Your first week in Eindhoven: an expat checklist
Welcome to Eindhoven, the city of light, design and technology, and home base of Welcome2Holland. Thousands of internationals move to the Brainport region every year to work in tech, engineering and research. Here's a practical checklist for your first week, from people who live and work here.
Day 1–2: Settle in
- Get your keys and check the home. Take photos of the meter readings (electricity, gas, water) and of any existing damage, and send them to your landlord.
- Make sure your home is liveable. If you ordered furniture before arriving, it's ready. If not, start with a bedding pack and the household pack so you can sleep and cook.
- Find your nearest supermarket. Albert Heijn and Jumbo are everywhere. Lidl and Aldi are cheaper.
Day 2–4: Paperwork
- Register at the municipality (gemeente) to get your BSN, your citizen service number. You need it for almost everything: salary, bank, healthcare. If you're working for a Brainport employer, Holland Expat Center South can help with registration and permits.
- Open a Dutch bank account. Many banks offer English-language service and apps.
- Apply for DigiD once you have your BSN. It's your digital ID for government services.
- Arrange Dutch health insurance. It's mandatory once you live and work here.
Day 3–5: Get around
- Buy a bike. Eindhoven is flat and has excellent cycle paths. A second-hand city bike is fine to start with. Always use two locks.
- Public transport: buses connect the city and the region, and Eindhoven Centraal has direct trains to Amsterdam, Utrecht and beyond. You can tap in and out with a contactless bank card, or get an OV-chipkaart.
- Eindhoven Airport is a few minutes from the city, which is handy for weekend trips and visits home.
Day 5–7: Make it home
- Arrange energy, internet and insurance if your landlord hasn't. Also consider liability insurance (aansprakelijkheidsverzekering), which is very common in the Netherlands.
- Explore your neighbourhood: Strijp-S for food, design and events, the city centre and Stratumseind for nightlife, and the Genneper Parken for a walk or a run.
- Meet people. There's a large international community in Eindhoven, with sports clubs, meetups and expat networks. Your employer or Holland Expat Center South can point you in the right direction.
Good to know about Eindhoven
- GLOW, the light art festival every November, transforms the city.
- Dutch Design Week in October is one of the biggest design events in Europe.
- PSV is the local football club. Match days are an experience.
- The region (Veldhoven, Best, Son en Breugel, Nuenen, Geldrop, Helmond) is popular with families who want more space.
Furnish your Eindhoven home before you land
Welcome2Holland is based on Hurksestraat in Eindhoven. We deliver furniture, appliances and home essentials across the region, and our own team can assemble and install everything. Order from abroad, and your home is ready on day one. Furnishing in Eindhoven
Settling in Eindhoven?
See how our assembly service works, or tell us about your move through our contact form.
