Saturday 13 March 2027, at the Beurs van Berlage on the Damrak. The Amsterdam edition is the largest of the three and draws people from across the country, not only from the region.
Amsterdam is also home to the largest community of internationals in the Netherlands. That means the range of opportunities is wider here than anywhere else, and there are more people looking at them.
| Date | Saturday 13 March 2027 |
| Time | To be confirmed, previous editions ran 10.00 to 17.00 |
| Venue | Beurs van Berlage |
| Address | Damrak 243, 1012 ZJ Amsterdam |
| Entry | Free with advance registration, details to be announced |
| Language | English |
| Tickets | Via the official site, amsterdam.iamexpatfair.nl |
The Beurs van Berlage is a couple of minutes from Amsterdam Centraal, which makes this the easiest of the three to reach from anywhere in the country. The train is much simpler than driving, as parking around the Damrak is limited and expensive on a Saturday.
Stands are grouped by theme:
Career. Recruitment agencies and employers, across tech, finance, marketing, creative work, consultancy and the international corporate sector that Amsterdam is full of.
Housing and money. Estate agents, mortgage advisers, tax advisers and insurers. If you are working out whether buying is realistic on your income, or where you stand now with the 30% ruling, this is a quick way to get a clear answer from someone who does it every day.
Education and family. International schools, bilingual schools, daycare and Dutch courses.
Health and daily life. Health insurers, GPs, therapists, gyms, and the services that help a temporary stay start to feel like a life.
Workshops. A free programme in English throughout the day, on subjects like filing a Dutch tax return, buying a house, setting up as a self-employed professional, and learning Dutch. The full programme goes up on the official site shortly before the fair.
This is where a good day at a fair usually turns into something, and it is easy to let it slide once the week starts.
Within a couple of days, message the people you spoke with. LinkedIn is fine. One line referring back to the conversation works better than anything formal: “We spoke at the IamExpat Fair about your team’s search for process engineers. Here is my CV, as promised.” It takes two minutes and it is what keeps a contact warm.
Within a week, note down what surprised you. Something at the fair probably went against an assumption you were carrying. Perhaps salaries were higher than you expected, or the language barrier smaller, or the field you thought you needed to leave turned out to be fine and it was the company that did not fit. That is often worth more than the business cards.
Then give yourself a moment to take stock. Sometimes a fair confirms that the market is open and your CV just needs sharpening. Sometimes it brings up something quieter: that none of it appealed, or that you are more tired than you realised after everything that has happened at work.
Both are useful to know, and neither is a bad outcome. It is simply information about where you are right now.
Some conversations at a fair go somewhere you did not expect. You start out asking about vacancies and find yourself thinking about whether this is still the direction you want at all, or whether you have the energy to start something new just now.
Those questions deserve more time and quiet than a busy hall can offer.
I am Stella Pennekamp. I have been coaching internationals in the Netherlands since 2005, from Amsterdam, in English. I work on career direction, outplacement after redundancy or a VSO (vaststellingsovereenkomst, the Dutch settlement agreement), burnout and recovery, and UWV Werkfit trajectories. My clients come from all over the world.
Two things worth knowing if redundancy or a VSO is part of your situation. Dutch settlement agreements often include a budget for coaching or outplacement, and it is easy to miss or to leave unused, so it is worth checking your agreement before you sign. And where your employer or UWV covers the costs, coaching does not come out of your own pocket.
I attend the fairs as a visitor. If you would like to talk on the day, message me beforehand and we will arrange a time and a place to meet.
You are also welcome to book a free introductory call.
When and where is the IamExpat Fair Amsterdam 2027? Saturday 13 March 2027 at the Beurs van Berlage, Damrak 243, 1012 ZJ Amsterdam. Opening hours have not been confirmed yet. Previous Amsterdam editions ran from 10.00 to 17.00.
Is the IamExpat Fair Amsterdam free? Previous editions have been free with advance registration through the official site. Ticket details for 2027 have not been published yet.
What is there for people looking for work? The largest career area of the three editions, with recruiters, employers, coaches and CV specialists across tech, finance, marketing, creative work and consultancy, plus free workshops in English.
Do I need to speak Dutch? No. The fair runs entirely in English.
How do I get to the Beurs van Berlage? It is on the Damrak, a couple of minutes on foot from Amsterdam Centraal. Parking nearby is limited and expensive on a Saturday, so the train is easiest.
Can I bring my family? Yes. Previous editions have had a kids’ area, and the education section is aimed at parents.
Which IamExpat Fair should I go to? Whichever is easiest to reach. Amsterdam is the largest and broadest, Eindhoven is strongest for technology and engineering, and The Hague leans towards international organisations and policy. See the overview of all editions.
