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!
Further Education and Careers for Partners
When someone moves from abroad to start a new assignment in the Netherlands, their partner frequently does not have a job waiting for them. Studies have shown that the leading cause of assignment failure is related to a family's inability to adjust to this new situation. Partners who may have given up a career to relocate with their family can sometimes feel lost and invisible at first.
For most people there are many opportunities available for rewarding work or study - but you may need to be open to considering some things you might not have done at home.
For some, the main hurdle to overcome may be getting a work permit. Check with the working partner's HR Manager whether both are allowed to work under the terms of your existing permit. If not, a separate permit may be required, but you could also consider taking a sabbatical to do unpaid work, or to study.
For others the biggest problem may be getting their non-Dutch qualifications accepted by the Dutch authorities (for instance to work in medicine). This issue is recognised by the Dutch authorities and a range of international qualifications will be accepted once the certificates have been verified.
Language can also be an issue, as many jobs require good Dutch. This can be the spur that makes language training really worthwhile, although many people take the opposite route and put their "foreignness" to good use, by doing work that requires their specific language and cultural skills - work such as teaching or, import/export for example.
Where to find what you need
For general information, visit the Eindhoven Gemeente (Municipality) website, which has lots of information (in Dutch and English) and gives contact details of various local organisations: www.eindhoven.nl
For verification of qualifications, go to
http://www.nuffic.nl/international-students
http://www.goudengids.nl/ (in Dutch)
For your specific functional area, please refer to the professional associations in the Netherlands. They can be found using any Internet search engine.
Often it is best to start with Dutch lessons. Please see under Language Courses, below.
Some recruitment agencies offer support to internationals. Undutchables specialises in placing non-Dutch speakers: http://www.undutchables.nl/, or look under uitzendbureaus in the Yellow Pages (http://www.goudengids.nl/).
The Centre for Work and Income (Centrum voor Werk en Inkomen (CWI) is the official organisation to approach for work-related questions. Visit them at Smalle Haven 111, Eindhoven, or call 040 851 4000. Alternatively, look under ‘arbeidsbemiddeling' in the Community Guide.
