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Netherlands challenges expats to learn Dutch and connect locally

canal in Amsterdam
travnikovstudio / Envato Elements
Written byAsa毛l H盲zaqon 01 July 2025

With a pointed question, Amsterdam city councillor and Labour Party member Lian Heinhuis is challenging both businesses and residents to rethink how expatriates fit into city life. Her proposal, Maak van Amsterdam je thuis (鈥淢ake Amsterdam Your Home鈥), was initially rejected. But on June 12, the city council gave it the green light. Its mission is straightforward: to help expats feel truly connected to life in Amsterdam.

Because living in a city 鈥 whether for a few months or many years 鈥 means more than just renting a home or commuting to work. It means being able to chat with your neighbours, knowing when the next neighborhood meeting takes place, or understanding how the rubbish collection system works. At the very least, it means showing interest in the place you now call home.

But to many longtime Amsterdammers, expats seem distant. Often brought in to fill well-paid positions, they live comfortably but separately 鈥 forming social circles that rarely intersect with local life. Some locals voice strong concerns: that expats are driving up housing prices, that English is crowding out Dutch in daily life, and that the city is losing its soul.

Heinhuis' initiative aims to bridge that gap. It also brings attention to a deeper issue: inequality in how integration is expected 鈥 or not expected 鈥 across different migrant groups. While lower-income immigrants are typically required to learn the Dutch language and understand the culture, wealthier expats, EU nationals, and short-term professionals often face no such obligations. But why should expectations differ?

The Make Amsterdam Your Home program proposes a more balanced approach: offer expats language classes, introduce them to Dutch civic life and cultural norms, and assess their understanding through a final exam. Employers, who benefit from this international workforce, would help fund the effort.

Supporters stress that this isn't about pointing fingers. It's about extending a hand鈥攅ncouraging expats to build stronger ties with their neighborhoods and, in doing so, fostering a city where everyone feels at home.

Sources:

Everyday life
Netherlands
About

Freelance web writer specializing in political and socioeconomic news, Asa毛l H盲zaq analyses about international economic trends. Thanks to her experience as an expat in Japan, she offers advices about living abroad : visa, studies, job search, working life, language, country. Holding a Master's degree in Law and Political Science, she has also experienced life as a digital nomad.

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