Introducing ACCESS Stories

Introducing ACCESS Stories – Experiences, tips and ideas to help internationals find home in the Netherlands.

Relocating isn’t easy – the transition goes smoothly or there are some bumps in the road, you might already have support here or you don’t know anyone. At the end of the day, relocating can provide so many stories and varied experiences. How can we learn from these? Can we find inspiration to ‘make the most of it’ or find possible solutions to the challenges faced, at the personal level? What have we learnt during this process?

People’s stories can encourage others. The experiences of individuals can provide ideas to those who might be struggling. The paths taken by many can be followed towards one’s own settlement, regardless of how long that might be. We have listened to these tales and know that OUR stories can help.

Our Stories

For close to 40 years ACCESS has been helping internationals settle in the Netherlands – primarily by answering questions about a myriad of things, but also by offering professional volunteering opportunities to internationals in their new ‘home’ country. We continue to learn things that we know can help others, and so we are pleased to introduce this new newsletter, with these stories, for all to enjoy and learn from.

This is what ACCESS Stories will be about – you and your experiences of relocating yourself and your family to the Netherlands, coming from ‘somewhere else’ and trying to make this your ‘home’. At ACCESS we know there are many stories out there – we hear them amongst ourselves, within our community of volunteers, we share them with laughter or tears, and we have learnt that in sharing we gain strength, empathy and support. That in sharing we are reminded it is ‘not just us’ but a community of individuals from all over the world, trying to make this, the Netherlands, our new home.

“Stories help us solve problems and try on solutions.”  Paths to Literacy

What’s next

In June 2025, instead of publishing a quarterly magazine, we will introduce a smaller, monthly newsletter in which we share these ideas, experiences and opportunities for enhanced settlement in a new ‘home’. ACCESS Stories will build on the things we know and the strengths we collectively have to encourage others to make the best of a ‘relocation’ to the Netherlands and to flourish as best they can.

What will we share? In each issue there will be a personal ‘story’ to relate to or learn from about an international’s experience finding their feet in the lowlands – some having to learn to swim for instance (an important fact when you stop and think about 26% of the country being under sea level!). There will also be a selection of events in different parts of the country where people can go and meet each other, participate in shared experiences, and make initial steps towards building their community here in the Netherlands.

We will have words of wisdom from our Counselling Network, with professional tips for making the most of it all, setbacks included, while getting settled, and some testimonials from our team members about the value of becoming involved.

Finally, what would this newsletter be if we did not explore a word or two in Dutch, which you might find helpful!

ACCESS Stories will be produced monthly, digitally as well as in limited hardcopies, for people who have just arrived and who come to meet ACCESS at the International Desks in Amsterdam, Amstelveen, The Hague and Utrecht.

Whether you’re here for a short or long period, in this increasingly diverse and multicultural world we believe hearing how others manage can help and provide added support as new paths are navigated. As we bid farewell to the ACCESS Magazine, we are excited about the possibilities of ACCESS Stories continuing to help you settle and make the Netherlands your new home. In fact, some lessons shared may well help you cross future borders or provide tips to children or family members heading off on their own ‘adventure’.

For each of us who have gained from hearing such stories, we hope that sharing the stories of others will help you.  Knowing you are not ‘alone’ could be the best knowledge there is. 

ACCESS Stories – A short newsletter with the heartfelt intent to help you make the most of your new lives in the Lowlands.

Join our mailing list or share your story with us.

“How do stories inspire change? Stories have a great impact on our minds, memories, emotions, and actions. They push against the boundaries of our lived experiences and open up new worlds of solutions for us.”

The Redford Center