Looking for a career boost? Want to ask a mortgage advisor about buying a house in today’s market? Or consult a chiropractor in person? You can meet face to face with the experts at the IamExpat Fair in Amsterdam on April 13.

“This will be our biggest fair yet, with over 90 exhibitors,” says organiser Claire Leunissen, a month ahead of the event. “We are also very proud of the IamExpat Fair’s legacy because it has welcomed over 30,000 visitors over the course of 14 editions since 2015.”

The IamExpat Fair takes place at the Gashouder – a former gas storage chamber – in Amsterdam’s Westerpark, and visitors come from all over the country. As every year, one of the big draws is the workshop programme and in 2024, 30 are on the schedule.

Housing is one of the hot topics and there will be sessions on buying and renting throughout the day. If you want to learn Dutch, you can also attend taster sessions and speak to language schools. For those interested in boosting their careers, there will be primers on applying for jobs in the Dutch market, as well as a special workshop on working in tech.

Boost your skills

“Some new arrivals to the Netherlands may be extremely well qualified in their countries of origin but have to start from scratch here,” Claire points out. “So we hope that finding out more about educational opportunities in tech, coding and business, as an addition to all their other skills, can really help them stand out in the job market in the Netherlands.”

But is there really a place for a fair when so much information about settling in the Netherlands is now available online? “You can’t beat the personal connection,” says Claire, pointing out that everyone’s situation is different.

“You might be from South Africa and want to learn Dutch for example,” she says. “You will have an awareness of the Dutch language but it is a great advantage to be able to ask a language teacher about your specific situation.”

Having fun

The IamExpat Fair covers more than housing and careers of course. Thinking about travelling around Europe by train? Chat to Eurail about their rail pass and their career opportunities. Wondering what school to send the kids to? Talk to teachers from local international schools and ask them questions. Looking for help paying your taxes? Yes the deadline is looming! There will be lots of experts on hand to help.

Tickets can be reserved online for €5 each. Once you have bought your ticket you can browse the workshop programme and sign up.

As well as all the services and businesses you need to really enjoy life in the Netherlands, the IamExpat Fair is also a great opportunity to connect with other new arrivals and the international community over a coffee or lunch. Dutch News will be at the Fair as well, so do drop by and say hello.

The 2024 edition of the IamExpat Fair will take place in the Gashouder at Westergas in Amsterdam on Saturday April 13. Get your ticket here.