A Dutch friend for your new life in the Netherlands.
Moving here is exciting, and it can also be lonely and confusing. I used to work at the Dutch Ministry of Finance, so I know how things work here. I'll help you settle in, make sense of the Dutch, and be someone to talk to when it gets quiet.
Video calls and chat in English, Dutch or Bulgarian. No awkward sales pitch.
Help settling in the Netherlands, and a friend to talk to
Every person is different. Some people want practical help, some want company, and most people want a bit of both.
Getting started
- Gemeente, BSN, DigiD & letters
- Finding a huisarts, insurance, bank
- Bikes, trains, the OV-chipkaart
- Finding housing without getting scammed
Understanding the Dutch
- Directness, agendas & "gezellig"
- Birthdays, the circle, and what to bring
- Workplace culture & small talk
- Practising your Dutch, at your pace
Someone in your corner
- A friendly face to talk to every week
- Help finding clubs, groups & people
- Rough day? Message me
- Celebrating the small wins with you
How it works
No apps to install. You get a link and we talk in your browser.
Book a free intro
Pick a time that suits you for a short video call on Google Meet. We get to know each other and see if we click.
Choose what fits
A single call when you need it, or a monthly plan with regular calls and chat in between.
Talk, ask, settle in
We meet over video and keep in touch by chat. Your number stays private and so does mine.
Simple pricing
Start with a free intro call. No contracts, and you can cancel monthly plans any time.
Coffee call
- One video call, booked when you like
- Ask anything, or just talk
- Short follow-up summary with links
Settle-in Mate
- 2 video calls of 45 min per month
- Chat with me on weekdays, reply within 24h
- Personal "first steps" checklist
Weekly Mate
- A fixed weekly 45-min call
- Chat on weekdays, reply within 24h
- For your first months, or when life feels heavy
Hi, I'm Boyana
I used to be a policy advisor at the Dutch Ministry of Finance, so Dutch letters, rules and bureaucracy don't scare me. Then I swapped the office for a yoga mat and taught in more than 30 countries, from Thai monasteries to a lodge above a Norwegian lake. I know what it's like to land somewhere new and build a life from scratch.
I'm not a therapist or a coach with a script. I'm a warm, unhurried listener who knows how things work here, speaks English, Dutch and Bulgarian, and is happy to help you find your way.
Why is it so hard to make friends in the Netherlands?
If you feel lonely after moving to the Netherlands, you're not imagining it. In the InterNations Expat Insider survey, 52% of expats in the Netherlands said it is hard to make Dutch friends, against 38% worldwide. That puts the Netherlands in the bottom ten countries for making local friends. Figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) show the same pattern: 15.8% of people born elsewhere in Europe and 17.5% of people born outside Europe feel strongly lonely, compared with 8.6% of people born here to Dutch parents.
That isn't because the Dutch are unfriendly. Dutch social lives are planned in agendas, built around friends from school, university and sports clubs, and they open up slowly. Once you understand how it works, it gets much easier. What helps most:
- Joining something that meets every week, such as a sports club, choir or volunteer group, instead of one-off events
- Learning a little Dutch, even if everyone switches to English
- Saying yes to the verjaardag (birthday) invitation and knowing what to expect in the circle
- Having one person in your corner while the rest of your network grows
Sources: CBS, 2026 · InterNations Expat Insider via DutchReview
Questions
What does an expat buddy do?
An expat buddy is a local who helps you settle into life in a new country. With DutchMate, that means video calls and chat where we sort out practical things like the gemeente, BSN, DigiD and finding a huisarts, talk through Dutch culture, and find ways for you to meet people. And when it feels quiet, you simply have someone to talk to.
How can I make friends in the Netherlands as an expat?
Pick one or two activities that meet weekly, like a sports club, language exchange or volunteer group, and keep going for a few months: Dutch friendships grow from repeated contact. Learn some basic Dutch and accept invitations, including birthdays. Together we can find groups near you that fit your interests.
Is this a dating service?
No. DutchMate is strictly platonic: friendly support and conversation, nothing romantic. Any behaviour that crosses that line ends the service.
Is this therapy?
No. I'm not a psychologist and don't give medical or psychological treatment. If you need professional help, I'm happy to help you find a huisarts or the right service.
Do I need to share my phone number?
No. Calls happen through a secure video link in your browser, and chat runs through the platform. Your number stays private.
Can we meet in person?
For now everything is online, so I can help you wherever you live in the Netherlands.
How do I pay and cancel?
You pay safely online with iDEAL or card. Monthly plans can be cancelled any time before the next month starts.
You don't have to figure it all out alone.
Book a free intro call and let's see how I can help.
Book your free intro callPrefer to write first?
Send me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Or say hi on WhatsApp.
Quick question?
Send me a message on WhatsApp and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Chat on WhatsAppOr email boyana@clicksninja.nl