How can you maintain energy and focus during the darker winter months? This article provides professional insights into turning seasonal challenges into opportunities for growth. Explore strategies to stay motivated, build resilience, and make the most of the winter season.

Read more > Winters Blue or Winter Boost? 

Position yourself for success in Brainport Eindhoven with these five essential strategies. Gain expert advice on networking, identifying opportunities, and building your professional presence in one of Europe’s most dynamic innovation hubs from the Expat Spouses Initiative.

Read more > 5 Tips to Get Professionally Active in Brainport

 

 

The combination of Eindhoven on the one hand, and ‘Light’ on the other is definitely no coincidence. Eindhoven has in common with the French capital Paris that they are both called ‘the city of light’. So, on the occasion of Glow, let me shine a little light on Eindhoven and on its history as a city of light.

Read more > Eindhoven: City of Lights

  

The HirePeopleNotPaper closing event marked the success of Women for Women ‘s-Hertogenbosch, celebrating the inspiring achievements of its first cohort. Leaders, Ambassadors, and Talents joined to share hopes for an inclusive workforce, emphasizing collaboration and community support as drivers for empowering international talent. This event highlighted a shared vision of a thriving, diverse workforce in Brabant, building momentum for a future where every talent can contribute to a more vibrant, inclusive work environment.

Read more > Redefining Work and Talent in ‘s-Hertogenbosch

 

 

The longer you live abroad, the more likely it is that you will experience a period of cultural adaptation to your new surroundings one way or another.  Cultural adaptation is the process and time it takes for someone to integrate into a new culture and feel comfortable with it. Until you’ve reached the end of the process each phase (honeymoon, reality check, depression/anxiety, adjustment, and mastery), entails different obstacles to overcome.

Read more > The Process of Cultural Adaptation

 

 

 

Herring has long been connected with some traditional Dutch rituals. It is customary to grab a salty herring by the tail, dip it in onions and let the slippery raw fish slide into your mouth. The Hollandse Nieuwe has been linked to Dutch culture for centuries, and not every freshly caught herring can bear that famous name. So, where exactly do these kinds of herring come from? What makes a herring the Hollandse Nieuwe?

Read more > About the Dutch and Their ‘Nieuwe Haring’

 

 

 

From recent arrival to Talent in the Women for Women Eindhoven Edition X, María José Quirós Castillo has the advantage of understanding both sides of the table as an international talent and HR recruiter. María José will share her unique story and the top five CV mistakes she sees internationals make in the Netherlands.

Read more > Top Five CV Mistakes

 

 

 

Meet Priya Sharma, a business controller from India. Priya tells her story of restarting her career in the Netherlands with the help of the Women for Women Eindhoven Edition X, a part of the Talent100 Edition III.

Read more > A Great Return on Investment

 

 

 

Change is in the air for Talent100 Edition IV. Let’s meet the six new faces will take centre stage as coaches and trainers for the program: Raquel Alejandra López, Chiara Treglia, Gabriela Lodewijks, María José Quirós Castillo, Hannah Böhmer, and Christine Caviquiolo. 

Read more > New Coaches. Same Innovative Program.

 

 

One particular mirror in which you can closely observe a country’s culture and its do’s and don’ts, is how it celebrates its festivities. And that can be either local varieties of festivities that are celebrated in large parts of the world, like carnival, or festivities that are only part of the local tradition, like ‘Koningsdag’. Koningsdag is celebrated on April 27th, indeed the day King Willem Alexander was born, in 1967

Read more > Koningsdag: Celebrating the Monarch Dutch Style

 

 

 

What do marketing, architecture, copy writing, and design all have in common? They are all creative fields where fluency in Dutch is preferred. When you come from abroad with these backgrounds it can feel like an uphill climb with no end in sight to reach the Dutch labour market. Sonal Joshi from Talent100 Edition III knows that all too well. Her story is one where networking, positivity, and tenacity paid off.  

Read more > Fashioning Your Career Forward

 

 

As a frequent commuter by train, would you also be interested to learn more about Dutch trains. You’re probably already aware that the Netherlands is a fairly small country. This provides great opportunities for travelers to reach the other side of the country within two hours. All you have to do is hop on the right train!

