The Expat Centre will operate as a full-fledged regional centre from 1 May. From this date, expats and internationals will be able to register with the municipalities of Katwijk, Leiderdorp, Oegstgeest, Voorschoten and Zoeterwoude directly at the Expat Centre. Until now, this registration could only take place within the Municipality of Leiden. In addition, the new Expat Centre Leiden (ECL) website is live. The new website will allow expats and internationals to arrange their affairs even more efficiently. Arranging things efficiently, from orientation to returning.
Successful cooperation
This cooperation is one of the most successful regional projects involving various municipalities and other local parties closely working together. According to Corine van der Ceelen, manager of the Expat Centre Leiden, “It is our goal to arrange the necessary formalities for expats, or refer them, as efficiently and swiftly as possible”. Van der Ceelen adds: “I am proud of the fact that we have succeeded in centralizing the registration with said municipalities directly at the ECL as of 1 May. The Municipality of Voorschoten will join the project at a later stage, and I would hereby like to invite other municipalities in the region to also join the project”. At present, the total number of registered internationals is 115, a great result in a short period of time, and it shows that people know how to find their way to the ECL.
Improved services
Our website has been transformed completely. Besides the entirely new look & feel and corporate identity of the Expat Centre, the site is now more user-friendly and a number of new services have been added. According to Van der Ceelen: “for instance, from now on, appointments can be booked online via a digital form. An e-learning with practical information on the city and the region will be added to the website, as well as a number of additional services, such as assistance with applying for a DigiD. Together with our partners, we will strengthen our position in the region with such added services”.
Practical
Additional information: www.expatcentreleiden.nl. The Expat Centre Leiden is located in the VVV (tourist information) office, near Central station at Stationsweg 26 and is open on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays 9.00 – 13.00 and on Wednesdays 13.00 – 17.00 hrs.