
Work, family and balance
Once in Australia, Saskia walked into a garden centre and asked whether they were looking for staff. A day later, she started working there and stayed for almost four years. She is now fully focused on caring for daughter Marley. Brett no longer works in the mines and now has a job closer to home, allowing him to be home every evening.
Later this year, they plan to travel south with a caravan, discovering new places together as a family.
Connecting with locals and life in Australia
Saskia has a good relationship with her in-laws. In the beginning, building a social network was challenging, but since Marley was born, it has become much easier. “You naturally meet people through other mums. That really helps you feel at home.”
What stands out to her about life in Australia is the sense of calm. “People are less rushed here, they give each other space and are very spontaneous.”
Looking ahead
Saskia’s future is firmly in Australia. Visiting the Netherlands once a year is something they would like to continue, although it’s a bit more on hold at the moment. Fortunately, family and friends regularly come to visit. “That helps so much.”
Advice for future migrants
Her advice for those who are unsure about migrating is clear: “Just apply for the visa, or start with a visa check. Yes, it costs money. But you can always go back. And definitely talk to Visa4you to explore your options, things can change along the way.” She was very nervous about the English test, but that turned out fine too.
Finally, Saskia emphasises how valuable personal guidance has been for her: “During COVID I spoke to Hester so often. It never felt like I was bothering her. We even received flowers on our wedding day and later a card and a gift for Marley. Because migration is such a big step in someone’s life, those small, personal gestures really mean a lot.”
Australia has clear pros and cons for her. She sometimes misses the Netherlands, but the life she has built here, together with Brett, outweighs everything she left behind.
