Moving to a new country is exciting, but building a professional life from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t know where to start. The good news is that you don’t have to figure it out alone. There are communities specifically designed to help expat women find their footing, grow their careers, and connect with people who genuinely get it. Here are five communities worth knowing about in 2026, plus a practical guide to choosing the one that fits where you are right now.
1. Female Ventures — leadership and mentorship in the Netherlands
Female Ventures is one of the most accessible professional communities for women in the Netherlands, with active hubs in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, and Delft/The Hague. What sets it apart is the combination of structured mentorship, skills-focused workshops, and a genuinely diverse community that welcomes women across industries, career stages, and cultural backgrounds.
The programming covers everything from public speaking and negotiation to leadership development and entrepreneurship. Events are open to everyone without membership barriers or recurring fees, which makes it easy to show up and see if it feels right before committing to anything. The volunteer-led model also means that resources go directly back into programs rather than overhead.
Women who are early in their careers or navigating a transition, whether that means stepping into a leadership role, launching something of their own, or simply rebuilding a professional network after relocating, will find a lot of practical value here. The community actively encourages cross-industry connections, so you’re likely to meet people who think differently from you, which is often exactly what you need when you’re new to a country.
2. InterNations — social and professional expat networking
InterNations is one of the largest expat networks in the world, with a presence in over 420 cities. It operates as both a social platform and an events organizer, hosting regular meetups where expats connect over shared experiences of living abroad. For professional women, it offers a low-pressure way to expand a social circle that can eventually translate into professional opportunities.
The platform works well for general networking and for finding community when you first arrive somewhere new. It covers practical expat life topics alongside professional ones, so you can find advice on everything from housing to career pivots in one place. Many cities have dedicated groups for women, entrepreneurs, or specific industries.
InterNations is best suited for women who are in the early stages of settling into a new country and want to meet a broad range of people quickly. It is less structured around career development specifically, so if you are looking for targeted mentorship or skills training, you will likely want to pair it with something more focused.
3. Lean In Circles — peer support for career advancement
Lean In Circles are small peer groups of roughly eight to twelve women who meet regularly to support each other’s career goals. Based on the framework developed by Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In organization, the circles are designed to create a safe space for honest conversations about ambition, workplace challenges, and personal growth.
What makes Lean In Circles distinct is the intimacy. Unlike large networking events, these groups are small enough that you actually get to know the people in them. Meetings typically follow a structured format with discussion topics and exercises, which keeps things focused and productive. There are circles in most major cities, and you can also start your own if there isn’t one nearby.
This format works particularly well for women who want a consistent support system rather than one-off events. If you are dealing with specific career challenges, thinking about a transition, or simply want a group of peers to think things through with, a Lean In Circle can provide that ongoing accountability and perspective.
4. What does a women-only professional community offer?
It is worth pausing to address this directly, because not everyone immediately sees the value in women-only spaces. The practical answer is that these communities tend to create conditions where women speak more openly about ambition, salary, workplace dynamics, and career doubts without the social friction that can come with mixed-gender settings.
Research in organizational behavior consistently shows that women are more likely to ask questions, share vulnerabilities, and advocate for themselves in environments where they feel psychologically safe. Women-only communities are designed to create exactly that. For expat women in particular, who are often navigating both a new professional culture and a new personal one simultaneously, that kind of safe space can accelerate both learning and confidence.
There is also a practical networking argument. When a community is built around a shared identity and set of challenges, the connections tend to be more meaningful and more likely to lead to help. People who have been through similar experiences are often more generous with introductions, advice, and honest feedback.
5. Expat Spouses Initiative — careers beyond the trailing partner label
The Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI) specifically addresses one of the most underserved groups in the expat world: partners who relocated for someone else’s career and are now trying to rebuild their own professional identity. ESI runs programs across the Netherlands and offers coaching, workshops, and community support tailored to this specific situation.
What makes ESI distinct is that it takes the trailing partner experience seriously as a professional challenge, not just a social one. The programs help women identify transferable skills, understand the Dutch job market, and navigate practical barriers like work permits and credential recognition. It also connects participants with others in the same position, which reduces the isolation that often comes with this kind of relocation.
