A man who hustled to build a life for himself in Los Angeles has opened up about how he moved his family to the Netherlands without a job and realized he was wrong about the ‘American dream.’
Sky Govan, 38, from Chicago, has spent the past three years living in Haarlem, a city outside of Amsterdam, with his wife, Sara, and their young son after picking up and moving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The YouTube creator admitted that starting over in another country where he had to adjust to a new language and culture was one of the harder things he has done, but he doesn’t have any regrets.
‘My entire life I’ve had this idea of the American dream, but then three years ago, I up and moved my family to the Netherlands, and I think I was wrong,’ he explained in a recent video. ‘I think we’re all wrong about this idea of the American dream.’
Sky Govan, 38, moved from Los Angeles to the Netherlands with his wife, Sara, and their young son during the COVID-19 pandemic
Govan shared that they were both ‘killing it in LA’ and didn’t have to move, but they loved to travel and ‘always had this itch to live abroad’
The YouTube creator admitted that Amsterdam was last on their list of places they wanted to move because they didn’t want to live in ‘another busy place’
Govan shared that he and his wife were both ‘killing it in LA’ and didn’t have to move, but they loved to travel and ‘always had this itch to live abroad.’
He recalled how they considered relocating to Ireland, England, and Germany, saying Amsterdam was last on their list of places they wanted to move.
Govan explained that he and his wife both grew up in big cities, and neither of them wanted to move to ‘another busy place’ after living in LA.
They felt Amsterdam was ‘just way too crazy’ for them, but that all changed when they visited Haarlem after the birth of their son.
‘The moment we got here and just walked around, we both knew that this was kind of it,’ he said, adding that the city was just a 15 or 20 minute train ride to Amsterdam.
However, a couple of months later, COVID hit, and the reality of dropping everything to move to another country set in.
Govan said they almost backed out of the move until he got a call from his best friend and mentor, who had just been let go from his job via email.
‘When he told me he got fired, it just hurt a lot because I knew how invested he was in the company,’ he explained.
After the birth birth of their son, they visited Haarlem and fell in love with the city, which is located outside of Amsterdam
Govan said the train from Haarlem to Amsterdam takes just 15-20 minutes
To prepare for their move, they opened up a Dutch bank account and gave away the furniture in their Los Angeles apartment
After discussing potentially relocating, they agreed to use the money they had saved over the years to move to the Netherlands.
Govan set up a Dutch bank account with Bunq, a mobile banking company founded in Amsterdam, and found an apartment via Expat Housing.
Before they moved, they gave away the furniture in their Hollywood Hills apartment, and he sold his bright yellow Acura NSX.
‘We did all of this without jobs [in the Netherlands],’ he noted, and three years later, they are still living there.
Govan said he also sold his bright yellow Acura NSX, noting that they moved to the Netherlands without jobs
Govan explained that the move made him realize the American dream is not about how much money you make or what car you drive – it’s about how you feel in your heart
‘I feel like I’m living the American dream,’ he said, ‘but I don’t live in America’
Govan explained that the move made him reevaluate what the American dream means to him.
‘I don’t think it’s about little white picket fences and your house and what you’re driving or how much money you make,’ he said.
‘I don’t think the American dream is about that. I think the American dream is in [your heart]. Call me corny, Call me whatever you want, but I do think it’s about where you find your home.
‘What is home to you? And [it’s] not really about stuff because stuff can be replaced. Any of that can be replaced.’
‘I feel like I’m living the American dream,’ he added, ‘but I don’t live in America.’
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