Why Tennis Is the Perfect Sport for International Families
New to the Netherlands? Tennis is the fastest way for your family to join a warm community. Discover how international families thrive at 359.tennis.
Moving to a new country is exciting but challenging — especially for children. A new school, a new language, new friends. Sport, and tennis in particular, offers a unique solution: it's a universal language that connects people, regardless of background or nationality. At 359.tennis, we see daily how international families find a new home through tennis. Browse our kids programme, discover expat tennis in Amstelveen or read our complete guide for expat beginners.
Tennis as a social bridge
Tennis is unique because it's both individual and social. In group lessons, children learn to cooperate, play fair, and deal with winning and losing — skills that directly translate to the school environment. For parents, the tennis club offers a natural meeting place with other (international) families.
- •Group lessons create immediate social connections with peers
- •The tennis club is a community — not just a sports venue
- •Parents meet each other at the club while children train
- •Annual events and tournaments strengthen bonds
Why tennis works better than team sports for expats
In team sports like football or hockey, children join an existing team with established group dynamics. In tennis, everyone starts at their own level. There's no 'bench' and no fixed position. Every child gets equal attention and playing time. This makes it much more accessible for international children who are new.
- •No existing team hierarchy to fit into
- •Every child trains at their own level — no unequal playing time
- •Individual progress with social group dynamics
- •Language barrier is minimal: you learn tennis by doing
The whole family can participate
At 359.tennis, we offer programs for all ages. Children from 4 to 17 have their own age-appropriate programs, and for parents there are adult group lessons and private lessons. Tennis is one of the few sports where the entire family can actively participate — and that strengthens family bonds in a new country. See our complete guide for expat beginners to learn how families get started.
- •Kids programs: Roots (4-6), Connect (6-8), Explore (8-10), Lead (10-12)
- •Junior program (13-17) with competition opportunities
- •Adult lessons: START, RESTART and ADVANCED groups
- •Private lessons for the whole family — together or separately
Key takeaways
- ✓Tennis is the ideal sport for international families due to its low entry barrier
- ✓Group lessons create immediate social connections for children and parents
- ✓Unlike team sports, you don't need to fit into an existing team
- ✓The whole family can participate — from age 4 to adults
- ✓359.tennis offers a warm, international community in Amstelveen
New to Amstelveen or Amsterdam? Discover how tennis can help your family settle in. View all programs at 359.tennis/en/programs.