Read more >Trains and railways in the Netherlands

 

 

 

 

Tulips are very popular in the Netherlands. Every year between March-May when the spring starts, the tulips bloom and the fields provide the most beautiful colors. Learn about the long relationship between the Netherlands and tulips.

Read more > The Netherlands and its ‘Tulip Mania’

 

 

Those who celebrate Carnival prepare in different manners. Some spend weeks designing and sewing a full costume, fitting within a certain theme. Others just get themselves a shawl and/or a funny hat of some sorts, and dive in!

Read more > Living the Dutch Carnival Experience

 

 

 

 

Ariel E. Slaughter is the content writer and communications member of the Expat Spouses Initiative. Learn how she transversed the world from the United States, Japan, and Chile, to finally land in the Netherlands.

Read more > A Master of  New Beginnings

  

 

 

 The Women for Women Breda Closing Finale was all about celebrating amazing talent that’s locally available and inspiring regional government, companies, and organisations to work together to accelerate internationalisation in Breda and West Brabant.

Read more > Together Towards An International Breda

  

More people cycle than drive in the Netherlands. This hasn’t happened by accident, and it isn’t due solely to the country being relatively flat. There is a bicycle culture that has been deliberately grown and maintained by producing conditions that encourage cycling.

Read more > Born on Two Wheels 

 

 

 

Women for Women (WfW) Eindhoven marks its tenth edition. And Natasja van der Velden, executive programme manager at Studyportals, has been an Ambassador for every edition. To celebrate this milestone, we asked her to share her insights as an experienced Ambassador.

Read more > 10 WfW Editions, 1 Ambassador

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you work in the Netherlands, there is a fair chance that one day a Dutch colleague will walk into your workplace, distributing what looks like a small, flat cake with a colorful topping. And all your Dutch colleagues get the message.

Read more > They Eat What?!?

 

 

 

 

 

In March, the Expat Spouses launched Women for Women Breda, the first expansion of our successful mentorship program! Two months on, we’re checking in with the program coordinator, Ambassadors, and Talents to see how it’s going.

Read more > The Women for Women Program with a Breda Spin

 

 

 

 

 

There is a considerable difference between cultures when celebrating birthdays. There is one birthday ritual that seems to be uniquely Dutch and no consensus about the origin of it.

Read more > A Dutch Birthday Party

 

 

 

 

Women for Women (WfW), the Expat Spouses Initiative’s innovative mentorship program, would not be possible without its Ambassadors. Lisa Wouters, a managing director at Driessen, is among its diverse group of locally connected women who volunteer their time and insights to help international women kick-start their careers in the Netherlands.

Read more > An Ambassador for Connection and Community

 

 

 

 

The #HirePeopleNotPaper event concluded the second edition of the Talent100 program. It brought talents, politicians, and companies together to discuss one pivotal question: How can recruitment be transformed to focus on skills rather than a Talent’s credentials on paper?

Read more > Talent100 LIVE # HirePeopleNotPaper: An Event Full of Opportunities

 

 

 

There is a nice little item available in the Netherlands that can help you and your friends have a lot of pleasant quality time: the ‘Dutch Museum Pass’!

Read more > Can I pass? 

 

 

 

Transitioning from academia into a corporate setting is difficult. Alexander Ledovskikh has been trying to make that move with little success, but thanks to the Talent100 program, he has made great strides toward his dream job.

Read more > For the Love of Science and Research

 

 

 

Those who celebrate Carnival prepare in different manners. Some spend weeks designing and sewing a full costume, fitting within a certain theme. Others just get themselves a shawl and/or a funny hat of some sorts, and dive in!

Read more > Living the Dutch Carnival Experience

 

 

 

Any kind of career pivot can be challenging, but for internationals in healthcare, it can be particularly difficult to continue working in their field once abroad. Obstetrician specialist, Nergis Düzok managed to leverage experience into a promising new career with the Talent100 program.

Read more > A Change of Protocol

 

 

 

Yadira Yimmi is an experienced built-heritage architect and a Talent in the ninth edition of the Women for Women track of the Talent100 program. She has begun the process that will boost her network, skills, and confidence which will empower her to restart her professional career in Brabant.

