Conversations at the coffee machines in Brainport Eindhoven are, fortunately, increasingly often in Dutch!

Language makes the integration of thousands of newcomers a success or a failure. Language is not only a tool, but the key to truly participating in society. In an interview with Alderman Stijn Steenbakkers in the Eindhovens Dagblad, Director of SMART Photonics Ruud Vullers and Janneke van Kessel of Brainport voor Elkaar, the importance of Dutch language lessons for companies’ employees and their spouses is emphasized. For this purpose, Eindhoven Municipality together with Brainport voor Elkaar and Holland Expat Center South, has launched the programme 'Employer approach: Dutch for international employees'.

Language proficiency in Brainport Eindhoven is high on the administrative agenda. Internationals who are proficient in Dutch can be deployed more flexibly and stay in the Netherlands longer. Quote from the Eindhovens Dagblad article: "Language makes the integration of thousands of newcomers a success or a failure".

STE Languages ​​is proud to be one of the partners in this programme and to be able to provide lessons for SMART Photonics. We are pleased that more companies see the value of Dutch language lessons and understand how important it is that international employees can make themselves understood and really feel part of the team, Dutch and Brabant society.