Events

Every year, the Netherlands takes action to clear up waterways. As cohost of the UN Water Conference in New York together with Tajikistan in March earlier this year, our focus this year is to reiterate the call to take water action. We hope that by raising awareness about this issue, decision makers in politics, business and civil society will be also inspired to take Water Action.

Photo: NL Waterway Cleanup in Croatia

The theme of World Water Week 2023 is Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World. It focusses on innovation at a time of unprecedented challenges and invites us to rethink how we manage water.

The Ocean Race starts in Alicante Spain. This year the racing yachts will be racing for the ocean as well as across it. For the first time the Ocean Race will be climate positive reducing its emissions by 75%. Organisers have consulted with host cities to reduce their carbon footprints during events surrounding the race.

Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition (EVS36) is the largest symposium and trade fair in the world for electric vehicles. This year's theme is 'Driving the transition to e-mobility.' 

Are you active in electric transport? Are you curious about international developments in this region? And, would you like to know more about partnership opportunities in the American market for electric transport?

Join the official Dutch Pavilion at EVS36 and let's solve global transportation challenges together!

After the mission and symposium, you have the opportunity to be part of a mission to the San Francisco Bay Area. The programme on this mission includes matchmaking, company visits, and a networking reception. At the end of this mission, you can make your own appointments in San Francisco to continue your partnership building. 

Participation in the Dutch Pavilion and the mission is intended for: 

• Dutch companies and organisations; 
• active in electric transport, such as passenger or freight transport;  
• active in sustainable transport, such as bicycles and cargo bikes;
• working in the private or public sector. 

Will you join us? Learn more and sign up

The Netherlands is official partner of the World Circular Economic Forum 2023.

On behalf of the Netherlands, Holland Circular Hotspot, the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management, together with the Embassies in the Nordics and the Baltics are organising the programme focussing on circular plastics and circular construction as well as other circular topics.

The Netherlands is at the forefront of research into the health effects of microplastics. To underline the urgency of addressing this global challenge, the Plastic Soup Foundation is taking its Plastic Health Summit 2023 - Plastic Soup Foundation to Brussels on 11 May.

Here experts will present ground-breaking studies, share innovations and solutions and discuss the upcoming Global Plastics Pact.

Read interview with Maria Bos of the Plastic Soup Foundation over microplastics.

Photo: Strand of microplastic Photo: M. Danny

In March 2023, the Netherlands will co-host the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York together with Tajiskistan. With more than 40 percent of the global population facing water scarcity, 80 percent of wastewater discharged without treatment and 90 percent of all natural disasters being water-related, the conference seeks to strengthen the world’s commitment to resolving water issues. In the run up to the conference, the first preliminary meetings have taken place in which delegates set out their vision for inclusive, action-oriented, multi-disciplined and cross-sectoral solutions.

Want to make waves in New York City?

In March 2023, the world will gather in New York City for a historic UN Conference dedicated to water. This will be a unique moment to unite the world, to create awareness on water as an enabler, accelerator and solution for the sustainable development of our planet, and to showcase innovative organisations, ecosystems and communities that are focused on:

• Resilient cites
• Youth and education
• Water, innovation and business

CES Las Vegas is the world's biggest gathering place for tech innovators of all sizes to build their brands — by exhibiting, speaking, sponsoring, attending or holding business meetings. Naturally, this is where the Netherlands will be present too, with a large delegation of the most promising startups and scale-ups leading the way in responsible tech.

For the first time, the World Circular Economy Forum is being hosted on the African Continent. In Rwanda, the World Circular Economy Forum 2022 will bring together forward-looking thinkers and makers and circular-economy gamechangers. The event can be attended live or online and is free of charge.

This year's theme is: From Africa to the World.

2022 marks UN Year of Groundwater, 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, but only 1 percent is fresh water. And out of that 1 percent 99 percent is groundwater.

Little is know about groundwater which is why the UN-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022 aims to raise awareness about groundwater at the highest possible level.

Using the UN World Water Development Report 2022, the summit will determine how to use and protect this valuable resource more responsibly and sustainably. The summit is a step up to the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Vietnam and the Netherlands share a dedication to bringing about circular and carbon-neutral economies. Just like Vietnam, the Netherlands strives towards a society where economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and social equality go hand in hand. From 28 to 30 November, a Dutch delegation of nearly 50 companies will be at the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition 2022 to connect with potential partners in Vietnam and move towards a green economic transformation. Find out more about the companies in attendance by checking the mission booklet below. 

Slush is about to take over Helsinki, drawing in tech-enthusiast from all over the world. The Netherlands will be present again, on a mission to fast-forward responsible tech. This year joined by a delegation of promising startups and scale-ups, bigger than ever and eager to connect, inspire, be inspired and to make a long-lasting impression.

Cities are the heart of human activity. By 2050, 70 percent of the global population will live in urban areas. Up to three quarters of global resources are consumed by urban activities and they account for 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The challenges faced by both Californian and Dutch neighborhoods are manifold. The solutions lie in a circular approach to building neighborhoods. While helping achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), circular neighborhoods also create a fairer and more liveable world for all.

The PIB Circular Neighborhoods Netherlands-California brings together 11 organizations and companies which each play a key role in building the resilient and regenerative cities of the future.

Click on the mission booklet below to learn more about the innovative participating Dutch circular economy companies:

The circular economy and use of resource recovery from waste helps to make the best of the world's limited resources. Accelerating the transition to a circular economy, while also creating jobs and economic growth.

During the Netherlands' mission on waste and circularity to Australia, the Partner's in Business cluster of Dutch businesses participating in Waste and Circular Business Australia-Netherlands (WCBAN) hope - together with their Australian counterparts - to create a sustainable and integrated waste management sector through public and private partnerships. Together we can develop solutions and services for an integrated waste management system.

Check  out the companies participating in WCBAN, which covers the entire waste management value chain, from material recovery facilities and recycling infrastructure to (small-scale) waste-to-energy systems and knowledge transfer.

In October 2022,  RAI Automotive Industry NL manned a collective NL Pavilion at Equip Auto 2022, part of the Paris Automotive Week in France. The pavilion provides delegates and visitors to the trade fair an opportunity for networking, visiting side events and meeting the French and international Automotive Industry and Mobility Sector. 

It was the first time EQUIP AUTO Paris is held simultaneously with the MONDIAL DE L'AUTO. This international benchmark event brings together the various players in the mobility value chain.

The Dutch Automotive industry and mobility sector operates at a high level with almost 90% of its products are exported. The industry is in the midst of a large-scale transition in which sustainability and digitalisation are the central themes: moving towards zero emissions. Have a look at the mission booklet for more information on the Dutch delegation.

RAI  Automotive Industry NL

Since 2017, RAI Automotive Industry NL has been running an active programme to establish new relationships with French partners and to consolidate and expand existing ones. Equip Auto is part of  a long-term strategy to foster innovative cooperation and trade.