How to Make Friends as an Expat in Leeuwarden, with Local Recommendations

Having recently moved to Leeuwarden less than 6 months ago, I too understand the difficulty of making new friends. If you’re struggling to make friends either as a student at NHL Stenden or as a new employee from abroad, here are my personal secrets for finding friends here in Friesland.

Join a club or association.

While it might seem like generic advice, it really works! If you have a hobby or sport you’ve played in the past, a quick Google search of that hobby or sport followed by “in Leeuwarden” should bring up plenty of results. VC 058 has been my personal favorite, a local beach and indoor volleyball club. If you’ve already found a club but can’t find the motivation to attend, let’s chat and find a way to get you there.

Attend local events.

It seems there’s always something going on in Leeuwarden. From holiday festivals like Kings Day or a smaller festival like MadNes, to local bands at the Neushoorn, or a free tour around the city museum. Visit Leeuwarden is the place to go to find whatever new things are happening in town.

Volunteer.

There are few better places you can look to meet people who are genuinely nice, helpful, and excited to meet new people than volunteering. If you’re struggling to meet new friends, I feel confident you’ll not only feel better, but have tons of friendship opportunities by volunteering. I’ve personally found lots of opportunities here at Samen Leeuwarden. With a super easy website to filter active volunteer calls, you can find something you’re both excited to attend and feel confident doing.

International language cafes/classes.

While I personally have been neglecting my Dutch language classes, it’s certainly an intimate way to meet new friends and learn a crucial skill at the same time. I’ve personally felt the horror of trying to pronounce “ui” and other unknown words and sounds in front of strangers, but that shared vulnerability makes it easy to connect after class. The Leeuwarden library hosts FREE Dutch classes.

Look for local groups online.

When you’re looking for a local group or activity, you’re not the first to go searching. There are dozens of Reddit threads, Facebook groups, and Instagram posts where locals and long-term expats share their own recommendations. Expats in Leeuwarden & Friesland is a good place to start, a local Facebook group where internationals swap tips, events, and recommendations. Scrolling through some of the more recent posts is often enough to see where other people are already exploring. Replying to a post, or even just asking a question in the comments, can turn into an actual meetup offline.

Take advantage of daily interactions.

Everyone has chores to do during the day: a quick trip to Jumbo for groceries, a class at school, or just seeing your coworkers. Even something as simple as going for a walk gives you the chance to pass by people. During these moments, say hello! Not every situation is appropriate, someone on the phone, for example, but try to say hello whenever you reasonably can. It’s great for building up confidence, and it can often lead to a real conversation and friendship.

How Empowered Connections Coaching can help.

Knowing where to make friends is half the struggle. Going out and doing it, often alone, is the hardest part. I get that, and I’m here to say you can do it! Maybe you don’t feel like you’re ready to attend new events alone just yet. I’m happy to work with you and help you build the confidence until you feel ready to do it alone. We’ll do this with the help of the G.R.O.W. model to accomplish smaller, regular goals until you feel you can do it all on your own. Get out there and make some friends!