Hiring internationals?

IHL is a one-stop-shop to help internationals find information and community in and around Leuven - there’s unlikely to be a visa situation we haven’t encountered or a question we can’t answer about life in Leuven.

The team at IHL can play a key part in supporting employee recruiting, onboarding, and retention for international hires. They can help your staff welcome newcomers, save time by answering complex questions, and provide a community for internationals.

We believe that the sooner newcomers learn about IHL when they move to Leuven, the better they settle in, the faster they can focus on their careers, and the longer they’ll stay. So we encourage you to tell your colleagues about IHL!

IHL's toolkit for HRs

The pack includes:

• Supporting newly hired expats: an overview of what IHL does for anyone involved in hiring internationals and three quick tips to help expats get settled.
• Materials to use:
  • IHL brochure/presentation: a PDF about IHL that you can send or present to any internationals.
  • A4 poster & A5 flyer: to spread around your offices to raise awareness about IHL. Please contact us if you would like printed versions.
• Templates:
  • Wording for newsletters or social posts: some paragraphs and graphics you can easily copy and paste to use in your communications channels.
  • Family Follow-up: A template message to send to internationals 6-9 months after they have arrived in Leuven.
• Graphics for email signatures: banners you can add below your company email signature to signpost IHL and encourage your colleagues to practice Dutch.

You can also request printed flyers and posters via this form.

About the International House Leuven (IHL)

The History of IHL

Settling into a city as an international citizen can be difficult. People often face barriers such as understanding the language, knowing where to find specific products, finding a supportive community, adapting to a new job, and many others. All of these combined can make for a difficult time when adjusting to a new place.

In 2016, Leuven Mindgate conducted a survey among internationals in Leuven to understand what support internationals need. Based on the results, in 2018, the International House Leuven was created. Since then, IHL has been welcoming internationals to the city and providing many resources to help people get settled.

Our work is made possible by the support of our founders at imec, KU Leuven, Leuven Mindgate, and Stad Leuven.

What Does IHL Offer?

IHL’s mission is to create an amazing place for people from all over the world to live and work happily in Leuven and the region. We do this by offering a warm welcome and two key activities:

• Informing: We provide practical information, advice, and insights in English to help anyone find answers about living in and around Leuven.
• Connecting: We host regular events and socials to connect internationals, help them find work, and make them feel like locals in no time.

IHL supports internationals no matter how long they have been in Leuven.

IHL can support internationals by building community, providing resources, and helping them integrate into Belgian life.

Curious to learn more?

• Website: www.internationalhouseleuven.be
• Instagram: @internationalhouseleuven
• Facebook page: International House Leuven
• Facebook group: Expats in Leuven
• Meetup: Internationals and expats in Leuven
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ihlvn/

Contact

Is there something else that would be useful to you? We are always happy to hear your suggestions!