So you’ve moved to the Netherlands and you’re not sure where to turn? You don’t speak the language, all your friends are back at home, and you’re not sure where anything is. Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to meet new people in similar situations to you and make friends for life; or perhaps you want to meet people of different nationalities, start up a new hobby or find networking opportunities where you can mingle with fellow entrepreneurs.
Here are five reasons why you might like to consider joining an expat women’s group in the Netherlands.
Every person that joins a group like this is made for each other. Your incentive to join is likely to be for the same reasons: you don’t know anyone in your new country and you want to make friends. You are all in the same situation so it is inevitable that you’ll connect with the members on the same issues, and that’s a recipe for long-term friendships.
There are a number of groups which target a specific group of expat women in the Netherlands, usually dependent on where you are from, this is especially helpful for those who are feeling a little homesick.
You may have come to live in the Netherlands to advance your career. Whether you are an entrepreneur, seeking partnerships or you want to expand your network, there are groups for this purpose too.
There are a number of expat women’s groups that meet for specific reasons. Whether your passion is cookery, craft, art or yoga, joining a group is a great way to meet new people while pursuing and developing your hobby. This is also a great excuse to try out a new hobby.
As an expat mother, you may want to find out the inside gossip from where to find the best day care centres, nurseries and schools to locating the nearest grocery store. A women’s group will have members who will have been through these troubles before, and who are keen to share their advice. You can discover little shortcuts and alternative options that only a well-trodden local would know about.
Joining an expat women’s group doesn’t mean you have to be grouped with people from your native country. For those who want to experience different cultures and perspectives, there are groups which aim to attract a host of different nationalities.
Alessia’s mum was a member of an expat women’s group when she first moved to the Netherlands. She says “Joining a women’s expat group allowed me to transition my family into our new lives in a new country without all of the stress and headaches. I have no clue what I would have done if I did not have the support. I am still friends with many of the members now even though majority of us have moved away”.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When she's not exploring her passion for traveling at Findvietnam.com , Alesia Hsiao provides businesses with professionally-written and engaging articles for JeffBullas.com, Business2Community, Business.com and Tech.co. Feel free to connect with Alesia on LinkedIn .