Looking to advance your career in the Netherlands? Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht and the cities in between host a variety of job fairs, career events and open company days suited to highly skilled international professionals. Whether you’re in technology, finance, healthcare, marketing, or engineering, these events provide opportunities to network, meet top employers, and explore new career paths. Living or looking elsewhere in the country? See our companion guide to career events in the North, East and South of the Netherlands.

Note on dates: the list runs from autumn 2026 through spring 2027. Where a date shows “to be confirmed”, the event is a recurring annual whose new date is published closer to the event — check the organiser’s website before you go.

Expat-focused career events

• IamExpat Fair — The Hague (Grote Kerk) — 7 Nov 2026
  Jobs, housing, banking and community — internationals welcome.
  Who it’s for: the international community in and around The Hague — expats, accompanying partners and newcomers looking for work, services and connections.
• Career Workshop for Internationals — Amsterdam — September 2026 (online & in-person)
  Hands-on CV/LinkedIn coaching; practice employer messaging. Run by IN Amsterdam.
  Who it’s for: internationals new to the Dutch job market — recent arrivals, partners of relocated employees and anyone needing practical, one-on-one application help.
• Seminar: The Dutch Job Market — Amsterdam — to be confirmed
  How hiring works in NL; optimise your applications. Watch the IN Amsterdam calendar for the next date.
  Who it’s for: internationals unfamiliar with Dutch hiring norms — newcomers and job seekers wanting to understand how recruitment works here.

Job & career fairs

• Amsterdam Tech Job Fair — Amsterdam — 30 Oct 2026
  Meet multiple tech employers hiring now — CV chats on the spot.
  Who it’s for: international tech professionals — software developers, data, product, design and IT roles, from mid-level to senior, including those relocating.
• Amsterdam Career Days — Amsterdam — early March 2027 (to be confirmed)
  Top employers; strategy/finance/consulting tracks; pre-book interviews.
  Who it’s for: students and young professionals — especially business, finance, consulting and strategy graduates at the start of their careers.
• GSLS Life Sciences Career Days — Utrecht — March 2027 (to be confirmed)
  Workshops + employer booths for R&D/biotech careers.
  Who it’s for: life-sciences students, PhD candidates and early-career researchers moving into R&D, biotech and pharma.
• VU Career Skills Day — Amsterdam — February 2027 (to be confirmed)
  Polish your pitch; meet recruiters and alumni.
  Who it’s for: students and recent graduates working on their CV, pitch and interview skills before entering the job market.
• International Talent Event Amsterdam (ITEA) — Amsterdam — April 2027 (to be confirmed)
  City-wide employer showcase; internationals welcome; fast networking.
  Who it’s for: international students and graduates in the Amsterdam area looking to kickstart a career in the Netherlands — entry-level to junior.

Industry conferences with hiring potential

Tech leadership, AI & data

• World Summit AI — Amsterdam (Taets) — 7–8 Oct 2026
  C-suite/data leaders; partner lounges; serious hiring & BD.
  Who it’s for: senior AI and data professionals — heads of AI/data, product and engineering leaders, founders and investors. Not aimed at entry-level.

Cybersecurity & cloud (manager+ audiences)

• Cybersec Netherlands — Utrecht (Jaarbeurs) — 9–10 Sep 2026
  CISOs/security leaders; vendor briefings; leadership hiring.
  Who it’s for: security professionals and decision-makers — CISOs, security managers, SOC/IT-security engineers and consultants.
• Cyber Security & Cloud Expo Europe — Amsterdam (RAI) — 19–20 Oct 2026
  Cloud/security platforms; meet MSPs and enterprise buyers.
  Who it’s for: cloud and security professionals — enterprise IT buyers, architects, developers, MSPs and technology decision-makers.

Media/tech & marketing

• IBC 2026 — Amsterdam (RAI) — 11–14 Sep 2026
  Global media/streaming vendors; exec tracks; active hiring.
  Who it’s for: media, broadcast, streaming and content-technology professionals — engineers, product specialists, executives and vendors across the industry.
• DigiMarCon Amsterdam — Johan Cruijff ArenA — 17–18 Sep 2026
  Enterprise marketing/data leaders; case-study networking.
  Who it’s for: digital marketing, media and advertising professionals — from marketing managers up to Heads of Marketing and CMOs.
• Emerce eDay — Amsterdam (Kromhouthal) — 5 Nov 2026
  Digital innovation leads; hiring for product/strategy.
  Who it’s for: digital business, e-commerce, product and innovation professionals — mid-level to senior roles.
• DMWF Europe — Amsterdam (RAI) — 24–25 Nov 2026
  CMO/Head-of performance circle; martech and data roles.
  Who it’s for: senior digital marketing leaders — CMOs, Heads of Digital/Performance and martech and data specialists.

