Settling in Eindhoven Region
There are many essential things that need to be arranged in the first few days and weeks after your arrival. Once they are complete you can start to relax and enjoy life in your new home. But there are still some things you need to do. This section describes what they are and how to go about them.
You should also be aware that settling in any new place takes time. Moving to a new country also combines a number of the most stressful of life's events, and you should be prepared for this.
What to expect
- Most people go through the "culture shock curve".
- Your arrival and the first few weeks are exciting - this is the "tourist phase".
- After the tourist phase many people feel their mood dipping - the honeymoon period is over but lots of things are still difficult, and "not like they were back home".
- Happily this dip doesn't last forever. You will come out of it, and then life in the Netherlands can really feel great!
Expat Networks
Now could be a good moment to start finding some friends that have been through the same hectic time as you and who live in the Eindhoven region. From bars favoured by expats to formal expat organisations, Eindhoven has plenty to offer those in search of friends from around the world. Which route you will choose depends on your situation and what you like, but here are a number of options:
Clubs and groups | |
Mothers and Toddlers | Expat group running various activities for children in and around Eindhoven. Tel.: 06 273 1087 |
North American Women's Club | Informal group. Meets on the first Tuesday of every month. Tel.: 0413 473765 |
International Women's Club Eindhoven | Promotes networking between English-speaking women of many ages, cultures and backgrounds. Meets every third Thursday of each month. Fiona Schellekens |
Alliance Française | French culture and language society. Tel.: 040 226 5410 |
Dante Alighieri, Società Italiana | Italian culture and language society. Tel.: 040 285 4803 or |
Genootschap Nederland/Engeland | Promotes links between Britain and the Netherland Tel.: 0134 682771 |
Better2Gather | Expat meeting group. Meets every third Thursday of the month at the Grand Café, The Strip, in the High Tech Campus |
The Indo-Dutch Association | Association for Indian people in the Eindhoven area Tel.: 040 261 9005 |
VCWI - Society of Chinese Scholars and Engineers in the Netherlands | A group of highly-educated Chinese in the Netherlands who are employed by research institutions, industry, universities and governmental departments. |
Stichting Kapit-Bisig | Group for Philippinos in the Eindhoven area Tel.: 040 248 9463. |
Welcoming Committee RIS | Welcoming group per nationality at the International Primary School Eindhoven Tel.: 040 251 9437 |
Amigos de la Cultura Hispano-Americana | Spanish and Latin American association Tel.: 040 246 5005 |
Some national expat organisations also provide useful information.
ACCESS is a not-for-profit organisation intended to bridge the gap between the international community and English-speaking services available in The Netherlands. They supply free information from their database; offer publications, courses, and events; and have a professional counselling referral service with about 150 volunteers, a management team, and a board of directors. Email: Website: http://www.access-nl.org/
Expatica is an English-language news & information source for expatriates living in, working in or moving to the Netherlands. They publish eight websites and five country-oriented Survival Guides for European countries. http://www.expatica.com/
