Grab your coat, scarves and gloves: October has arrived, bringing with it colder temperatures, shorter days, and plenty of other things that are definitely worth being aware of! From the hotly anticipated return of the IamExpat Fair to the end of Daylight Saving Time, here are eight things expats living and working in the Netherlands need to know about this month. 

1. The IamExpat Fair returns to The Hague

Yes, you read that correctly! For the first time since 2019, the IamExpat Fair is finally returning to the iconic Grote Kerk in The Hague on Saturday, October 1. 

If you didn't make it on October 1, don't worry; the IamExpat Fair will be returning to Amsterdam in April 2023, so watch this space!

2. Schools to break for the autumn holidays 

In many ways, it might feel as though summer has only just ended, but children across the country will be happy to hear that they’ll be getting another break this month as schools break for the autumn holidays. Schools in the northern regions will be on holiday for the week of October 17, while schools in the central and southern regions will break up on Friday, October 21 and return on Monday, October 31. 

3. Higher child benefit for families in the Netherlands 

Slight increases to the Dutch minimum wage mean that families in the Netherlands who receive the child benefit (kinderbijslag) will receive an additional 20 euros per quarter. While the higher rates technically came into effect on July 1, October marks the first month where parents will actually see their benefit rates increase. 

4. Applications open for 18-year-olds to win month of free rail travel

Between midday on October 11 and midday on October 25, 18-year-olds across the continent will be able to enter the DiscoverEU competition which could see them win up to one month of free train travel across Europe. 

5. Compensations for families that paid for childcare during lockdown

From October 1, some families in the Netherlands will be able to apply for compensation for the payments made to cover the cost of out-of-school childcare (BSO) during the coronavirus pandemic when childcare facilities were closed. 

If you make use of BSO, don’t receive any child(care) benefits from the Dutch government or your municipality, and continued to pay for childcare between December 21, 2021 and January 9, 2022, you have until the beginning of December to submit a compensation request via the social security bank SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank).

6. Higher gas and energy prices at most providers

As was announced at the end of September, many of the major energy companies in the Netherlands are significantly raising their prices in October - some from October 1, although Essent has postponed the price hikes to November 7 with their new rates set to be announced by October 8.

For more information about what this could mean for your utility bills, get in contact with your provider.

7. Amsterdam Dance Event returns to the Dutch capital

It's one of the biggest and most notorious events held in the Netherlands, and this year Amsterdam Dance Festival (ADE) is returning to a coronavirus restriction-free Amsterdam. A variety of talks, events, and concerts will take over numerous venues across the city, all offering a glimpse into the exciting world of the dance, clubbing and music business.

Want to find out more about this iconic event? Find out all about the history of the world's biggest club festival here.

8. Daylight Saving Time ends and the clocks go back

And last but certainly not least, Daylight Saving Time will end on Sunday, October 30, meaning that the clocks will be going back one hour. If you’re wondering whether this is the good one or the bad one, you should note that you will get an extra hour in bed on October 30, but from the end of this month the evenings will be considerably and noticeably darker.