Social Clubs for Expats in Eindhoven

The two primary clubs for women in Eindhoven are the International Women’s Club and the North American Women’s Club.  The International Women’s Club seems to be run by women who long ago relocated to Eindhoven; many are married to Dutchmen.  There are many smaller group activities, such as a walking club, a gourmet club, a choir, etc. that meet monthly or even weekly, and the whole club has a once-a-month meeting at Thermae Son in Son (1:00 on the clock face if a clock were placed over the center of Eindhoven).  Topics are virtually always apolitical; don’t look for local activism here.  Fundraising goes to help orphans in other parts of the world.  There is a semi formal Christmas luncheon, and in some years, a formal dance.

The North American Women’s Club fills in the social gap for Americans and Canadians.  The heart of the group is, once again, women who relocated permanently to Eindhoven.  This group has an average younger age than that of International Women’s Club.  NAWC meets more informally than the IWC, has a monthly potluck luncheon (no kids), and uses email as its primary communication vehicle.  The club sponsors a Fourth of July party for families, a Halloween party for children, and in 2003, it held a group Thanksgiving.

If you cannot find references to these clubs on the internet, you might try contacting the RIS, ISSE, the local English-speaking churches, or a relocation consultant.  Each of these groups has women that are members of at least one or the other club.  Generally, internet information about the NAWC has dried up owing to security concerns for Americans living abroad.