Building on insights from employers, partners, research and experience, IN Amsterdam is working on a collective approach to social onboarding needs. The goal is to strengthen existing and new initiatives in terms of visibility, coordination and access.
Helping internationals feel at home in the Amsterdam Area
Feeling connected, supported and able to participate in a new city is a key factor in wellbeing, engagement and long-term retention of international talent. Across the Amsterdam Area, employers and ecosystem partners are increasingly recognising the importance of this, leading to social onboarding initiatives for international employees and their partners. Importantly, this process relates not just to the moment of arrival, but to the entire settling-in phase and even beyond.
As part of our efforts to explore and streamline social onboarding programmes, we’ve compiled several successful initiatives that illustrate how companies can engage with this. The partner programmes highlighted below offer concrete, accessible ways to support international employees and their partners and families in feeling at home in Amsterdam.
Nexxxt Step: a social onboarding programme for internationals
Nexxxt Step is a practical, modular social onboarding programme that companies can offer in-house to their international employees and partners. The programme focuses on three core pillars: access to relevant settling-in information, building social networks and community, and strengthening a sense of belonging in Amsterdam. Through guided sessions, participants gain a better overview of what the city has to offer, connect with peers, and are encouraged to take up language classes, volunteering and community participation. The programme, developed by Luuk van der Vaart, Serve the City and Koentact, supports internationals not only in getting started, but in feeling at home and confident to continue building their lives in the city.
Accessible learning and connection at the Lunch & Learn Sessions
With ACCESS’s Patron Programme, companies can provide their international employees and accompanying partners options to learn about topics that are useful as they settle in the Netherlands. Online ‘Lunch & Learn’ sessions provide knowledge and insights as well as opportunities to ask experts specific questions. Such sessions are a great way of showing your employees you have their interests at heart and understand the challenges of an international move. For more information about the programme, contact Deborah Valentine, executive director at ACCESS.
Partner career support and dual careers: the IDCN
Supporting the social onboarding of international employees also means recognising the crucial role of their partners and spouses. Research and practice consistently show that partner satisfaction, access to networks and career opportunities are decisive factors in whether employees stay in the long term. The International Dual Career Network (IDCN) plays an important role in this field by connecting accompanying partners of international professionals with employers, career opportunities and professional networks. Through curated networking events, employer engagement, career workshops and peer exchange, IDCN helps partners regain a professional perspective, build local networks and navigate the Dutch labour market.
More information about initiatives, activities and events for international professionals and their families living and working in the Amsterdam Area is available on the business calendar and in our newsletters.
Join us!
We would like to encourage partners who are active in the field of social onboarding or are developing initiatives that support connection, participation or belonging to join us. By sharing initiatives and aligning our efforts, we can strengthen the overall ecosystem and make existing opportunities more visible and accessible to employers and internationals alike. Get in touch! And employers who are interested in this topic or are seeking advice on how to support their employees to feel at home can contact our account managers for help and advice. We would also love to see you at our stand at this year’s IamExpat Fair on 7 March at the Beurs van Berlage. Stop by for a chat!
