The city of Amsterdam is taking a step to strengthen social cohesion in a city where the international population has grown rapidly over the past decade. With the programme “Make Amsterdam your home”, the municipality has introduced an integration course tailored specifically for expat residents, offering language, culture, and community as essential tools to help newcomers truly belong.
Credit: I am expat
Why now?
Between 2010 and 2022, Amsterdam’s international community grew from just over 26,000 to nearly 90,000 people, an increase of nearly 10% per year. While this influx of global talent has enriched the city’s economy and culture, it has also sparked concerns among local residents. Residents have pointed to rising housing prices, inequality, and shortages as sources of tension.
Credit: Volt
What the course offers
The “Make Amsterdam your home” programme is designed to go beyond the classroom and into daily city life.
- Dutch language lessons to help expats move past the barrier of English.
- Courses on local culture and history, offering insights into Dutch traditions.
- Practical lessons, including traffic rules and city regulations, to make daily life easier.
- Introductions to neighbourhood initiatives, such as clubs and volunteer organisations.
- Social exchanges, bringing together newcomers and long-term residents.
The target group is primarily international professionals holding highly skilled residence permits, many of whom arrive through multinational companies or global institutions.
Aiming for belonging
The goal of the programme is to reduce loneliness, break down barriers, and strengthen the social cohesion of Amsterdam. By creating structured opportunities for interaction, the city hopes internationals will feel more connected to their neighbourhoods and more invested in the community. Ultimately, the city aims to strengthen social integration by connecting international newcomers with long-term residents.
Shared responsibility
The municipality is spearheading the course, but companies that recruit international talent will also be expected to contribute financially.
Looking ahead
With its launch, “Make Amsterdam your home” marks a new approach to integration—one that recognises both the opportunities and challenges of a diverse, global city.
Amsterdam hopes the programme will set a precedent for other urban centres grappling with similar issues: balancing international growth with local cohesion, and ensuring that a city’s future is not just built by its residents, but shared by them.
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