The fourth edition of the Dutch Health Week, held from April 7 to 14, attracted more than 55 thousand visitors. The three trade fairs on ICT, food and facility in healthcare attracted more than 32,500 visitors. According to the organizers, the Dutch Health Week exceeded expectations.
"It was buzzing in the city, the interest in activities was enormous," said Audrey Wilschut, fair manager Care and Education at Jaarbeurs and project leader Dutch Health Week. "Together with many Utrecht organizations, from small to large, we have laid a nice foundation for future editions."
''The expectations for Dutch Health Week were high and they were more than fulfilled,'' said Utrecht Marketing director-director Cor Jansen. ''I took great pleasure in immersing myself in the multifaceted program that once again shows that in Utrecht there is not only talk about working together for a healthier, more sustainable future, but that it is relentlessly put back into practice here every day.''
"It was fantastic," responds Ruud Koolen, director Dutch Health Hub. "The whole city was in motion for care and health."
Sustainable society
With the Dutch Health Week, Utrecht wants to showcase itself as the region actively working towards a healthy, sustainable society. Dutch Health Week is supported by Royal Jaarbeurs, Utrecht Marketing, ROM Utrecht Region, Economic Board Utrecht and Municipality of Utrecht.
City in motion
For the third consecutive year, a variety of activities for residents and healthcare professionals were scattered throughout the city. This year, visitors could participate in the Vitality Experience and sports classes, among other activities. The program also included a concert by the alzheimer's choir, an exhibition at the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU) and an open day at blood bank Sanquin. There were three trade fairs at Royal Jaarbeurs, namely Care & ICT, Care & Food and Care & Facility. For people with disabilities, there were also the VeineDagen. Mayor Sharon Dijksma kicked off the Dutch Health Week during Cultural Sunday Beating Heart.
Healthy future
Spread throughout the city, in various neighborhoods, there was also a free program full of theater, workshops, sports classes, art and film during Dutch Health Week. Jeroen van Hooff, CEO Royal Jaarbeurs: "Together with, among others, the municipality of Utrecht, Utrecht Marketing, FC Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg and Centraal Museum, we had the goal of spreading the events and activities all over the city and entering into smart collaborations with partners from various sectors," reflects CEO Jeroen van Hooff of Royal Jaarbeurs. "In this way we hoped to activate the entire city and we succeeded. Together we put on an inspiring multi-day festival and this offers a lot of perspective for a healthy future for the city."
New trade shows
The organization of the Zorg&'24 trade fairs looks back on a busy successful edition with very satisfied reactions from exhibitors and visitors. In addition to the Zorg & ict trade fair, Koninklijke Jaarbeurs organized two new healthcare trade fairs: Care & food and Care & facility. Together, the trade fairs attracted over 32,500 visitors. With the theme 'Fit for the future', more than 350 exhibitors and 400 speakers inspired visitors about innovations and solutions in the field of digital transformation, sustainable food and facility management.
Digital transformation
At vakbeurs Zorg & ict, the largest health tech event in the Netherlands, healthcare professionals were informed and inspired by smart technologies, innovations, products and services from exhibitors present. "We received very direct feedback from visitors, which in turn allows us to learn and make a better product, which also better matches what healthcare really needs," exhibitor Jan-Willem Heeg of Tinybots summarized the findings. Day chairman and tech educator Jim Stolze also looks back with satisfaction. "Future-proof care is about collaboration. Not only between people and people, but also between people and machines. If there is one place where data can make a difference it is healthcare."
Healthy nutrition
Trade fair Care & food was entirely dedicated to the future of healthy food. "It is great to see how the fair has developed into a high-quality platform," responds exhibitor Bidfood. "We think it is important that there is a specialized fair for food and drink within healthcare. It is an added value for all healthcare organizations and connected companies to visit this fair and the place where all professionals in this market meet and beautiful co-creations arise."
Appropriate care
Healthcare professionals gained knowledge and inspiration on facility issues in the healthcare sector during the Healthcare & Facility Trade Fair. For example, healthcare organizations are facing the challenge of providing adequate care for more patients and clients with fewer people and a limited budget. "Zorg & facility was the opportunity for us to come into direct contact with our most important target group: healthcare professionals," said exhibitor Okke Vaassen of Miele Professional.
The next Zorg&'25 trade show will take place from Tuesday, April 8 to Thursday, April 10, 2025 at Royal Jaarbeurs during Dutch Health Week.
