Skip to main content
iAmsterdam logo
Live, Work and Study
Image from Creative bros

Make Amsterdam your home: support for internationals

Last week, Amsterdam’s City Council voted in favour of a new initiative named ‘Make Amsterdam your home’ – Maak van Amsterdam je thuis – which aims to better support international professionals in feeling welcome, connected and at home in our city.

Working together

The initiative aims to establish a programme that would help internationals integrate and feel at home in the city. Internationals in the Amsterdam Area would be able to take part in a wide-ranging set of classes and activities, including language classes, lessons in cultural and city history, community activities and social get-togethers. One of the key goals is to strengthen social cohesion by connecting international newcomers with long-term residents.  

Another important part of the efforts to help internationals feel supported is working closely with employers. Companies play a vital role in the well-being of international employees and their families – not only during the initial onboarding, but also in helping them settle into life in the Netherlands.  

A welcoming environment

Besides supporting internationals with their official paperwork, an equally important focus here at IN Amsterdam is to help newcomers feel at home. We do this by connecting them to community events, and volunteer opportunities, providing resources about life in the Amsterdam area and support for learning Dutch, job orientation and career development, and hosting workshops and events to learn about education, housing, culture and life in the Netherlands. 

There are already many initiatives across the Amsterdam Area that help newcomers feel welcome and supported – from language courses and informative events and webinars to career orientation workshops and cultural activities and social meet-ups. Some of them are happening here by IN Amsterdam, thanks to our partners, including ACCESS, EURES and a range of volunteer and other organisations. Through our website, newsletters, and social media channels, we keep internationals informed and engaged with these initiatives, as well as with news and updates about life and culture in the Amsterdam Area.   

A coordinated approach

In the coming period, our aim is to create a more coordinated and visible approach that brings together public and private efforts to support internationals in the Amsterdam Area. We will continue working closely with the international and local communities, employers and other partners to identify needs and opportunities that will make this initiative a success.  We want the Amsterdam area to be a place where everyone feels that they belong.  

We will continue to update you as the initiative develops. In the meantime, get in touch to let us know your thoughts! What helps you feel at home? We welcome your input and ideas.