RECAP Hannover Messe 2026: great success
29 April 2026
From Monday 20 to Friday 24 April, the Netherlands once again took centre stage at Hannover Messe. From the Dutch Pavilion in Hall 13, Dutch high-tech companies, knowledge institutions and government bodies demonstrated how the Dutch ecosystem contributes to a smart, secure and sustainable industry. The theme of the Dutch presence was: ‘Innovating together for a smart, secure, and sustainable future’. Holland High Tech organised the Dutch participation in collaboration with RVO, psps business abroad, the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and Foreign Affairs, ChemistryNL and Digital Holland. Peter Stolk, chairman of Holland High Tech, hosted the NL Pavilion on behalf of the three sectors.
Highlights
Opening of the NL Pavilion Peter Stolk, Frits Grotenhuis (Digital Holland) and Jacqueline Vaessen (ChemistryNL) opened the NL Pavilion. They did so alongside Erwin Nijsse, Director-General for Business and Innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Ambassador Hester Somsen.
Semicon Roundtable A high-level CEO roundtable on European demand for semiconductors and the resilience of supply chains. Organised by FME, ZVEI, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. With twenty participants from the German and Dutch semiconductor industries.
Tour by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science Minister of Education, Culture and Science Rianne Letschert visited the NL Pavilion and toured Dutch high-tech innovators.
Roundtable on Cognitive Robotics A roundtable organised by Holland High Tech on the role of cognitive robotics in the transition to Industry 5.0, with a large Dutch delegation and a focus on Dutch-German cooperation.
Reception and tour for the Ministry of Defence A private roundtable on the Dutch defence industry, followed by a tour for a delegation from the Ministry of Defence, including Maarten Smidts, Samantha Go, Gijs-Jan Schüssler and Amé den Hollander.
Meet & Discussion Niederland Nachrichten A discussion between German and Dutch counterparts on key technologies, organised by Holland High Tech in collaboration with Niederland Nachrichten.
Network with the Netherlands A successful networking event at the NL Pavilion, opened by Peter Stolk and concluded by Jacques Kleuskens (Rabobank).
Hannover Messe - Day 1
Opening NL Pavilion
Host Peter Stolk, Frits Grotenhuis (Digital Holland) and Jacqueline Vaessen (ChemistryNL) opened the NL Pavilion on day 1 alongside Erwin Nijsse, Director-General for Business and Innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Ambassador Hester Somsen. Together with all participating companies, RVO and psps business abroad, they demonstrated this week what the Netherlands stands for in terms of innovation. Both Erwin Nijsse and Peter Stolk emphasised the strategic importance of the fair.
Semicon Roundtable: European semiconductors and supply chain resilience
On the first day, a high-level Semicon Roundtable was held on European demand for semiconductors and the resilience of supply chains. The roundtable was organised by FME, ZVEI, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs.
The session began with a presentation of a forthcoming study on future European demand for semiconductors in seven key industrial sectors, providing insights into cost differences and the preconditions for the European investment climate. The presentation was followed by a discussion between representatives of end markets, semiconductor suppliers and public institutions, aimed at formulating strategic conclusions for European value chains.
Tour by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science
In the afternoon, Minister of Education, Culture and Science Rianne Letschert visited the NL Pavilion, following an earlier visit to the Einstein Telescope stand. During the tour, she met a selection of Dutch high-tech innovators at the pavilion. The visit underscores the close link between education, knowledge development and the high-tech industry.
Hannover Messe - Day 2
High-tech for defence, cognitive robotics and smart manufacturing
The second day was devoted to strategic meetings and in-depth discussions, including a tour of SmartFactory Kaiserslautern organised in collaboration with BOM and Brainport Industries Campus. This was followed by a closed-door roundtable on the Dutch defence industry, followed by a tour for a delegation from the Ministry of Defence, including Maarten Smidts, Samantha Go, Gijs-Jan Schüssler and Amé den Hollander.
Roundtable Cognitieve Robotica
In the afternoon, a large Dutch delegation discussed the role of cognitive robotics in the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0 during the Cognitive Robotics Roundtable: from automated production to autonomous, flexible and human-centred systems in which AI and sensor technology are fully integrated. The discussions emphasised that cognitive robots are crucial for both high-mix/low-volume and large-scale production. The complementarity of Dutch and German industry was discussed as a concrete opportunity for a joint European value chain.
Meet & Discussion: Niederlande Nachrichten
At the end of the afternoon, Holland High Tech and Niederlande Nachrichten organised a meet & discussion on key technologies. German and Dutch counterparts explored in depth the challenges and opportunities surrounding innovation in semiconductors, quantum technology and photonics.
Network with the Netherlands
Day 2 concluded with the ‘Network with the Netherlands’ drinks reception at the NL Pavilion. Peter Stolk opened the event, after which Tjerk Opmeer, following a tour of the pavilion, thanked everyone for their commitment and cooperation. The closing remarks were given by Jacques Kleuskens from partner and co-organiser Rabobank.
Photos and other media
Series: the Nederlands at Hannover Messe
Click here for a selection of Dutch exhibitors at the Hannover Messe. Photography by Ewald Geerdink.
Other sources on the Hannover Messe
Below, we have compiled a few other sources reporting on the Dutch presence at the Hannover Messe. Read the LinkedIn posts and view the photos from:
