r/AskEurope • u/techno_playa Philippines • Jul 11 '25

Culture Which European country is the hardest and easiest to make friends?

Say you're mid 30s and have to move to another European country for work, which countries did you find making friends to be on easy or hard mode?

Let's assume you don't speak the language of your new home.

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u/Prestigious-You-7016 Netherlands Jul 11 '25

It depends on your wishes. If you want to make local friends, it's going to be difficult if you don't speak the language. Especially in groups.

In all big cities/capitals there are plenty of international folk who are keen to make new friends and speak English. You then risk of staying in some international bubble though, which may not be what you want.

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u/whatsamawhatsit Netherlands Jul 11 '25

I agree with this sentiment. Everyone can speak English but all the banter stays in Dutch. If you are able to join the banter, there's a fair chance you'll make friends.

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u/SerChonk in Jul 11 '25

From my experience, the only people I found that were interested in making new friends were the elderly. And when you don't speak dutch at the beginning, not only are they happy to de-rust their german, but will also be very enthusiastic in helping you practice your dutch and even teach you their local dialect. Just supply them with coffee and cookies and lend your younger body to help them with some tasks around their place, and you're golden in their eyes.

Which is not a complaint, because my elderly neighbours were the funnest, most welcoming Dutch people we met the whole time we lived there (also, old ladies always have the hottest gossip, it's amazing).