Life sciences & health

• Dutch Medicines Days — Leiden (CORPUS) — 7–8 Oct 2026
  Regulatory/clinical leaders; pharma/biotech networking.
  Who it’s for: pharmaceutical scientists and drug-development professionals across academia, industry and government — research, clinical and regulatory roles.
• Health~Holland Global Investor Forum — Utrecht — 10–11 Mar 2027
  Founders meet investors; BD, corporate innovation, senior roles.
  Who it’s for: life-sciences & health founders, investors and business-development/corporate-innovation leaders — senior and strategic profiles.
• Innovation for Health — Utrecht — 11 Mar 2027
  NL’s biggest LS&H conference; exec tracks and partnering.
  Who it’s for: life-sciences and health executives, innovators, researchers and partnering professionals looking to connect across the sector.
• Zorg & ICT — Utrecht (Jaarbeurs) — 13–15 Apr 2027
  Health-IT buyers; CIO/CMIO crowd; digital care platforms.
  Who it’s for: healthcare-IT professionals and buyers — CIOs, CMIOs, digital-care vendors and care organisations adopting technology.

Energy, logistics & heavy industry

• Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference (OEEC) — Amsterdam (RAI) — 24–25 Nov 2026
  Offshore wind/O&G execs; supply-chain and project hiring.
  Who it’s for: offshore energy professionals — offshore wind and oil & gas executives, engineers, supply-chain and project/commercial roles.
• Logistica Next + ICT&Logistiek — Utrecht (Jaarbeurs) — November 2026 (to be confirmed)
  Benelux logistics tech; ops/IT leaders; vendor pipelines.
  Who it’s for: logistics and supply-chain professionals — operations and IT leaders, plus warehouse-automation and logistics-tech vendors.

Open company days in and around the big cities

Open company days (open bedrijvendagen) are a very Dutch phenomenon: once a year, companies open their doors to everyone — no invitation, no CV required. For a job-seeking expat they’re a low-pressure way to walk into a workplace, see the culture, and talk to actual employees instead of recruiters. Most are free.

• Wereldhavendagen (World Port Days) — Rotterdam — 4–6 Sep 2026
  The largest maritime event in the Netherlands: around 150 port companies show their operations, ships, cranes and innovation projects on and around the quays.
  Why interesting for expats: the port employs heavily in logistics, energy transition, engineering and IT — sectors that hire internationals. A relaxed way to scout employers like the Port Authority, terminal operators and offshore firms.
• ESA ESTEC Open Days — Noordwijk — 26–27 Sep 2026
  The European Space Agency’s largest technical centre opens its labs and test facilities to the public once a year. Free, but tickets go fast.
  Why interesting for expats: ESTEC is one of the most international workplaces in the country (English is the working language), and the wider NL Space cluster around it hires engineers, scientists and support professionals from abroad.
• Wetenschapsdag Amsterdam Science Park — Amsterdam — 3 Oct 2026
  Research institutes AMOLF, ARCNL, CWI, Nikhef and the UvA science faculty open their doors with tours, demos and talks.
  Why interesting for expats: these institutes recruit internationally for research, engineering and software roles, and the Science Park is also home to a growing cluster of deep-tech start-ups.
• Kom in de Kas — Westland & other greenhouse regions — 3–4 Apr 2027
  The annual open weekend of Dutch greenhouse horticulture: growers across the country, with the Westland (between The Hague and Rotterdam) as the heartland, show how high-tech food and flower production works.
  Why interesting for expats: Dutch horticulture is a world leader that hires in agri-tech, data, robotics, logistics and international trade — not just growing.

The big cities in the west of the Netherlands offer a wealth of opportunities for highly skilled expats seeking career advancement. Whether you’re looking for a job in technology, finance, marketing, healthcare, engineering, or sustainability, these events will connect you with the right employers and provide a competitive edge in your job search. And don’t forget: some of the country’s strongest job markets lie beyond these cities — see our guide to career events and open company days in the rest of the Netherlands.

Looking for personalised career coaching? Orange Expats helps international professionals navigate their career paths in the Netherlands.

