Libraries provide information on culture in general, and they organize special events, such as playgroups, language cafés (taalcafés) for improving your Dutch, and workshops, as well as a range of events for internationals.
Children are well catered for with foreign-language books, stortytime in Dutch and other languages, and organized events and activities.
And all this is free for under 18s!
Eindhoven Library
Eindhoven library offers not only books, newspapers, and ebooks, but also lots of activities and events for internationals, such as:
- A language café (taalcafé) for practising your Dutch
- The Reading Pier’s collection of children’s books and storytelling in English
- The International Children's Book Collection for children aged 0 to 12.
The Heritage Language Education Network, Eindhoven Library and others have partnered to create this collection, which currently offers books in Italian, Chinese, French, Romanian, Bulgarian, Persian, Ukrainian, Polish, Korean, Spanish, Japanese, and Turkish. - Makers Club (7-13 years) and Makers Space (13 years and up, also adults)
- Free legal advice (Jureka)
- Mums and toddlers international playgroup
- Other workshops and activities.
Children’s memberships are free and students receive a 20% discount.
Eindhoven library has several locations, including libraries in the city center, Best, Gestel, Woensel-Noord, Woensel-Zuid, Waalre and Tongelre.
The Reading Pier
The Reading Pier is Eindhoven’s first English library for children. Started as an initiative by two moms in search of English books for their own children, the project quickly grew within the international community to become a small library. The mission of the Reading Pier is to promote English literacy for all children.
The Reading Pier has a youth department at Eindhoven Library with English books for children and weekly English storytelling sessions for children aged 0-4.
Contact The Reading Pier by email: thereadingpier@gmail.com
Veldhoven Library
Veldhoven Library hosts a monthly read-aloud session for children in various languages, including Dutch, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Turkish. The library also has a Chinese Children's Book Zone with more than 200 books for children ages 1-6.
In addition, there is a language café for practising your Dutch.
More information: bibliotheekveldhoven.nl