Groningen Promotiedagen 2026: meet employers and build your network
by 
Babylon Radio
Listen nowMeeting someone who understands your skills can make a job search feel much more personal. On 3 and 4 November 2026, internationals in the northern Netherlands can do exactly that at Promotiedagen in Groningen, with English-language activities designed to help visitors start conversations with employers.
The business event takes place at Martiniplaza, Leonard Springerlaan 2. Its official visitor information confirms free admission with an e-ticket and opening hours of 12:00–21:30 on both days. Visitors must be at least 16. You do not need to spend the whole day there: an afternoon can combine a workshop, introductions and time to explore.
Start with the international jobseekers programme
Make it in the North is based in Hall 3 at stand 3059, with job-hunt advice available from 12:00 to 18:00 both days. Although the wider fair is mainly in Dutch, its activities give English-speaking visitors a clear starting point.
On Tuesday 3 November, a jobseekers’ networking workshop runs from 12:30 to 13:15 at Netwerkstation. Guided company tours leave the stand at 15:00 on both Tuesday and Wednesday and finish at 16:00. The tours introduce participants to employers who hire English-speaking jobseekers. Use the programme’s separate registration links for the workshop and your chosen tour.
You can also explore independently. Look for Make it in the North flags on company tables to identify international-friendly employers. The Wednesday lunchtime workshop is aimed at companies hiring internationals, rather than being a repeat of Tuesday’s jobseeker session.
Choose a few conversations before you arrive
In its 30 October visitor update, the organiser points to the published programme and an interactive floor plan in the Promotiedagen app. Look through the participants beforehand and select a few organisations that interest you, rather than trying to speak to everyone.
For each one, prepare a question that goes beyond asking whether there is a vacancy. You might ask what projects the team is working on, which skills they find hardest to recruit, or how people usually join the organisation. These are suggestions for making your visit useful, not a formal script you need to memorise.
A short introduction helps too. Explain the work you do, one relevant strength and what you would like to explore next. Keep a current CV or LinkedIn profile easy to share, but leave room to listen. A good first meeting can be a useful exchange even when it does not lead directly to an application.
Turn an introduction into a connection
Make it in the North’s networking guide encourages newcomers to learn about companies through conversations and to personalise their follow-up messages. It recommends approaching contacts with curiosity and asking about their work, rather than making every exchange a request for a job.
After a promising conversation, note the person’s name and something you discussed. A short message afterwards can thank them, mention that topic and follow up on any agreed next step. Fellow jobseekers can become useful contacts too, sharing experience and encouragement as you each find your way.
Plan your afternoon in Groningen
Download your free admission ticket before travelling. For public transport, the organiser directs visitors to Qbuzz’s journey planner using Martiniplaza as the destination. There are no event shuttle buses. Bicycle parking is beside the entrance, while nearby car parks charge for parking.
Start at the international stand, join an activity and give yourself time for the conversations that follow. For someone building a professional life in the North, this is a practical opportunity to put names and faces to the local business community.