Amsterdam's design scene is dense and international, anchored by in-house design teams at Booking.com, Adyen, Miro, Philips, and Adidas Runtastic alongside a strong agency and freelance layer. The city's UX meetups are where practitioners actually compare notes — on research methods, design systems, and increasingly on AI.
Core UX meetups
| Meetup | Focus | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam UX | Practitioners sharing stories and research | First Wednesday of each month |
| IxDF Amsterdam | Interaction Design Foundation local group | Regular themed meetups + coffee |
| Ladies that UX Amsterdam | Diversity in UX, all genders welcome | Regular speaker-led evenings |
Amsterdam UX's first-Wednesday format makes it the easiest recurring meetup to commit to. Talks run for 10–15 minutes and focus on real projects, not thought leadership.
Diversity-focused groups
Ladies that UX Amsterdam is one of the most active design communities in the city. Their February 2026 event UX Design in the Age of AI: From Stories to Systems was hosted at Booking.com with speakers Esty Zilberman (Human Experience Designer, Build It Real) and Julia Nascimento (UX Designer on the LLM Partnerships team at Booking.com). Julia's talk covered the UX process behind integrating Booking.com's travel ecosystem into ChatGPT. All genders are welcome.
Major UX conferences in Amsterdam
| Conference | Dates 2026 | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| SmashingConf Amsterdam | 13–16 April 2026 | Web design + front-end |
| Product-Led / Product Operations / Product Marketing Summit | 28–29 May 2026 | Postillion Hotel — product + UX crossover |
| DevWorld Conference | May 2026 | RAI Amsterdam — 5,000+ engineers + designers |
Looking for UX, design, or research roles? We track open design jobs across Amsterdam.
Browse design jobsHow to get the most out of them
- Come with portfolio questions, not just a CV. Amsterdam designers love pulling a Figma file open at the bar. Have something to show.
- Pick one recurring meetup and commit for three months. Amsterdam UX's first-Wednesday rhythm is ideal. By month three you will recognise most of the crowd.
- Use IxDF's coffee meetups for depth. The smaller format is better for actual conversation than large event nights.
- Treat SmashingConf week as your yearly networking sprint. Side events and sponsor booths are where most hiring conversations happen.
Last verified April 2026. Meetups shift venues regularly — check the group page before you show up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best UX meetup in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam UX is the long-running monthly community meetup — every first Wednesday, UX designers and researchers share real stories and lessons. Ladies that UX Amsterdam is a large inclusive community that runs speaker-led evenings focused on diversity in UX.
Are there Amsterdam UX meetups in English?
Yes. Amsterdam UX, Ladies that UX Amsterdam, IxDF Amsterdam, and SmashingConf all operate in English. The Amsterdam design scene is heavily international, and English is the default language for meetups and conferences.
When is SmashingConf Amsterdam 2026?
SmashingConf comes to Amsterdam for the first time on 13–16 April 2026. Smashing conferences focus on web design and front-end and are known for their friendly community atmosphere.
Is there a UX meetup for women in Amsterdam?
Yes. Ladies that UX Amsterdam is a large inclusive community that promotes diversity and female talent in UX. All genders are welcome. Their February 2026 event "UX Design in the Age of AI" was hosted at Booking.com.
How often does IxDF Amsterdam meet?
IxDF (Interaction Design Foundation) Amsterdam runs regular themed meetups. In 2026 these included "Storytelling for Designers" on 21 January at OBA Oosterdok and a Coffee Meetup on 21 March.
Sources and references
- Amsterdam UX on Meetup
- IxDF Amsterdam — UX/UI Design Community
- IxDF Amsterdam — Storytelling for Designers (21 Jan 2026)
- Ladies that UX Amsterdam on Meetup
- Ladies that UX — Amsterdam chapter
- Ladies that UX Amsterdam — UX Design in the Age of AI (Feb 2026)
- UX Work — UX events & meetups in the Netherlands 2026
- Ladies that UX Amsterdam — About