Minister Mona Keijzer opens BouwBeurs 2025

Mona Keijzer, Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, opens BouwBeurs on Monday, Feb. 3. BouwBeurs is organized by Royal Jaarbeurs and will take place from Monday, February 3 to Friday, February 7, 2025. These days are full of knowledge sharing, innovation and networking opportunities.

The opening takes place in the presence of thousands of construction professionals who come to Utrecht to be inspired about future-proof building. Over 600 exhibitors will put the largest construction event in the Netherlands firmly on the map this year with themes such as bio-based building, circularity, digitalization and industrialization.

Minister in conversation with entrepreneurs, construction professionals and manufacturers

Exhibition manager Joyce van de Hoef: "We are delighted that Minister Mona Keijzer is coming to open the BouwBeurs. At BouwBeurs we believe in a strong mix of professional development and sharing relevant knowledge. Therefore, after the opening, the minister will enter the BouwBeurs NewsCafé to talk with entrepreneurs, construction professionals and manufacturers about current and interesting topics affecting construction, such as circular construction, nitrogen crisis, the energy crisis and the pressure on construction to be CO2 neutral by 2050. It makes us all feel the urgency to work together and exchange knowledge and experience."

The minister will also visit the Royal Dutch Standards Institute (NEN) Foundation, which will personally hand the minister the new standard 9120 on Accessibility of Buildings during BouwBeurs. "This is a new standard that unambiguously defines what accessible and usable buildings are. Important, because the Netherlands is not accessible for at least 2 million people," Van de Hoef said.

Entrepreneurs of the future in the spotlight

New this year is the Construction Square in which students from Bouwmensen, the cooperative association of construction and infra training companies, roll up their sleeves and spend five days making a house on the exhibition floor. Joyce van de Hoef: "The students are also getting help from a number of well-known construction influencers who want to convey the enthusiasm for the trade not only through their online channels but now also live. We find it important to put up-and-coming construction talent in the spotlight. This is how we as BouwBeurs take a step towards a bright future in construction."

In the run-up to BouwBeurs, Jaarbeurs organized a competition for a new design for its exhibition halls. Van de Hoef: "In view of our own real estate plans, we are enormously pleased that students, the entrepreneurs of the future, have advised us on the 'fictitious' design of a new exhibition hall. Their fresh ideas and innovative approach can make a valuable contribution to the sustainable and future-oriented development of Jaarbeurs's real estate." The winner of the competition will be announced during BouwBeurs by architect Marten de Jong of architecture firm de Architekten Cie.

BouwBeurs 2025, organized by Royal Jaarbeurs, will be open daily from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. from Monday, Feb. 3 to Friday, Feb. 7, with an evening opening until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6.