The IamExpat Fair: dates, venues and how to prepare

The IamExpat Fair is the largest event in the Netherlands for internationals. One Saturday, one building, and many organisations together in one place: recruiters, tax advisers, mortgage brokers, language schools, international schools, insurers and relocation specialists.

There is a lot on offer, and a little preparation makes a real difference to what you take home from the day. Below you will find the dates for every upcoming edition, and for each one a page with the practical details and some suggestions that help.

Upcoming editions

Tickets are booked in advance through the official site and they do go quickly. It is worth registering as soon as they open, even if you are not yet certain you can make it.

What the fair is

It is a one day information market for people who live in the Netherlands and did not grow up here. Since it started, the fair has brought together more than 1.500 exhibitors and over 45.000 visitors from 160 countries.

Every edition has a career area with recruiters and coaches, a housing and mortgage section, an education area with international schools, and a programme of free workshops on subjects like filing your Dutch tax return, buying a house, or setting up as a freelancer. Entry is free with a ticket booked in advance, everything runs in English, and there is a kids’ area so you can bring the family along.

Making the most of the career area

The people behind the stands know their field well, and most of them are there because they enjoy talking to someone who is working things out. You will get more from them if you arrive with a few specific questions rather than a general look around.

Recruiters can tell you a lot about their sector: what they are hiring for, which backgrounds tend to fit, how the market looks right now. Tax advisers and mortgage brokers can often answer in five minutes what would otherwise take you an evening of searching.

Some questions need more time and a quieter setting than a busy hall allows, and that is worth knowing in advance. Use the day to gather information quickly and to find out what you did not yet know to ask. The bigger questions can follow.

Meeting me at the fair

I go to the fairs as a visitor. If you would like to talk, send me a message beforehand and we will agree a time and a place.

I am Stella Pennekamp. I have been coaching internationals in the Netherlands since 2005, from Amsterdam, in English: career coaching, outplacement after redundancy or a VSO, burnout and wellbeing, and UWV Werkfit trajectories. I know the Dutch working context well, and I work with people from all over the world, so we can look at both sides of your situation together.

If something comes up at the fair that you would like to explore further, you are welcome to book a free introductory call.

Frequently asked questions

When is the next IamExpat Fair? The next edition is IamExpat Fair Eindhoven on Saturday 3 October 2026 at the Klokgebouw, from 10.00 to 17.00. After that comes The Hague on 7 November 2026, and Amsterdam on 13 March 2027.

Is the IamExpat Fair free? Yes. Entry is free, and you register in advance through the official fair website. The number of tickets is limited, so it is worth booking early.

Which languages are spoken at the fair? English throughout. The event is designed for internationals, so no Dutch is needed.

Can I bring my partner or children? Yes. Each edition has a kids’ area, and partners often find as much there as the person who was originally posted here.

Is it worth going if I already have a job? Often, yes. It is a relaxed way to see what the market looks like without applying for anything, and a good opportunity to find out how your salary, contract and pension compare with what is common here.

Will I find a job at the IamExpat Fair? Usually not on the day itself. What you will find is direct contact with employers who already hire internationals, and that contact often turns into something later.