Let’s Make Amsterdam feel like home
Personal lifestyle guidance for international professionals new to Amsterdam.
Mini meetups & Corporate onboarding
You’ve moved to Amsterdam. Your registration is done, your job has started, and your calendar is full. Yet, despite living here, you’re not really landing or feeling connected.
Urban Kickstart helps you genuinely connect with Amsterdam
That’s where Urban Kickstart comes in. We connect you, socially and culturally, with Amsterdam in a way that fits your interests. From a local perspective, you’ll get everything you need, from the essentials like trends, neighborhoods, and subcultures, to recommendations about events, places, subscriptions, and more. And it all happens in one in-person kickstart session.
Your one-off personal kickstart Session
Join a small group of fellow newcomers (max. 3) and a local expert at a cozy, inspiring café or bar in Amsterdam. Together we focus on what actually helps you feel at home here. No sightseeing tours or endless lists of generic tips, just a content-rich mini meetup with a local and like-minded internationals. Sessions run 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Urban Kickstart runs on a pay-what-you-feel basis: you contribute what the experience is worth to you.
What people are saying
your benefits
Feel at home in Amsterdam faster, with real local insight, clarity, and a clear sense of direction.
Discover your Amsterdam, the neighborhoods, events, and more, that actually fit who you are.
Build genuine connections from the start, so settling in feels exciting rather than isolating.
Skip weeks of trial and error with recommendations tailored to your lifestyle and interests.
Navigate Amsterdam's social and cultural landscape with confidence, and stop feeling like an outsider.
All of this starts with one energizing, personal session with a local, in one of Amsterdam's favorite spots.
Meet Emma, Founder and local expert
Amsterdam is full of opportunity, you just need to know. As a born-and-raised local with an international mindset, I help professionals in Amsterdam feel connected, confident, and at home.
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Cities don’t make people feel at home. People do, when they know where and how to connect.
Curating thoughtful recommendations and helping others experience the very best of a city is something I’ve done for as long as I can remember. Friends and family naturally turn to me for it, it’s instinctive.
Over time, I began supporting international professionals as well, who are often the ones who need this guidance most. Why? Because I speak their language. I understand their ambition, independence, and drive. And I know what it feels like to arrive somewhere new, capable and accomplished, yet still searching for belonging.
With a double Master’s degree and a background in digital strategy consulting, I combine structure and strategic thinking with a deep understanding of people. I’m analytical, practical, and comfortable navigating complexity, but always with a human touch.
Having lived in Amsterdam while constantly engaging with international talent, and having travelled solo for studies, conferences, and work, I bridge the gap between locals and expats naturally.
I love theatre, partner dancing, architecture walks, philosophy courses, podcasts, entrepreneurship, discovering new city trends, and the occasional great party. For me, a city is about culture, energy, and shared experiences.
The disconnect between locals and expats, and the loneliness that often comes with it, is real. I’ve experienced it myself. That’s why I’m committed to helping people feel genuinely connected and at home.
Your Amsterdam kickstart session
A one-off session designed to make Amsterdam feel like home fast.
The unwritten rules of the city: neighborhoods, culture, subcultures, and what's actually happening right now
Honest, personal recommendations for events, places, courses, media, subscriptions and communities that fit you
A clear path to meeting like-minded people and building a social life you actually enjoy
Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Location: A curated Amsterdam cafe
Contribution: Pay what you feel it's worth
Ready to join? Sign up for an upcoming mini meetup via Meetup.
For Companies
Your new international hire has found a place to live and started the job. But feeling at home in Amsterdam, that takes more than a contract.
Urban Kickstart helps employees genuinely land in the city, so they settle in faster, feel more connected, and show up with more energy.
What we offer, separately or combined:
Masterclass - a 1-hour live session for your team on navigating Amsterdam socially and culturally
Networking event - Urban Kickstart joins your event as a facilitator or guest expert
Employee sessions - individual onboarding sessions for your international hires
Corporate onboarding is offered at a fair fee, agreed together based on scope. Reach out via emma@urbankickstart.com.
Partners & Mentions
Let’s connect
Contact form
Frequently asked questions
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Q: What makes Urban Kickstart different from a regular city tour, apps or blogs?
A: Urban Kickstart isn't about sightseeing or generic tips. It's a personal session focused on how you experience Amsterdam, understanding the city, finding where you feel at ease, and connecting in ways that fit your rhythm and interests.
Q: What areas or neighborhoods do you cover?
A: We cover the entire city of Amsterdam and tailor the session to your preferred neighborhoods or interests, whether that's Oud-West, Jordaan, De Pijp, or anywhere else.
Q: Can you also help with language barriers or cultural adjustment?
A: Yes. Helping newcomers feel comfortable and connected is central to what we do, including navigating cultural differences and practical language tips.
Q: Can we focus on creative or professional goals, not just lifestyle?
A: Absolutely. If you're working on a project, business idea, or creative plan, we can explore how Amsterdam's networks, spaces, and communities can support it. Bring it up during your Meetup or we can schedule time specifically for it.
Q: Can I gift a session to someone else?
A: The mini meetups are open to everyone via Meetup, so the easiest gift is to join one together. For companies welcoming a new team member, reach out via emma@urbankickstart.com for corporate onboarding options.
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Q: What if I’m not sure the session is right for me?
A: No problem. You can reach out and ask any questions before deciding by filling in the Contact form.
Q: Do I need to prepare anything in advance?
A: Just bring your curiosity and a notebook, because there's a lot of ground to cover. You're welcome to share any goals or interests when you sign up, but showing up with an open mind works just as well.
Q: What does a mini meetup cost?
A: Urban Kickstart mini meetups run on a pay-what-you-feel basis. There's no fixed price, you contribute what the experience is worth to you. Just sign up via Meetup and join. -
Q: Where do sessions take place?
A: We meet at an inspiring spot in Amsterdam, often a cosy coffee bar. The location is listed with each mini meetup on Meetup, so you'll know exactly where to go when you sign up.
Q: Can I bring someone?
A: Of course. Mini meetups are small-group sessions, so feel free to bring your partner, a friend, or family member, just sign them up via Meetup too.
Q: Who pays for drinks if we meet in a café?
A: Drinks are at your own expense.
Q: What language is the session in?
A: Sessions are available in English or Dutch, your choice. It's also a great opportunity to practise your Dutch if you'd like.
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Q: Do you follow up after the session?
A: Yes, we stay available for short follow-up questions after any session. If there's more to explore, we can schedule a follow-up.
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Q: Can Urban Kickstart work with our organisation?
A: Yes. Urban Kickstart offers masterclasses, networking event facilitation, and individual sessions for employees, as a package or separately. Reach out via emma@urbankickstart.com for a tailored overview.
Q: Can I introduce Urban Kickstart to my company?
A: Yes, as ambassador you make the intro (a chat with HR, a mention at an event, a relaxed conversation with a decision-maker), we take it from there. Start with filling in the Contact form.
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Q: Do you help with housing, visas, or registration?
A: Urban Kickstart doesn't provide administrative or relocation services. If it's helpful, we can point you toward the right resources, but the session itself is about clarity, connection, and feeling at home, not paperwork.