Saturday 7 November 2026, in the Grote Kerk in the centre of The Hague. A fifteenth century church filled with stands.
The Hague edition has a character of its own. This is the city of embassies, international courts and NGOs, and many visitors came here on a posting and are now thinking about what comes next.
| Date | Saturday 7 November 2026 |
| Time | 10.00 to 17.00 |
| Venue | Grote Kerk |
| Address | Rond de Grote Kerk 12, 2513 AM The Hague |
| Entry | Free, limited number of tickets, book early |
| Language | English |
| Tickets | Via the official site, thehague.iamexpatfair.nl |
| Extras | Free tote bag for the first 1.000 visitors, kids’ area, free workshop programme |
The Hague edition tends to reach capacity, so it is worth registering as soon as tickets open. The venue is in the middle of the city centre, and the train is easiest: both Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS are within walking distance.
Stands are grouped by theme:
Career. Recruiters and employers. In The Hague the mix leans towards international organisations, policy, legal work and consultancy, alongside the usual range.
Housing and money. Estate agents, mortgage advisers, tax advisers and insurers. Renting in The Hague and the surrounding municipalities has its own rules and rhythms, and half an hour of questions in person can clear up a great deal.
Education and family. International and bilingual schools, daycare and Dutch language courses. The Hague has an unusually high concentration of international schools, so this section is well worth walking slowly.
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 The Hague 2026? Saturday 7 November 2026, from 10.00 to 17.00, at the Grote Kerk, Rond de Grote Kerk 12, 2513 AM The Hague.
Is the IamExpat Fair The Hague free? Yes. Entry is free and you register in advance through the official site. The number of tickets is limited and this edition tends to reach capacity, so book early.
What is there for people looking for work? A career area with recruiters, employers, career coaches and CV specialists, plus free workshops in English. The mix leans towards international organisations, policy, legal work and consultancy.
Do I need to speak Dutch? No. The whole fair runs in English.
How do I get to the Grote Kerk? It is in the city centre, within walking distance of both Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS. Parking in the centre is limited on a Saturday, so the train is easiest.
Can I bring my partner or children? Yes. There is a kids’ area, and partners often find a great deal here, particularly at this edition.
Is it useful if I already have a job? Often, yes. Especially if your contract or posting has an end date, or you would like a picture of the wider Dutch market without applying for anything.
Can I bring my family? Yes. There is a kids’ area, and the education section is aimed at parents choosing schools.
Will I get a job at the fair? Usually not on the day itself. What you get is direct contact with employers who already hire internationals, and that often leads somewhere in the weeks afterwards.
