Making new friends and being involved in the community can help you feel at home in your new surroundings. There are lots of ways to make new connections and build up relationships and that all-important support network. Below are some ideas for helping you to find new contacts, friends, and support among both the Dutch and international communities as you begin your new life in Brabant.
Animals
If you love animals, consider volunteering at an animal shelter (dierenasiel). Or if you have your own dog, you will find your daily walks offer an easy opportunity to stop and chat with other dog owners or neighbors out tending their front gardens.
Colleagues and neighbors
Make contact with colleagues and neighbors. They can be a great source of information when you have just arrived and offer an easily accessible form of social contact.
Introduce yourself to your neighbors by inviting them to your house for coffee or tea, or a glass of wine. In general, your neighbors will in turn invite you over to their house.
Let your neighbors know when you are having a party or renovation, or something else that may cause them any inconvenience. The Dutch value their peace and quiet, so they like to stick to a 23:00 rule. They can complain if you make noise after 23:00!
Events
Brabant International Expo
Visit our next Brabant International Expo! Not only can you meet other internationals in the region, but you can also speak directly with our Official Partners, a wide range of social and cultural clubs, and non-profit support organizations in the region. Entry is free of charge and there are lots of informative presentations and workshops throughout the event. Last year there were presentations and workshops covering a variety of topics ranging from buying a house, filing your tax return, and kickstarting your career to information about safety, heritage languages, and internationalization in the region.
Homewards
Sign up for the next edition of Homewards, a 3-month social onboarding program for locals, newcomers, and seasoned internationals who want to meet new people and discover (or rediscover) all that Eindhoven has to offer.
Winter Market Eindhoven
Join us in December for our annual Winter Market Eindhoven, a festive event that brings together residents from diverse backgrounds to connect, exchange, and celebrate the winter season.
Other events
We regularly advertise local events organized by other groups in the region. Sign up to our newsletter, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and keep an eye on our events calendar to stay up to date with all that is going on in the region. Also try these websites for more local events: RegioRadar Eindhoven, Visit Brabant, and This is Eindhoven.
Events in Breda and Tilburg
Check out the websites of Breda Internationals and Tilburg International Club for details on events for internationals in Breda and Tilburg respectively.
Hobbies, religion, sport, and social and community clubs
Hobbies
Joining a course or hobby club not only lets you enjoy your favorite activity but also offers the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people.
For more information on hobbies, see our sports and hobbies page. Also check out The Living In Guide Eindhoven region and the Eindhoven municipality website (choose your sport or activity) for more information on activities in the Eindhoven area.
Religious beliefs
Find others who share your religious beliefs and get involved. Go to our religion and places of worship page for more details.
Sport
Joining a sports club (sportvereniging) is a great way to meet people. Apart from participating in the sport itself, organizations regularly organize parties, gatherings and other social activities for their members. And on top of that, sport clubs are run by volunteers, so this is a great opportunity to get more involved. For more information on sports, see our sports and hobbies page. Also check out The Living In Guide: Eindhoven region and EindhovenSport for more information on clubs in the area.
Social clubs
There are lots of social clubs in the region. Join one or more of these to meet people and make new friends. Go to our Find a social club page to view some of the options available.
Community group or club
Many neighborhoods have community centers where a lot of activities are organized for the neighborhood’s residents. This is a good way to get in touch with the local Dutch community.
Learn the language and understand Dutch culture
Learning Dutch opens up many more opportunities for socializing and settling into your new home. Visit our Learning Dutch page for lots of tips and ideas for improving your Dutch, and our Dutch culture and food page for an insight into Dutch customs, which will help you navigate your new surroundings.
Library
Libraries offer so much more than just books! Visit our libraries page for information on Eindhoven library’s international playgroup, makers club, and other workshops and activities. All these offer lots of ways to meet new people.
Make use of language cafés to both improve your Dutch and meet new people. See our Learning Dutch page for more information.
Online communities
Join and participate in online platforms, for example What’s App groups or Expats in Eindhoven or Expats Breda on Facebook, to connect you with other internationals and share information and experiences.
Parents
If you have children, reaching out to other parents at your child’s school or activities can be a great way to make new friends. Play dates also offer the opportunity to get to know other parents. Offer to help out at your child’s school or club to feel more involved in the community.
Heritage language schools can also be a good source of friendship or support. See our Heritage language education network page for more information.
For those with babies and toddlers, check out playgroups, such as the international playgroup at Eindhoven library, or Stay and Play (speelinloop) sessions at childcare centers. See our preschool page for more details.
Also check out clubs and groups. Expat Kids in Eindhoven provides support to expat children and their family through free activities that create a sense of connection to the local community in Eindhoven.
Professional networks
Particularly of interest for accompanying partners are professional networks, such as Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI). Through ESI international job seekers can meet like-minded people, expand their professional network, and prepare for the employment market through various programs and workshops.
Volunteer
Volunteering is not only rewarding in itself, but is also a great way to get involved, a possible steppingstone to paid work, and a way to make new contacts and friends. Visit our volunteering page for ideas on finding volunteer opportunities in the region.