Frequently asked questions

FriendShaping helps you meet new people and build real friendships, in your own city and soon online too. You tell us who you are, and we introduce you to people who fit you. No endless swiping or scrolling.

Anyone aged 18 or over who wants to meet new people: because you just moved, because your life is changing, or simply to widen your circle.

No. FriendShaping is about friendship: people who want to do things together, talk or meet. There is no romantic intent, and we show no photos or scores to judge each other by.

The two ways we will introduce you. Verrassing: a conversation with someone from anywhere in the Netherlands who fits you. Dichtbij: someone near you, to talk and then meet. Both are coming soon; on your dashboard you see how far you are.

Once you have answered the questions we need, you are ready for Verrassing and Dichtbij. As soon as they start, we introduce you to people who fit you and tell you by e-mail. Until then you can change your answers any time.

For now FriendShaping is free. We are still working out how to keep it going in the long run — we need to be able to make a living from it too. If a paid option ever comes, we will tell you well in advance.

There is none. We don't sell your data and show no ads. We want people to really meet — that is the whole idea.

We introduce you to people near you. For that, enough people in your area need to join first — otherwise we can't make good suggestions. We start in Wageningen and Breda.

A city goes live once about 100 people nearby have joined. Your dashboard shows how far your city is. Know people nearby? Every sign-up brings the start closer.

Yes. You choose the place where you live when you sign up. That tells us where people are waiting, and once there are enough, your city can start too.

Yes, gladly. On your dashboard, under My city, you can share an invitation by WhatsApp or e-mail, or copy the link. Every friend who joins brings the start of your city closer.

A few short questions about who you are and what you enjoy — for example how you like to meet new people, your interests and a few sliders about your personality. It takes about three minutes until we can introduce you. It is not a test: there are no right or wrong answers.

So we can introduce you to people who really fit you, and show you what you share.

No. You can skip questions or choose "I'd rather not say". A few questions are needed before we can introduce you; we show how many are left.

Only you. Other members don't see your answers. Later, with suggestions, you only see the sliders side by side — without names — and the interests you share. Our team only sees totals, and only when at least 10 people answered a question.

Some people feel more at ease at a first meeting with someone of the same gender, so we offer that choice. "I don't mind" is just as good an answer. Nobody else sees what you choose.

No. Getting to know you deliberately asks nothing about religion, politics, health or sexual orientation.

No. A number invites comparing and says little about whether you will get on. With a suggestion we show what you share and how you both are, in plain words.

Yes, any time, on My answers. You can clear one answer or delete everything at once.

A short summary of your own answers, only for you. Something not right? Change it straight away.

Every suggestion card and every conversation (menu ···) has "Report". Choose a reason and, if you like, tell us what happened. Reporting also blocks the person for you at once. In danger right now? Call 112.

Someone from FriendShaping looks at it, urgent reports first. The other person never hears who reported. Once we have looked at it you get a short notice — which measure we took, we don't share.

The page with the decision tells you which house rule it concerns and why. Do you disagree? You can object there once within 30 days; we look at it again and let you know the outcome.

On your profile page, with "Delete my account". Your data is deleted at once, except what the law requires us to keep. It leaves our backups within 30 days.

On your profile page. You then count for the city of your new place; your early-member badge stays.

With EN or NL at the top of the page, or under Preferred language on your profile page. The site and our e-mails then use that language.

No, never. Our website, database and mail run on an OVHcloud server in a data centre in Limburg, Germany, within the EU. See our Privacy Policy.

FriendShaping is meant for adults. See our Minimum Age Policy.

Check your spam folder. Still nothing? Request a new link.

E-mail us at hello@friendshaping.com. We read everything.