Spouse Programme

Brainport International Community (BIC)

Brainport International Community enhances all the regional initiatives and is the network for all internationals coming to, settling in and living in the Southeast Netherlands. For internationals that have arrived here, the Southeast of the Netherlands has plenty to offer to those in search of friends from around the world. Almost every big city in the Southeast Netherlands has one or more expat networks and organizes year round events for internationals. Take a look at our agenda and join the events. Keep updated about our programme via our social media Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Partners and family members

During your stay in the Southeast Netherlands, you might want to enjoy the company of your family members. Just like you, they may need to apply for an authorisation for temporary stay (MVV) and/or a resident permit. Before bringing them over you will need to choose the right procedure. As is the case with the residence permits and Authorisation for temporary stay (MVV), there are several grounds on which partners and family members of expats can get a residence permit or an MVV (authorisation for temporary stay). If you are an EU citizen, other rules apply and this information is not applicable.

Visit the website of Expat Guide Holland for more information on bringing your partner and family members with you.

Spouse program

The spouse program is designed to help the non-working spouses of internationals living in the Eindhoven area, find fulfilling purpose after arriving here. The essence is that each individual can avoid going through the tedious and frustrating process of re-inventing the wheel where others already have experience and knowledge. Making for quicker adjustment and a more fulfilling living experience in the Eindhoven region. At the same time meet others in the same situation and exchange information or make new friends. Later you might want to help new arrivals once you have gone through the Program yourself. Key focus of the Program is to ‘help you help yourself’. So it’s a volunteer project ‘by Expats for Expats’ with social, informational, psychological elements.

Interested to help and be helped?
Send an email to spousesprogram@thehubeindhoven.nl to find out when the next course will start.

Social clubs and networks

Once you have arrived in the Netherlands, you might want to start finding some friends that have been through the same hectic time as you and who live in the Southeast Netherlands. From bars favoured by expats to formal expat organisations, the Southeast Netherlands has plenty to offer to those in search of friends from around the world. In addition to the expat clubs and groups, some national expat organisations also provide useful information. Below are a few examples of Expat & Social clubs.
For more information visit the Expat Guide Holland website.

International Women's Club Eindhoven
The IWCE is a non-commercial, non-political and non-denominational organization that promotes networking between English speaking women from many different countries. Whether you’re new to Eindhoven or have been here for a while and have just discovered us, the IWCE can be a great way to meet new people or to explore new directions via our special interest groups (daytime and evening activities).
Visit website
The HUB Eindhoven
Improving the socialization and integration of international knowledge workers and students in Eindhoven is the main goal of The Hub Eindhoven for Expats. We do this by organizing a variety of activities where contact is key! We are looking forward to see you soon (again) at one of our activities!
Visit website
North American Women's Club of Eindhoven (NAWC)
For American, Canadian and Mexican citizens living in the Eindhoven-region. Meets on the first Tuesday of every month, and has various activities to suit working and non-working members.
Visit website
Tilburg International Club (TIC)
The goal of this new family club is to provide social and educational activities for expats living in Tilburg and the surrounding area. They also try to represent the international community to local authorities and to further amicable relations among people of different nationalities. Membership is varied in age, nationality, gender, and length of stay in the Netherlands. TIC meets 1-2 times per month offering a variety of activities ranging from an informative meeting about Healthcare in the Netherlands, to a Saturday day trip to a historic city in the neighbourhood and a monthly happy hour in one of Tilburg's many cafes!
Visit website

Sports clubs

The Netherlands prides itself on being a sporting nation and if you want to get some exercise, you will surely find what you are looking for. In the Southeast Netherlands, you can indulge in over 70 different sports, in either an active or a recreational way, within a club, or individually. Some of the most popular sports are: Fitness, soccer, jogging, cycling, dancing, hockey, squash and tennis. Apart from that, there are several professional sports clubs in this region.

International schools

An important decision all parents of school-age children have to make when they move internationally is whether to place their children in local or international education. Visit the website of Expat Guide holland for more general information about international schools and the Dutch educational system.

