Making friends in
West Flanders
Back home, your social circle grew naturally over the years - friends, family, neighbours, familiar faces. Starting somewhere new means building that from scratch, and it's completely normal for that to take time.
The encouraging news: West Flanders may seem reserved at first, but once a connection is made, friendships here tend to be loyal and long-lasting.
Overview
Friendships here tend to grow out of three places: people you already see every day, activities you build outside work and events made for internationals. It rarely happens overnight - most newcomers say it takes about 6 months to feel settled socially. Saying yes to that coffee or afterwork invitation usually makes the biggest difference.
Meet people at work and
in your neighbourhood
Your colleagues are often the fastest way into a social circle, especially if you're already working with an international team. Many companies in West Flanders have informal after-work drinks or team lunches - ask your HR contact or a colleague if these exist, and say yes when you're invited.
Neighbours take a little more effort, but small gestures go a long way in Belgium. A short chat when collecting the post, or introducing yourself when you move in, is usually well received.
Ways to build these everyday connections:
- Join company social events, even small ones like a Friday afterwork
- Introduce yourself to your neighbours in your first few weeks
- Say hello in the hallway or at the bins - it's noticed, and appreciated
- Ask a Dutch-speaking colleague to teach you a few everyday phrases; it opens doors
Looking to grow your professional network specifically, rather than your social one? See Professional networks.
Connect with other parents
If you moved with children, school is often where your own social life begins too. Other parents at the school gate, sports club sidelines, or the playground are often the easiest people to talk to. Many are curious about newcomers and happy to include you.
A few ways in:
- Introduce yourself to other parents during school pick-up or drop-off
- Join the parents' WhatsApp or Facebook group for your child's class, if there is one
- Sign your child up for a local sports club or hobby group - you'll usually meet other parents too
- Say yes to small invitations, like a birthday party or a coffee after school
Build a wider social life
Outside work and family, a hobby or shared interest is one of the fastest ways to build a real social life here. West Flanders has an active scene for sport, volunteering and creative hobbies, and most clubs are used to welcoming people who don't speak Dutch yet.
Where to start looking:
- Search Facebook for local expat and international groups in your city - most cities in West Flanders have one
- Check for sports clubs, running groups or gyms near you; many welcome walk-ins
- Look into volunteering - a natural way to meet people while doing something useful
- Try a hobby class, like cooking, pottery or a language exchange, through your local community centre
It can feel like extra effort on top of everything else, but most internationals say the first few months are the hardest - it gets easier once you have a few regular faces in your week.
Join our community events
International House West Flanders organises regular events designed specifically to help you meet other internationals - no small talk pressure, no need to already know someone.
What we offer:
- Coffee mornings, for a relaxed, informal way to meet other newcomers
- Afterworks, for meeting people after the working day
- Community events and webinars, covering practical topics and social activities throughout the year
Check our Events page for what's coming up, and come along - most people say the hardest part is just showing up the first time.
Good to know: making friends abroad often takes longer than it did back home, and that's completely normal - don't judge your first few weeks by how many friends you've made. Consistency matters more than one big effort: showing up to the same coffee morning or sports session a few times builds familiarity faster than trying to meet everyone at once.
Sources
- International House West Flanders - community events programme
- Government of Flanders - Guidance for newcomers (civic integration path)
