Expat and South African Events in the Netherlands 2026 to 2027

Last updated: 24 September 2026

Moving to a new country is a lot easier when you know where to find your people. Whether you’re looking for practical help at an expat fair, a Springbok match with a crowd, a braai with other Saffas or just a reason to get out of the house, here are the best expat and South African events in the Netherlands for the rest of 2026 and into 2027. I’ll keep adding to this list as new dates are announced.

Short answer: the big ones coming up are the IamExpat Fair in Den Haag (7 November 2026), the Springboks’ November tests in Europe, the Amsterdam Light Festival from 26 November, the IamExpat Fair Amsterdam in March 2027, King’s Day and South African Freedom Day on the same day (27 April 2027), and the Rugby World Cup in Australia from 1 October 2027.

Jump to expat fairs, South African events and rugby, Dutch holidays and culture, the calendar or the FAQ

Expat fairs and career events

IamExpat Fair The Hague – 7 November 2026

Where: Grote Kerk, Rond de Grote Kerk 12, Den Haag
Time: 10:00 to 17:00
Entry: Free, but register in advance
What: Everything internationals need in one place: stands about jobs, housing, schools, family life, health, money and leisure, plus free workshops all day. Great if you’ve just arrived or are still planning your move.
Website: iamexpat.nl

National Work Visit Day – 18 November 2026

Where: Companies across the Netherlands
Entry: Free
What: Employers open their doors for job seekers to visit, meet the team and ask questions. A good way to get a feel for Dutch workplaces if you’re job hunting.

IamExpat Fair Amsterdam – March 2027

Where: Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam
Entry: Usually free with registration
What: The biggest expat fair in the country, in a beautiful historic building on the Damrak. Exact date to be confirmed.
Website: amsterdam.iamexpatfair.nl

Nationale Carrièrebeurs – April 2027

Where: RAI Amsterdam
What: One of the biggest career fairs in the Netherlands, with more than 300 employers from all sectors. Exact date to be confirmed.

South African events and rugby

Springbok November tests – 7 to 29 November 2026

The Boks play in Europe in November as part of the new Nations Championship, which means kick-off times that suit us and even a chance to see them live:

• 7 November: Italy vs South Africa, Turin
• 13 November: France vs South Africa, Stade de France, Paris (about three and a half hours from Amsterdam by train)
• 21 November: Ireland vs South Africa, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
• 27 to 29 November: finals weekend at Twickenham, London

Not travelling? Here’s where to watch the Springboks in the Netherlands, from the Lion’s Head in Amsterdam to Irish pubs and rugby clubs.

Freedom Day and King’s Day – 27 April 2027

Here’s a fun one: South Africa’s Freedom Day and the Dutch King’s Day fall on the same day, 27 April. So you can celebrate both at once, in orange and green and gold. Expect the whole country to turn into one big street party and flea market.

SAFFA Fest – 2027 date to be announced

The first SAFFA Fest took place in Amsterdam-Noord in September 2026, with a braai, boerewors rolls, bunny chows, South African wine, music and a live rugby match. It was organised by The Lekker Network and Saffa Huis, so follow them to hear about the next one. More about the community in my post on the South African community in the Netherlands.

Heritage Day – 24 September 2027

National Braai Day falls on a Friday in 2027, which is the perfect excuse for a weekend braai. Watch the South African Facebook groups and shops like KuierKos for gatherings around the date.

Rugby World Cup 2027 – 1 October to 13 November 2027

The Springboks go for a third World Cup in a row in Australia. Their pool matches are against Italy on 3 October (Adelaide), Georgia on 10 October (Brisbane) and Romania on 17 October (Perth). The final is on 13 November in Sydney. Good news for us: in October, Dutch time is the same as South African time, so the kick-off times in South African listings are your local times too. Expect watch parties at South African and Irish bars across the country.

Dutch holidays and culture worth knowing

Part of settling in is joining in with the local traditions. These are the big ones coming up:

• Amsterdam Dance Event, 21 to 25 October 2026: five days of electronic music, plus the ADE Pro conference. Read my ADE guide for Haarlem and Zandvoort.
• Sinterklaas arrival, 14 November 2026: the national intocht in Grave, followed by local arrivals across the country. Pakjesavond is on 5 December. New to it? Read Sinterklaas explained for South Africans.
• Amsterdam Light Festival, 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027: light art along the canals, best seen by boat or on foot.
• Christmas markets, from mid-November: see the best Christmas markets in the Netherlands 2026.
• New Year’s Eve, 31 December: oliebollen, champagne and a lot of fireworks.

Expat and South African events 2026 to 2027: the calendar

I also add events to the Events Calendar as they’re announced. Know of a South African or expat event that should be on here? Let me know via the contact page.

FAQ: Expat events in the Netherlands

When is the next IamExpat Fair?

The next one is the IamExpat Fair The Hague on 7 November 2026 in the Grote Kerk. The Amsterdam edition follows in March 2027 at the Beurs van Berlage.

Are there South African events in the Netherlands?

Yes, and more and more. The first SAFFA Fest took place in Amsterdam in September 2026, South African shops like KuierKos host fan zones during big rugby tournaments, and the Zuid-Afrikahuis in Amsterdam organises literary events and lectures.

Where can I watch the Springboks in the Netherlands?

The Lion’s Head in Amsterdam is the go-to South African sports bar. Irish pubs and local rugby clubs also show big matches. See where to watch the Springboks in the Netherlands.

What time are the Rugby World Cup 2027 matches in the Netherlands?

During October 2027, the Netherlands and South Africa are in the same time zone, so the Boks’ pool matches kick off at the same time as in South Africa: early in the morning for the games in Adelaide and Brisbane, and in the early afternoon for Perth.