International School of Eindhoven
The primary department, formally known as the Regional International School (RIS), on the Humperdincklaan (360 students) and the secondary department, formally known as the International Secondary School Eindhoven (ISSE), on the Venetiëstraat (250 students) form the International School Eindhoven that serves the international community. Until 2009 these two schools belonged to different foundations.
These two schools are now combined under the new name: International School Eindhoven (ISE). The school is scheduled to move into a very large site that is a Dutch historical monument, the Constant Rebecque Kazerne, in a green area of the city. The main focus is establishing a common vision and bringing cultures together.
Visit the website of International School Eindhoven
International Schools in Tilburg
- Chinese School
  The Tilburg Chinese School was founded in 2006. It offers classes in Mandarin and Cantonese to students of various ages and ability. For more information: Visit the website of the Chinese school
  Japanese School
- In 1989, Tilburg signed a twinning agreement with the Japanese city of Minamiashigara, prompted by the opening of the Fuji Photo Film factory in Tilburg. Since then, there have been strong ties between the two cities. In 1990, Tilburg became the home of the Japanese School which serves the entire province of Brabant. Every Saturday, Japanese pupils aged from 4 and 16 attend lessons given in their own language. For more information: Visit the website of the Japanese school
International School of Maastricht
UWC Maastricht opened in September 2009, and comprises the International Department of Joppenhof Primary School and the International School of Maastricht (Secondary) and caters for around 600 students from more than 40 nationalities. We have welcomed the first 50 boarding students from all over the world in September 2010 and a further 50 in September 2011. They were selected by their respective national committees.
Visit the website of International School Maastricht

(Voluntary)work

Voluntary work
Wether you're looking for a new challenge, a new skill or an opportunity to learn more about the local culture, volunteering is a great way to go. You get to actively engage with your local community and meet new people. You experience the Southeast Netherlands from a whole new angle by becoming quickly acquinted with the region while giving something back. Volunteer work is fun, challenging, educational, good for your personal development and resume! Also it is a good way to learn the Dutch language.

Volunteer work comes in all sorts and sizes. Volunteer work can consist of thinking or doing, managing or implementing, in difficult or easy projects. It is possible to do volunteer work for one or more parts of one or more days per week or for a fixed number of hours each month. Whether you wish to do volunteer work on a regular basis or just for once, the choice is yours!

Many organisations can use volunteers: the Salvation Army, the food bank, museums and other cultural organisations, sportclubs etc. Below you will find a list of organisations that provide volunteer work In the Southeast Netherlands. You can also check the Yellow Pages, or ask the church closest to your home. They will all be able to provide you with names of institutions that need your help.

www.vrijwilligerspunteindhoven.nl: Voluntary jobs in the Eindhoven region
www.eindhovencares.nl: Voluntary jobs in the Eindhoven region
www.vhd-eindhoven.nl: Voluntary jobs in the Eindhoven area, Dutch site
www.crossroadsmag.eu: Promoting voluntary jobs in Maastricht
www.europa.eu/youth/volunteering: EU youth, voluntary work in Maastricht
www.rodekruis.nl: International organisation the Red Cross
www.vluchtelingenwerk.nl: Voluntary jobs working with refugees

Work

There are many ways to find a job in the Netherlands. Looking for a job starts with writing your CV according to the Dutch standards. Then we need to find a place where we can promote your CV or send it to. The possibilities include posting the CV on the Internet, sending it to headhunters and temp agencies, writing open application letters, and responding to adds in the newspapers. We will describe all possibilities below, but it is up to you which road you choose to take. We will also pay attention to volunteer work and the jobs available. Last but not least, we will give you some guidelines on how to start your own company.

Visit the website of Expat Guide Holland for more information about finding a job.

Study

In Brainport there are a number of opportunities for part-time studies. For example the Fontys University of Applied Sciences offers a range of part-time Master degree programmes taught in the English language. For further information please visit the website of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences.

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