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2008 event

Expatica's 5th annual "i am not a tourist" Fair made settling in the Netherlands that much easier for a record number of international visitors.

On Sunday 12 October 2008, Expatica organized its fifth annual fair for the international community. Over 4,000 visitors made it to Amsterdam on Sunday to mingle with fellow expats and exhibitors at the Beurs van Berlage to gain valuable information on living and working in the Netherlands, all under one roof.

"It was my first visit in 19 years of living in Holland and I found it very useful, for myself and for my social club, in order to network with others" was the enthusiastic response from one of our guests. While managing partner Mark Welling described the 2008 fair as the "best yet" adding that the atmosphere was both "dynamic and relaxed."

Visitors were spoiled for choice with over 90 expat-oriented organisations, including schools, universities and businesses available to answer their questions (along with three of Expatica's experts from our Ask-the-Expert panel), leaving the fair with heads (and bags) brimming with information on taxes, the Dutch job market, insurance, housing/mortgages, school and university programmes. Lifestyles were also catered to, and expats also had the chance to admire the latest model from Saab, relax in a Pilates chair, taste the specialities of a local deli and get involved in a range of social clubs.

This year's fair boasted a packed programme, including presentations on ever popular staples such as job hunting, the 30% regulation and learning Dutch, as well as successful new topics including ''Having a baby in the Netherlands', 'Women in the Dutch workplace' and a presentation by well-known expat author Jo Parfitt. Extremos Dance School did a great job of, getting visitors up on their feet with an energetic merengue mini-workshop and Greek stand-up comedian Lambros Fisfis teased more than a chuckle or two from the crowd as he poked light fun at the Dutch.

The mainstream media turned out en masse with Radio Netherlands Worldwide recording their 'Curious Orange' radio show live with several guests, including singer-songwriter Lucky Fonz III. AT5, while Expatnl.com and English Breakfast Radio combed the crowd for willing interviewees.

Amsterdam Weekly and XM Magazine took the opportunity to introduce their new magazines: Time Out Amsterdam and Kids & Co to the expat crowd.

Expatica would like to thank its media partners for helping to make the 2008 fair a success: Radio Netherlands, International Herald Tribune, Dutchnews.nl, Amsterdam Weekly/Time Out Magazine, the Hague Online, Xpat Media, Expatnl.com, English Breakfast Radio, and the Amsterdam/Hague Times. The Expatica team would also like to thank all visitors to the fair and volunteers who made this community event such a great success!