Spellenspektakel 2024: Revisiting the Benelux’s Biggest Gaming Fair After 9 Years
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The last time we attended Spellenspektakel was way back in 2015, when the event was held in Eindhoven. Back then, it was fun, but not quite enough to pull us back year after year. But after hearing about how much it had grown over the past few years, we thought, why not give it another go? So off we went to Utrecht’s Jaarbeurs to see how things have changed—and let’s just say we weren’t disappointed by the scale!
Bigger Halls, Bigger Crowds
Walking into Spellenspektakel this year, we could instantly see how much the event had expanded. It was buzzing! Over the weekend, a whopping 30,000 people made their way to Utrecht, filling three massive halls: two dedicated to Dutch and Belgian board game publishers, and a third for toys and CardCon Utrecht, with its trading stations and tournaments. The energy was infectious, but we quickly noticed it was packed. Finding space to actually sit down and play was tricky, with most tables full and queues forming everywhere.
We came with a list of games we wanted to try, but it wasn’t easy getting a spot. Isle of Trains was one lucky find, with a table clearing up just as we arrived! But overall, the crowds made it a bit tough to get that gameplay experience we were hoping for. And while the stores were well-stocked with Dutch releases, we couldn’t help but notice the lack of recent hot releases from Spiel. Prices were also a bit higher than we’d expected, both for games and for food (€7.50 for 10 mini loempias or even €15 for a pork sandwich), which was a bit of a drawback for anyone like us who wanted to make a full experience out of the two days.
Booths, Familiar Faces, and Immersive Setups
What we enjoyed most was catching up with so many familiar faces at the booths. The energy on display reminded us why we love this community, with publishers and designers putting so much into their presentations.
At Gam’inBIZ, we were transported to Japan with their new game Kintsugi, which is inspired by the art of mending pottery with golden lacquer. It’s a beautiful idea, and the game itself reflects that theme in such a lovely way.
Jolly Dutch took us back even further in time, to 1600s Amsterdam with Chartered, where players help build the merchant city. This one was a crowd-puller, with slots booked solid and a huge demand to play. It was great to see so many people excited about a game that brings history to life with such depth.
Over at Geronimo Games, we got a sneak peek at some upcoming titles set for Spring 2025. What they have planned looks promising, and we’re definitely keeping an eye on these releases for Dutch- and French-speaking gamers next year. It was a treat to get an early glimpse at what’s coming!
A Real Plane, Sky Team, and Intarsia
The 999 Games booth took things to another level with their Sky Team setup. They actually brought in a real plane, where visitors could play Sky Team inside the cabin or even on the wing! It was incredible seeing people try to “land” the plane without crashing—an interactive experience like no other. On the other side of their booth, we saw the beautiful rings of Intarsia, and a new version of Pick-a-Pen.
Everdell Farshore: A Familiar Experience
Sunday finally brought us the chance to sit down with Everdell Farshore at the White Goblin Games booth. We couldn’t finish the game since the table needed to be cleared for the next group, but even from the short time we had, it felt like we’d seen enough to get the picture. Everdell Farshore has a very similar feel to the original Everdell, and much of the gameplay stays the same. If you already own Everdell, there isn’t much that’s new here. Completing the demo earned us a collectible coin from their family stage—three more stages would complete our set for a WGG goodie bag! It was a fun little challenge that kept families engaged throughout the day.
Meeting New Friends and Wrapping Up the Weekend
Earlier this summer, we ran a giveaway on Instagram for Fall, the newest game from Happy Meeple Games, and arranged to meet the winner here at Spellenspektakel for a handoff, with Pieter from Happy Meeple Games joining us. After that, we wandered over to a freshly opened table for a game of Isle of Trains with some new friends we met at the fair. It was the perfect way to wind down our Spellenspektakel experience, surrounded by friendly faces and that shared love for games.
Final Thoughts
While Spellenspektakel has certainly grown since 2015, we found it challenging to fully enjoy the event due to the crowds and limited play space. We totally understand why publishers love it—there’s no doubt they made a lot of sales and got their games in front of new audiences who might not have discovered them otherwise. For people just starting out with board games or looking to explore, Spellenspektakel is a fantastic introduction. But for us, having been to Spiel just last month, there wasn’t much that felt new, and we missed the chance to sit down and play more games without the long waits.
Perhaps in another nine years, we’ll make a return to see how it’s evolved even further, but for now, we’ll be sticking to the smaller, less crowded events in Flanders. These quieter fairs give us the chance to really dive into gameplay and explore without the pressure of packed halls. For now, we’re grateful for the experience and look forward to a more relaxed gaming scene back home!
