Internationals and expats in Leuven (by International House)

International House Leuven organizes a coffee morning for those of you who like to chat and meet some friendly (new) faces. It's also a good place to ask questions, get answers and find out about what’s happening in Leuven. Our coffee morning is what you make it. So pop in and out whenever you like, see who is there, and say hi!

Other than meeting on Friday mornings every two weeks at the IHL house, for this edition we will meet on a Saturday every two weeks, so that those who work during the week have a chance to come!

Who's "we"? Well it varies a bit, but this time it will be volunteers from the IH, Zeba and/or Georgi!
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The practicalities:

- the coffee morning goes for 2 hours, for the exact time check the event details. Feel free to pop in and out at any point, no need to stay the entire time if that doesn't suit your own timing.
- The location is stated in the event details. Any changes will be communicated via MeetUp and the WhatsApp group on the day of....
- ask the event volunteer at the event to be added to the Whatsapp group for future updates
- We will limit the group size because the cafe has limited seating, so please register so we know how many people are coming (and please respect your reservation, AKA cancel if you can no longer come :) ) Be aware that we cannot make a group reservation, so we may have to split up between a few tables.

Hope to see you at this special coffee morning weekend edition!

Theme for this event:
Family life without a village

There are so many exciting aspects of raising a family away from “home”. You get to experience a new culture through the eyes of a child, and discover a range of different attitudes and approaches to parenting. At the same time, there can be real challenges. Raising a child abroad often means doing so without the support of a village. Grandparents and extended family may not be nearby to help with last-minute childcare gaps, or simply to offer exhausted parents a much-needed break.

In this workshop, we will share our experiences of family life without a village. We will explore what an alternative village can look like, the struggles we have faced, and the pleasant surprises that can emerge along the way. You might recognise challenges such as watching your child grow up in a different culture, navigating situations where one parent’s culture is more strongly represented than the other, or trying to maintain close relationships with family members who live far away.
All of this and more will be discussed in an informal and supportive group conversation, offering space to reflect, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Context for Mental Health Meetups
In 2025, IHL conducted a survey to understand how internationals in Leuven and the surrounding areas were doing. One thing internationals mentioned they needed more of was mental health support.

So we launched Mental Health Meetups at IHL. Each month, different topics will be featured relating to mental health. The events will be hosted by mental health professionals, bringing their expertise to the international community.

These events will be in a variety of formats. Some will be informational, conversational, interactive, etc. It's a safe space to participate how you would like (active or passive).

Ever find yourself mulling over life's big questions after a long day? Like what it means to live well, or why anything matters at all? You're not alone! Come pull up a chair, grab a drink, and join a friendly bunch of curious minds for some thoughtful conversation.

This group is all about creating a relaxed, welcoming space where we can explore meaningful questions together. No lectures, no gatekeeping, just a chance to hear different perspectives, share your own, and maybe walk away with a few new ideas (or at least a better question than the one you started with).

No philosophy background required, just an open mind and a willingness to chat (or just listen). Each session loosely centers on a topic picked by the group from suggestions we all pitch in (via a dedicated WhatsApp group). Themes can range from love and hate, to society and politics, family and friendship, harmony and conflict, and beyond.

For those interested, you're welcome to join the WhatsApp group - just ask Nicolas, Det or Reinier at one of the meetings.