Read more > The Art of Designing a Career Abroad

 

 

 

 

 

Since as long as people can remember, the Dutch have a ritual that accompanies the celebration of New Year’s Eve: the making and eating of the so-called ‘oliebollen’. The literal translation of oliebollen, oil balls.

Read more > An oliebol, anyone?

 

 

 

 

The Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI) is composed of a diverse team of internationals, including Andrea Agudelo and Odka Tseren, who make it their mission to help others find their professional career paths, support, and community that will allow them to truly call Brabant home.

Read more > An International Team Dedicated to Helping Others

 

 

 

 

 

Dutch are known for a certain frugality, thriftiness, of being on the cheap side of things or even downright stingy. And depending a bit on which part of the country you look at, that quality was more or less looked upon as a virtue.

Read more > Back to an Old Dutch Quality

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘Lichtjesroute’ (Route of Lights) is an annual event held in Eindhoven in the fall, beginning September 18. With it, Eindhoven commemorates the liberation, by the allied forces, from the Nazis. The purpose of the Route of Lights is to perpetuate the memory of the liberation, depicting ‘remembrance’ and ‘freedom’. But also the illusion of ‘fairy tales in light’.

Read more > Shine a Little Light

 

 

 

 

 

On July 7th, 2022, Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI) hosted the Talent100 LIVE event as the exciting conclusion of the first edition of their Talent100 program at the Conference Center of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. The event gathered the program’s Talents, recruiters, and other influential people and organizations across Brabant to inspire, learn, and network.

Read more > Get Market Ready with the #Talent100

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Olivia, a team member of the group that produces this newsletter, and Project Coordinator Communications & Events at Holland Expat Center South. As an international herself, Olivia’s mission and that of the HECS is to help every international feel at home in Brabant.

Read more > Building a Career in Brabant One Piece at a Time

 

 

 

 

 

Although the Brainport region is synonymous with technology, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get your foot in the door. Sometimes it also takes the right local network with the right tech education and experience. That’s how Nazanin Shafiee broke through the crowded Dutch labor market with ESI’s help.

Read more > Becoming Visible in a New Place

 

 

 

 

 

Ask the average Dutchman ‘Who are you?’ and he will probably tell you what he does for work. Ask him ‘How are you?’ and the most likely answer you will get is ‘Ik heb het druk’ (‘I am busy’).

Read more > I Am Busy You Know

 

 

 

 

 

Finding your way in a new country during a pandemic is no easy feat, but political enthusiast, Alina Totti managed to accomplish that when she moved to the Netherlands a few short years ago. Despite a difficult start, she used her political passion and network to help her build a new life in Noord Brabant doing what she loves.

Read more> When Passion, Perseverance, and Politics Collide

 

 

 

 

 

What does aging mean in different cultures? In the ‘Western world’ Youth stands for ‘vital’. Everyone wants to grow old, but no one wants to be old. However, in many other parts of the world, ‘being older’ is equivalent to ‘having more life experience’, to ‘wisdom and authority’.

Read more > The Perception of Age Among Cultures

 

 

 

 

 

Many internationals uproot their lives and families to pursue professional opportunities abroad. While the journey can be exciting, it also comes with many challenges. It takes a certain kind of mindset to manage change and reboot one’s career abroad successfully. Meet an international woman who has had to do just that, not once but twice!

Read more > Embracing International Life and Work through Change

 

 

 

 

Meet Ingelou Stol, Communications Manager and Storyteller at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven, and founder of Fe+male Tech Heroes. She is a champion for women, gender equality, and diversity in technology. Learn how she is changing the status quo in this male-dominated field and how other tech heroes can become advocates as well. 

Read more > An Advocate for Women & Diversity in Tech

 

 

 

 

Tulips are very popular in the Netherlands. Every year between March-May when the spring starts, the tulips bloom and the fields provide the most beautiful colors. Learn about the long relationship between the Netherlands and tulips. 

Read more > The Netherlands and its ‘Tulip Mania’

 

 

 

 

A little-known gem among the Eindhoven bookshops is ‘Books 4 Life’, a dedicated second-hand book store. It is completely run by volunteers, and proceeds go to charities. This article tells the story of three of those volunteers: the chairman and two Eindhoven-based internationals (or ‘new locals’, if you like), who not only discovered the bookshop, but now also do volunteer work there.

