Living in Netherlands: Family networks

Parents and communities

When the novelty and excitement wear off, you could be left with a feeling of anti-climax and in some cases, a good dose of confusion. Those first few months of figuring everything out, from the public transport to the internet providers and schools in the neighbourhood, takes its toll on even the most organised expat. Thank goodness here in the Netherlands there are networks of volunteers, groups and communities helping new arrivals, answering questions, making recommendations, reviewing and advising to facilitate much softer landings. Not just the general expat networks such as IamExpat, Expatica, ACCESS, Internations, but more specifically, parental networks.

Friends for life

When I first arrived in the Netherlands, with a two-year-old child and a husband starting working right away, I was the sole organiser and caretaker of our home. I quickly realised I would need to reach out to someone for help or advice and discovered DelftMama, a group for parents needing company, advice, information on all things Delft, and so much more. They have a thriving community of parents and volunteers who have teamed up with local organisations and Gemeente (municipality) Delft, facilitating a better experience for all newcomers to the city.

I also joined, with my daughter, a local playgroup for pre-school kids and met friends I still have today, 10 years later. Meeting people from across the globe in exactly the same situation was an eye-opening experience, and the most significant impact it had was a change in my mental health.

Those first few months were daunting and lonely, with little escape, much to get done, and a young child to look after. Meeting fellow internationals going through the same transition was not only helpful but made me realise that I was not alone and that my experience was nothing unusual. I could talk to people about everything and anything, and there was often someone who had already gone through the same thing.

Finding fellow countrymen

There are a number of other groups across the country, started by resourceful people who understand that support and a safe place to ask questions is essential to settling down, and even more so when you have children in the mix. Hearing the perspective of other parents–especially if they are from your home country and therefore know what you would be expecting– about schools, sports clubs, activities and medical facilities–is priceless.

International parents can find that doctor visits and medications might be different from those in other countries. In the beginning this can be rather difficult to navigate, especially if you have children who need vaccinations or repeat prescriptions, so recommendations from other parents are invaluable. While any advice is opinion-based, it still hugely comforting and helpful to know that others have gone through similar experiences.

ACCESS can help

Meeting new people in a new city may not be an easy task. Fortunately, there are ways to build a social life and make friends, and ACCESS is there to help you meet and connect with others. Find out more at here

Finding a school

Many schools (international and Dutch) provide open days and introductory sessions where families can get to know the campus and staff, and meet other parents. Check out school websites (some can be found in a feature in this issue).

Community groups

The Netherlands has a network of groups and communities for internationals, some of them are:

Delft – delftmama.nl

Amsterdam – amsterdam-mamas.nl

Rotterdam – facebook.com/groups/rdambabies

Leiden – facebook.com/groups/leidenexpats

The Hague – facebook.com/groups/2406969948