"My New World" Tilburg by RPW

I had the pleasure of first visiting Tilburg in September 1999. Initially I was going for a 3 month work contract, that trip ended up changing my life !
Tilburg is not the most pretty town in Nederlands but it certainly has some appeal, good nightlife, excellent hotels, lots of nationalities and is within easy travelling distance to other places. During my first trip I did'nt really get to see much of Tilburg apart from my Hotel area, Berkel Enschott, Centrum (Town Centre) and my workplace in Tilburg Noord. My first contract finished and I returned to Scotland for a few weeks, it was only then that I realised how much of an effect Tilburg had had on me. I was asked to go back and this time it was going to be much different !!!!!!!!!

I returned to Tilburg early in 2000, same hotel De Druiventros, which is an excellent establishment. This time I knew people, I went out to new cafes in Centrum and surrounding areas, even spoke some Dutch and then had the time of my life at the yearly Carneval and Kermis. Some people will not imagine the extent of these parties, I am a normal Hetrosexual guy but to see Rose Mandaag ( Pink Monday) was an eye opener ! Along with some of my work colleagues at the time Milton, Sandy, Graeme S, Frank Doc, Arnot and many others we had many great nights out, went to the local Football ground Willem II and had a few coca colas in Elfde gebod ( 11th commandment cafe). Went to some great gigs at 013, local nightclub venue, and tried some excellent local beers and spirits at local cafes. I also met a delightful Venezualan female who had became a resident of Tilburg, I won't say her name but she knows who she is and I imagine anyone that reads this and knew me will obviously know who she is also.

By the end of 2000 my work colleagues were returning to Scotland, I however was happy, I had met my South American friend ! and had been offered a contract to stay in Tilburg, I was even given a house in West Tilburg, a nice area not too far from Centrum and with lots of local amenities, things were very "rosy" ( sorry had to put that in)
It was 2001 and now instead of having a few hundred other Scots in town I only had a few that I drank with in cafes in town, big Phil a true gentleman and friend, all the way from Greenock but now happy in Tilburg, Lee from Cumbernauld. But more than this I was now settled in the Dutch way of life. I had a great job, special friends and a great lifestyle all because of Tilburg.

• Pros:Nice people, very good location for travelling to other places, good easy going lifestyle, great parties.
• Cons:Difficult to get British neswpapers.
• In a nutshell:The Netherlands is not just Amsterdam try Tilburg