Not every opportunity is in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam or Utrecht. Brainport Eindhoven is the most international tech hub in the country, the North has a tight labour market where employers actively welcome English-speaking candidates, and university cities like Enschede, Nijmegen, Wageningen and Maastricht run large career events of their own. Below you’ll find expat-focused events and employer meet-ups, regional job fairs, and open company days (open bedrijvendagen) in the North, East and South of the Netherlands — plus a few nationwide open days worth tracking wherever you live. Based in or around one of the big cities in the west? See our companion guide to job fairs and career events in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht.

Note on dates: many of these run on a rolling schedule or are annual events whose exact new date is published closer to the day. Where a date shows “to be confirmed”, check the organiser’s website (linked) before you go.

Expat-focused events & employer meet-ups

• IamExpat Fair — Eindhoven (Klokgebouw) — 3 Oct 2026
  Career zone + relocation services under one roof — ideal for switching roles smoothly.
  Who it’s for: internationals living in or moving to the Netherlands (and their partners) — job seekers of all levels plus anyone who needs housing, tax, banking or relocation services.
• Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI) — Talent100 & employer sessions — ongoing (next: 13 Aug 2026, online)
  ESI connects international talent with employers through its Talent100 programme, information sessions and company introductions.
  Who it’s for: accompanying partners and spouses of relocated internationals who want to (re)enter the Dutch job market.
• Holland Expat Center South — networking & “find a job” events — ongoing (year-round)
  Regular networking evenings, employer meet-ups, start-up walk-in hours and “work / find a job” sessions in the Brainport Eindhoven region.
  Who it’s for: internationals living or arriving in the Brainport Eindhoven / South-Netherlands region — job seekers, partners and entrepreneurs.
• Make it in the North — career events & job-hunt advice — ongoing (e.g. 27 Aug & 2 Sep 2026, Groningen; EURES Career Workshop Sep 2026)
  The jobs platform for the three northern provinces, with recurring walk-in job-hunt advice, career workshops and employer connections.
  Who it’s for: English-speaking internationals looking for work in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe — all levels.

Regional job & career fairs

East (Twente & Gelderland)

• Business Days Twente — Career Fair — February 2027 (to be confirmed)
  One of the largest student career fairs in the east, with 160+ companies, held annually in February at the University of Twente in Enschede.
  Who it’s for: students and graduates — especially in technology, engineering and business; English-friendly through UT’s international programmes.
• Nijmegen Career Event (NCE) — Nijmegen — 24–25 Nov 2026
  Annual career event connecting students and companies in the Nijmegen region (Radboud University).
  Who it’s for: students and recent graduates (starters) across disciplines; companies recruiting early-career talent.
• WUR Career Day — Wageningen — biennial (to be confirmed)
  Wageningen University’s biennial recruitment day connecting students with employers.
  Who it’s for: students and graduates in food, agri, environment and life sciences. Check the WUR site for the next edition.

South (Brainport Eindhoven & Limburg)

• TU/e Career Expo (Wervingsdagen) — Eindhoven — 2–4 Mar 2027
  High-density engineering roles; talk directly to hiring teams.
  Who it’s for: students and recent graduates in engineering, technology and high-tech (starters and interns) looking for their first roles in the Brainport region.
• MedTech Career Event (Brainport) — Eindhoven — autumn 2026 (to be confirmed)
  Medtech employers; hardware/QA/RA/clinical engineering talks.
  Who it’s for: medtech job seekers and professionals — hardware, embedded, QA/RA and clinical engineering, from students to experienced engineers.
• FSE STEM Career Day (Maastricht University) — April 2027 (to be confirmed)
  Annual career day (the 2026 edition was 16 April) where STEM students and industry meet, network and recruit.
  Who it’s for: STEM students and graduates; Maastricht University is one of the most international, English-taught universities in the country.

Open company days (open bedrijvendagen)

Open company days are a very Dutch phenomenon: once a year, companies open their doors to everyone — no invitation, no CV required. They’re aimed at the general public, but for a job-seeking expat they’re a low-pressure way to walk into a workplace, see the culture, and talk to actual employees instead of recruiters. Most are free and don’t require registration.

