Welcome to Leiden Webinar

Missed our Welcome to Leiden event? Watch it on our YouTube channel!

On 20th May 2021, Expat Centre Leiden hosted a Welcome to Leiden webinar. This was organised for all internationals who had moved to the region in the past year, and those who have been here longer but want to get to know Leiden and Dutch culture better.

During the hour-long webinar, we heard from three experts:

Expat Centre Leiden's manager, Corine van der Ceelen, introduced the many (free) services that the ECL provides to internationals. From arranging registration with the gemeente, to information about all aspects of Expat life, and organising social and informative events, the ECL is here to help internationals in the region.

Next, Monique Moot from Visit Leiden gave us a whistle-stop tour of the region's many highlights. Boating in the canals, the best walking routes, and award-winning museums were all discussed, and Monique encouraged us to drop by the VVV Tourist Information with any questions (and for special souvenirs!)

Finally, Caitríona Rush from At Home Abroad gave us an introduction to Dutch cultural differences. She explained why the Dutch are so direct and gave tips on how to best communicate with your new Dutch colleagues, friends and neighbors.

We ended the webinar with a round of Q&A's, which highlighted the aspirations of many internationals in Leiden: to integrate, make friends and feel at home. We hope that our Welcome Event helped with this!

Our next Welcome to Leiden event will be on 14th October 2021.

You can watch the recording of May's webinar on our Youtube channel.