How to get to know your neighbors

How well do you actually know your neighbors? Connecting with the people around you makes your building, your street, and your city feel a little more like home. With Nationale Burendag taking place on September 26, 2026, there's no better moment to step out of your bubble and say hello.

Moving to a new city, or even a new building, can feel overwhelming at first. Between unpacking boxes, figuring out where to buy groceries, and getting used to a new routine, meeting the people next door is easy to push to the bottom of the list. But it shouldn't be.

Your neighbors are often the fastest way to feel settled in a new place. They know which supermarket has the best opening hours, which tram is always late, and which local rules are worth knowing. The more people you recognize on your floor or your street, the faster a new city starts to feel familiar.

Why neighbors matter more than you think

In the Netherlands, there's a well-known saying: "een goede buur is beter dan een verre vriend", a good neighbor is worth more than a distant friend. It's a simple idea, but it holds up. When you're away for the weekend, a neighbor can keep an eye on your home or water your plants. When you're short one ingredient for dinner, a neighbor is who you knock on the door for.

Beyond the practical side, neighbors quietly shape how safe and social a building feels. A hallway where people say hello feels different from one where doors stay shut. Getting to know the people around you isn't just polite, it's one of the simplest ways to make a building feel like a community rather than just a place to sleep.

Start small: smile and wave

Every connection starts somewhere small. The next time you pass a neighbor in the hallway, elevator, or parking area, smile and say hi. It costs nothing, but it signals that you're open and approachable. Most people will remember it, and they'll likely greet you first the next time they see you.

This step matters more than it seems. In many buildings, neighbors live side by side for years without exchanging a single word, simply because nobody made the first move. Being the one who does can shift the entire tone of a building.

Introduce yourself properly

Once you've broken the ice with a smile, take it one step further. Knock on the door of your direct neighbors and introduce yourself by name. If that feels a bit too direct, a short note or postcard with your name and contact details works just as well, and gives your neighbor time to respond in their own way.

This is especially useful right after moving in. New residents are often the ones neighbors are most curious about, so introducing yourself early tends to be received warmly rather than seen as intrusive.

Invite someone for coffee

Coffee has a way of bringing people together, even for half an hour. Invite a neighbor over, or suggest grabbing a cup together somewhere nearby. It doesn't need to be a long visit to be meaningful. A short, relaxed conversation is often enough to turn a stranger in the hallway into someone you actually know.

If a one-on-one invitation feels like a big step, a shared building group chat or noticeboard message inviting a few neighbors for coffee at the same time can lower the pressure for everyone involved.

A few unwritten rules of Dutch neighbor life

Every country has its own unspoken habits around neighborly behavior, and the Netherlands is no exception. Knowing a few of these can help you settle in faster and avoid accidental misunderstandings.

Dutch neighbors tend to value directness over small talk. If something bothers them, such as noise after certain hours, they're more likely to mention it politely in person than to complain anonymously. The upside is that most issues get resolved with a short, honest conversation rather than lingering tension. Curtains are also worth a mention: many Dutch homes are known for leaving them open in the evening, a small cultural detail that reflects a broader comfort with transparency and community visibility.

None of this means you need to change who you are, but understanding these norms can make everyday interactions feel less confusing and more natural, especially in the first few months after moving in.

Small acts of helpfulness go a long way

Some of the strongest neighborly bonds are built through small, everyday gestures rather than big plans. A few easy ways to be a good neighbor:

• Hold the elevator or front door for someone with their hands full 
• Offer to carry groceries up the stairs
• Accept a package on behalf of a neighbor who isn't home
• Lend a hammer, screwdriver, or a helping hand with furniture assembly 
  
  

None of these require planning or effort beyond the moment itself, but they build trust quickly. Being known as the reliable, helpful neighbor is one of the easiest reputations to build, and one of the most valuable.

Bring people together with a housewarming or shared activity

Holland2Stay's community is made up of people from all over the world, which means every building is full of different backgrounds, habits, and stories. That diversity is one of the best reasons to organize something together, whether it's a housewarming, a shared dinner, or a simple get-together in a common area.

You don't need a big occasion to justify it. A rooftop terrace, a courtyard, or even a hallway can be enough space to bring a few neighbors together for the first time.

Join Nationale Burendag on September 26, 2026

If you're looking for the perfect excuse to finally organize something, Nationale Burendag is it. Organized by Oranje Fonds and Douwe Egberts, this yearly event encourages neighbors across the Netherlands to plan an activity together, from a shared barbecue to a street cleanup or a simple afternoon coffee outside.

In 2026, Nationale Burendag takes place on September 26. Many neighborhoods and buildings across the country already organize something every year, so before planning your own, it's worth checking whether an activity near you has already been set up. If nothing exists yet in your building or street, this is the ideal moment to start one yourself, even something as simple as putting up a sign inviting neighbors to join in.

Planning something for the day doesn't need to be complicated. A shared table in the courtyard with everyone bringing a small dish, a communal breakfast before the workday starts, or an informal drinks gathering on a rooftop or in a common room are all easy ways to get people involved without much preparation. If your building already has a group chat or noticeboard, that's the simplest place to gauge interest and coordinate who brings what.

For those living in a Holland2Stay building, shared spaces such as courtyards, lounges, or rooftop terraces are often the easiest place to host something on the day itself. Even a small gathering can be the starting point for friendships that last well beyond one afternoon in September.

Keep the connection going after Burendag

One good afternoon with neighbors doesn't automatically build a lasting community, but it's a strong starting point. After Burendag, small habits are what keep the connection alive: continuing to say hello in the hallway, checking in on the group chat every so often, or organizing a smaller follow-up gathering a few months later.

Over time, these small, repeated moments add up to something bigger than a single event. They turn a building full of strangers into a place where people genuinely look out for one another, which is, in the end, exactly what makes a house start to feel like home.

You can find all organized activities near you, or register your own, through the official Burendag activity finder.