• Open Bedrijvendag Emmen — Emmen (Drenthe) — 7 Nov 2026
  Companies across Emmen open their doors on the first Saturday of November, from manufacturing to services, 10:00–16:00.
  Why interesting for expats: the North has a tight labour market and employers here are increasingly open to English-speaking candidates — a walk-in chance to meet them directly.
• High Tech Ontdekkingsroute (Dutch Technology Week) — Brainport Eindhoven region — June 2027 (to be confirmed; 2026 edition was 13 June)
  Companies and campuses across the Brainport region open their doors on one Saturday, including the High Tech Campus Open Day where Philips, NXP, Signify and others show their work.
  Why interesting for expats: Brainport is one of the most international tech hubs in the country — this is the one day a year you can walk into its major employers without an appointment.
• Open Bedrijven Dag — Kempen & Peel region (Noord-Brabant) — spring 2027 (to be confirmed; 2026 edition was 28 March)
  Around 60 companies in the region south of Eindhoven open their doors, explicitly welcoming career changers as well as the curious.
  Why interesting for expats: many participants are manufacturing and supply-chain firms in the Brainport ecosystem — useful for technical profiles looking beyond the big names.
• Open Bedrijvendag Doetinchem — Achterhoek (Gelderland) — March 2027 (to be confirmed; 2026 edition was 25–28 March)
  A multi-day open house of companies in the Doetinchem area, from industry to services.
  Why interesting for expats: the Achterhoek has a strong manufacturing base with persistent technical vacancies — employers here compete hard for talent.
• Dag van de Logistiek — Oss (Noord-Brabant) — October 2027 (biennial; skips 2026)
  Logistics companies in the Oss region open their warehouses and operations to visitors.
  Why interesting for expats: logistics is one of the sectors where internationals find work fastest, and this event shows the range of roles beyond the warehouse floor — planning, IT, data and management.

Nationwide open days worth tracking

• Dag van de Bouw — June 2027 (to be confirmed; 2026 edition was 20 June)
  Construction and infrastructure sites across the whole country — over 130 projects in 2026 — open to the public for one Saturday.
  Why interesting for expats: construction and infra face major shortages, from site engineering to project management, and this is the easiest way to see Dutch projects and employers up close.
• Ontdekdezorg Week — 8–13 Feb 2027
  A national week in which healthcare and welfare organisations across the country host open days, walk-in sessions and taster activities for anyone considering a career in care.
  Why interesting for expats: healthcare is actively recruiting career switchers; the week is designed for orientation, so it’s a natural entry point even if you’re still exploring whether the sector fits.

Two tips for internationals: at an open company day nobody expects you to be job hunting — which is exactly what makes it work. Ask employees what they do all day, take a business card, and follow up on LinkedIn afterwards. And outside the big cities, the biggest hiring events are often organised by universities and regional expat centres rather than commercial fair organisers — so following your regional expat centre (Groningen, Twente, Brainport Eindhoven, Maastricht Region) is the most reliable way to catch open company days and job fairs as they’re announced.

Looking for personalised career coaching? Orange Expats helps international professionals navigate their career paths in the Netherlands.

You felt it before you fully heard it — something in you dropped.

For expats, unexplained job loss often causes a deeper disruption than many realise. Because it’s not just a job that ends — it’s your structure and your place in a foreign culture. And worst of all: you don’t know why it happened.

A sudden fracture in the foundation

As an expat, your life in the Netherlands is often built around your job. When that’s taken away — and without explanation — it’s not just destabilising. It’s disorienting. And while others move on, you’re left trying to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense.

In a culture where work defines identity

In the Netherlands — like in many individualistic cultures — work is central to how people define themselves. It provides structure, pride, and a sense of contribution. As an expat, you adapt to those values. You work hard to integrate. So when you’re suddenly let go without a clear reason, it can feel like personal rejection — even when it’s not.

The silent spiral

After such a dismissal, many expats begin to withdraw socially. Not because they want to, but because they’re afraid of the questions:

“What happened?”

“Why did they let you go?”

“Did you see it coming?”

The lack of answers becomes its own burden. Shame might creep in and doubt grows. So you stay home and disconnect. And that isolation makes recovery even harder.

What doesn’t get processed, gets carried

The most painful part of unexplained job loss is often what comes after — when you’ve technically moved on, but internally, you haven’t. You might find a new job, but notice that:

• • You don’t fully trust managers anymore
  • You keep colleagues at a distance
  • You overthink feedback
  • You hold back, just in case it happens again

You’re not unmotivated. You’re protecting yourself — from something that blindsided you before. That’s unhealed experience.

Support creates space to heal and rebuild

As an expat career & wellbeing coach, I work with people navigating exactly these moments. We don’t just talk about finding a new job — we talk about how to feel safe, strong and clear again. Because real progress isn’t just about moving forward. It’s about moving forward without dragging invisible weight behind you.

Let’s start the conversation

Has something like this happened to you — or to someone you know? Let’s talk. I will provide space to be heard, and support to rebuild in a way that truly fits you.