Second edition trade fair DigiBouw in Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs exceeds expectations

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DigiBuild
November 25, 2025
3 min

Utrecht, Nov. 25, 2025 - DigiBouw, the trade event that focuses on digitalization in the design, construction and engineering sectors, experienced a successful second edition last week at Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs. With more than 1,200 visitors, a 30 percent increase over the first edition, and a strong program of content, DigiBouw has quickly become the platform for digital innovation in construction. DigiBouw is organized by Royal Jaarbeurs in cooperation with DigiGO, the platform for digital collaboration in the built environment, among others.

From Launch to a Mature Trade Show
Whereas DigiBouw was presented last year as a new initiative to accelerate digital adoption in the sector, this second edition shows that the event is firmly established in the market. Tom van der Zwaag, DigiBouw trade show manager at Koninklijke Jaarbeurs: “It’s fantastic to see how DigiBouw has quickly grown into the leading platform for digitization in the construction industry. The growth in visitor numbers and the enthusiasm of exhibitors confirm that together we are building a future-proof sector.” Scaling up digitalization remains a key theme in the construction and installations sector. During DigiBouw, professionals received concrete tools to optimize processes, reduce costs, and promote sustainability.

A program rich in vision and innovation
The program offered a strong substantive foundation with keynote speakers and panel discussions on topics such as digital collaboration, AI, and circular upscaling. Speakers included Diederik Samson (TKI Bouw & Techniek), Nicole Maarsen (Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning), and Timothy Lievendag (BAM). The theaters were packed for knowledge sessions on AI, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality, where visitors discussed questions such as: “Which construction process do we want to automate tomorrow?” and “Where will we be with digitization on the construction site in 2030?” One visitor put it aptly: “Automating construction laws and regulations is crucial to accelerating construction. Regulations aren’t going to decrease, so this is something we need to tackle.”

Technology in Action: AI, Robots, and Smart Solutions
Innovations also drew a lot of attention. For example, visitors could meet Bob, an AI-powered emergency call box—a repurposed ANWB emergency call box that now answers questions about digitalization. There were also demonstrations of the SPOT robot dog and the humanoid robot Bob from Breman Installatiegroep for the BREiNN innovation platform. Bob is one of the most advanced humanoid robots in Europe and collaborates with students and the Digital Business & Society research group at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences.

From Connections to Insights
The sentiment among visitors and exhibitors was exceptionally positive. Ruben van der Heijden of STA Software: “At DigiBouw, we specifically reach decision-makers and professionals in the fields of IT and digitalization. It’s the perfect place for building customer loyalty and getting to know new customers.” Camiel Jas of Buildify also emphasizes the importance of personal contact: “Meeting people—that’s what I love. The trade show offers interaction with the market; we had many good conversations. It’s also nice to see competitors and exchange ideas.”

Outlook: DigiBouw 2026
Confidence in DigiBouw is evident from the outlook. Tom van der Zwaag: “The sentiment among exhibitors is very positive. More than half of the current exhibitors have already secured an option to participate in DigiBouw 2026.” This allows DigiBouw to lay a solid foundation for further growth. DigiBouw 2026 will take place on November 25 and 26, 2026.