Netherlands,
decoded.

There is no retirement visa. The Netherlands has no passive-income route like Portugal's D7. Residence needs a purpose: a business (Americans, via DAFT), a qualifying job, a Dutch or EU partner, or study. A Canadian retiree with none of those is limited to Schengen visits — 90 days in any 180.

Citizenship usually costs your old passport. Naturalisation is possible after 5 years (3 years if married to a Dutch citizen), but the Netherlands generally requires you to renounce your existing nationality. Exceptions exist (marriage to a Dutch citizen is the main one), but most Americans and Canadians face a real choice at year 5. Permanent residence — which does not require renouncing — is the route most take.

Your driving licence probably won't transfer. US licences aren't exchangeable at all; only two Canadian provinces (Alberta, Québec) are, and only for category B. After 185 days as a resident, you need a Dutch licence — full theory and practical exams, in most cases. The exception: 30%-ruling holders can exchange any licence. Budget time and roughly €700–1,200 in lessons and fees.