Read more > A Bookshop with a Purpose in Eindhoven

 

 

 

 

What can internationals do to make adjusting to a new language and culture easier? Read the inspiring story of how one recent arrival managed to find work and community in Eindhoven and her tips for others who want to accomplish the same.

Read more > A Success Story Made in Eindhoven

 

 

 

Let’s have a look at well-known, traditional Dutch dishes. This winter, there’s plenty of warm, filling, and lekker Dutch food ranging from sweet to savory, to sink your tooth into. Also, here is an interesting take on how culture plays an essential role in shaping Dutch cuisine and its preferences

Read more on the Journey into the Dutch Cuisine

 

 

 

 

 

Every individual has gifts and talents that can make a lasting impact. However, only a minority of people utilize those gifts and talents to live up to their full potential. Tying your skills and talents with your personal purpose not only leads to a more successful career but a significant one.

Read more on how to Connect your Passion to your Purpose

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes, people come across habits or ways of doing things that they’re not used to in a new culture; we all have had stories to tell how punctual Dutch are. Here is an interesting read on Dutch and Time; this will give you a new perspective on why Dutch are famous for having a well-planned scheduler. 

Here are some insights on the Dutch and Time

 

 

 

 

 

Starting over in a new culture and living in a multicultural society is not easy. It is even more challenging when we have strong opinions about issues and language barriers.

Here are some tips on how to live a fulfilling life as an international talent.

 

 

 

 

A quick look into the Dutch government and parliament – Prinsjesdag (Little Prince’s Day)- that always takes place on the third Tuesday of September, marks the symbolic opening of the Dutch parliamentary year. In a speech to a joined assembly of both chambers of parliament, the reigning monarch reads aloud the government’s plans for the coming year.

What and How is Prinsjesdag is celebrated?

 

 

 

Eating herring is a Dutch tradition. The Hollandse Nieuwe has been linked to Dutch culture for centuries, but not every freshly caught herring can bear that famous name.

So, where exactly do these kinds of herring come from?

 

 

 

I polder, you polder! Here we dive into the geology of the Netherlands, and, maybe to your surprise, discover what the sociologists have derived from the same geology about some character traits of the Dutch.

How The Geology of the Country Shaped The Mindset of the Dutch?

 

 

 

 

What’s Your Superpower? Understanding your unique strengths is critical to anyone in job-search mode, negotiations, or just going back to work after a long break. Here are some proven tips on finding your strengths to maximize your potential.

How to Find and Focus on Your Unique Strengths

 

 

 

More people cycle than drive in the Netherlands. This hasn’t happened by accident, and it isn’t due solely to the country being relatively flat. There is a bicycle culture that has been deliberately grown and maintained by producing conditions that encourage cycling. 

Born on Two Wheels – A Look at the Dutch Cycling Network 

 

 

 

 

Most of us, as professionals, want to have a career where we’re doing something we’re good at, we’re happy at, and where we create value for others. But maybe you’re like many people, and your current job doesn’t excite you anymore. It doesn’t motivate you like it used to and you’re ready to make a change. You’re thinking about a career pivot, about changing the trajectory of your professional career.

How to Pivot and Reboot your Career

 

 

 

Do you often struggle with Dutch street names and house numbers? This interesting read offers a little exercise in the Dutch language and explains the recurring elements in Dutch street names. After hanging around in town for a while, you’ll pick up the most common endings of the names on the street signs here. Ever wonder what a particular Dutch family name means? Or where it comes from?

The Story Behind Dutch Street Names

 

 

 

 

Ever wonder what a particular Dutch family name means? Or where it comes from? 

Decoding the Dutch Family Names

 

 

We have realized that finding a job in another country isn’t necessarily easy or difficult – it’s just different.  For anyone who has been searching tirelessly for a job opportunity, especially outside the tech-industry, we would recommend attending as many online networking opportunities as possible.  Your goal shouldn’t be to focus solely on finding a job, but to build a new network too.