ESI is most relevant for women who moved to the Netherlands primarily because of a partner’s job and are working out what their own career looks like in a new context. If that is your situation, the community’s specific focus makes it more directly useful than a general expat network.
How to choose the right community for your career stage
The honest answer is that the best community is the one you will actually show up to consistently. That said, there are a few practical ways to narrow it down based on where you are right now.
If you are brand new to the Netherlands and your main need is to meet people and get oriented, start with something low-commitment like InterNations or a Female Ventures event. Both have a low entry barrier and give you a feel for what’s available without requiring you to sign up for anything long-term.
If you are past the initial settling-in phase and want to actively develop your career, look for communities with structured programming. A mentor program gives you a dedicated relationship with someone experienced who can help you navigate specific goals, which is often more valuable than general networking at this stage. Lean In Circles are also worth considering if you want consistent peer accountability.
If your situation involves rebuilding a career after relocating for a partner, ESI’s focused support is worth prioritizing over more general communities, at least initially.
You do not have to choose just one. Many women find that combining a structured program for skill-building and mentorship with a broader social network for general connection gives them both the depth and the breadth they need. Start with one, see what it gives you, and add from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I'm ready to join a professional community, or should I wait until I'm more settled?
You don’t need to feel settled before joining — in fact, connecting early is one of the fastest ways to get there. Start with low-barrier options like a single Female Ventures event or an InterNations meetup, which require no commitment and give you a feel for the community before you invest more time. The goal at first isn’t to network strategically; it’s simply to be around people who understand what you’re going through.
What if I'm not fluent in Dutch — will language be a barrier in these communities?
For the communities listed here, English is generally the working language, so fluency in Dutch is not a prerequisite. The Netherlands has a high level of English proficiency, and most expat-oriented communities are intentionally designed to be inclusive of international members. That said, if you’re looking to integrate more deeply into the local professional culture over time, many of these networks can also connect you with resources for language learning.
I relocated as a trailing partner and have a significant career gap on my CV — where do I even begin?
The Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI) is specifically built for this situation and is your best first step. Their programs help you audit your transferable skills, understand how Dutch employers evaluate international experience, and address practical hurdles like work permits or credential recognition. Going in with a community that has seen your exact situation repeatedly means you’ll get advice that’s actually relevant, rather than generic career guidance.
Can I join multiple communities at the same time, or is that spreading myself too thin?
You can absolutely participate in more than one, but be intentional about it. A common mistake is joining several communities enthusiastically and then engaging with none of them consistently. A practical approach is to start with one that matches your most urgent need — social connection, mentorship, or career rebuilding — and add a second only once you’ve established a rhythm with the first. Depth of engagement in one community almost always delivers more value than surface-level presence in five.
What's the difference between a mentor program and a Lean In Circle, and how do I decide which one is right for me?
A mentor program pairs you with a more experienced professional who can give you personalized guidance on your specific goals, career path, and challenges — it’s a one-on-one or structured relationship focused on your growth. A Lean In Circle, by contrast, is a peer group of women at similar stages who support each other collectively, which is better suited for ongoing accountability and shared problem-solving. If you have a clear direction and need expert guidance to get there faster, a mentor program is likely the better fit; if you want a consistent sounding board and community of peers, a Lean In Circle is the stronger choice.
Are these communities only useful for women in corporate careers, or do they also support entrepreneurs and freelancers?
Most of the communities listed are explicitly cross-industry and career-stage inclusive. Female Ventures, for example, has dedicated programming around entrepreneurship, and InterNations attracts a wide mix of employees, freelancers, and business owners. Lean In Circles can be especially valuable for freelancers and entrepreneurs who lack the built-in peer structure of a traditional workplace. If entrepreneurship is your focus, it’s worth asking organizers directly about the makeup of their community before attending, so you can find events where you’re likely to meet others in a similar position.
How do I make the most of my first event if I'm naturally introverted or find networking uncomfortable?
Go in with one small, specific goal rather than a vague intention to ‘network’ — for example, aim to have one real conversation with someone whose work interests you, or simply introduce yourself to the event organizer. Communities like Female Ventures and Lean In Circles are structured in ways that naturally facilitate conversation, which takes the pressure off having to initiate everything yourself. Following up with one or two people afterward via LinkedIn is often where the real connection happens, so don’t measure the success of an event solely by what happened in the room.