How to Increase your Job Prospects through Online Networking

 

 

One particular mirror in which you can closely observe a country’s culture and its do’s and don’ts, is how it celebrates its festivities. And that can be either local varieties of festivities that are celebrated in large parts of the world, like carnival, or festivities that are only part of the local tradition, like ‘Koningsdag’. Koningsdag is celebrated on April 27th, indeed the day King Willem Alexander was born, in 1967

Koningsdag: Celebrating the Monarch Dutch Style

 

 

If you’ve been looking for a job for a while, you might know what we mean when we say that your confidence may not be quite where it was when you started your search. While we all know that rejections are inevitable . Here we’ve put together some of our top tips for boosting your confidence during your job search, whether you’re sending your CV off to a recruiter or preparing for an interview.

How to Boost Your Confidence During The Job Search

 

 

The benefits of volunteering can last a lifetime—not only for those who you are helping but for you as well.  Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you to find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.

Volunteering is personally rewarding and fulfilling.

 

 

The Moving abroad to live as an expat is an exciting adventure. But finding your rhythm, making friends, and building community in a new culture can sometimes be difficult. This can be especially true for those who move with a partner who already has a job in The Netherlands. While the employed partner quickly falls into a work routine and makes connections with colleagues, the unemployed partner can feel alone and isolated.

Making Friends and Finding Community in Eindhoven

 

 

 

The pandemic drastically impacted the educational landscape all around the world. Every international student has their own set of unique challenges. Despite many seemingly negative aspects, many international students have demonstrated admirable resilience and adaptability during these times.

Being an International Student in Eindhoven 

 

 

 

 

The job-seeking process has changed during the pandemic. Some of us lost work; others did not manage to sign a contract even though they went through the entire recruitment process. Many job interviews now take place online. So how can you be successful in a digital environment?

Companies ARE hiring during Covid-19 and you can also land a job!

 

 

 

For the last couple of months, the biggest events of Noord Brabant and the Netherlands, such as GLOW and Dutch Design Week (DDW) are taking into account new ideas to be able to execute these events under the COVID-19 measurements.

Here are some of the events that you can enjoy online in a new format

 

 

 

 

 

Summer is gone, kids are going back to school, and many of us are still working from home. We don’t know what will happen during the autumn with Covid-19.

Here are tips from the expert on how to handle anxiety, and burnout and maintain positive energy!

 

 

 

 

 

When outside is getting warm and you feel like jumping in a bucket with ice, there is one good option – swimming in the water! You don’t have to go to the seaside to enjoy nice weather and to swim laps. Brabant has so much to offer!

Let’s Swim! Pools and Lakes in Brabant which You Will Love

 

 

 

 

 

We need to redefine work-life balance and create a great flow to avoid feeling incredibly overwhelmed or unaccomplished. Here are some of my suggestions to implicate in your daily life in a remote set up.

6 Tips to Redefine Work-Life Balance in Remote Set-Up

 

 

 

 

 

You may be a newbie here who is just tracing the way of life in the Netherlands or already have a decent experience in the Dutch lifestyle. In both cases, we bet you will love this blog post, which will present several outdoor activities that are a big part of the Dutch culture. 

Outdoor Activities The Dutch Way

 

 

 

 

Are you wondering how to keep your cool during a coronavirus summer with kids? As the weather turns hot, here is the summer bucket list for children: unforgettable adventures, and things to do in the Brabant.

Unforgettable Ways to Experience Brabant with Kids

 

 

 

 

Planning short holidays at places nearby can be a good start and exactly at this point, we are lucky that Brabant has lots of things to offer us! We wanted to share some big and small cities of Brabant that you can visit and enjoy this summer without any hassle!

CHECK OUT the Cities of Brabant for a Short Break this Summer

 

 

 

With countries around Europe, reducing coronavirus restrictions, opening borders, and creating new ways to ensure safe travel for visitors, summer holiday with in Europe is becoming a realistic possibility for relief-seeking travelers.

Here is the Guide to travel to Belgium, France, and Greece during this Corona Summer. 

 

 

 

Through ‘We Are Not Alone,’ Blog posts will bring together recent events, activities, topics, or anything that impacts the Internationals and Locals in this highly diverse and inclusive Brabant region. Here you will find tips, trips, and stories from our community of Internationals and Industry Experts. In all the posts, we keep to our core values of inclusion and growth, so there will be information and resources that will help you be informed.

So sit back, relax, and read on. We will give you the best content possible!

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