Dutch Dinner: the Connekt tradition during international ITS congresses

Anyone who has ever attended an ITS congress may have noticed it: at the end of a long day on the exhibition floor, a small group of Dutch participants quietly slips away. Chances are they are on their way to Connekt's Dutch Dinner. The Dutch Dinner is a recurring networking event organized by Connekt during international ITS congresses, where Dutch professionals from the smart mobility sector meet, share knowledge, and explore new collaborations.

For many years, Connekt-ITS Netherlands has been bringing Dutch participants together during international ITS congresses via the international label, the Smart Mobility Embassy. An evening away from the program. From Tokyo to Bordeaux, from Montréal to Copenhagen, and from Los Angeles to Lisbon: wherever enough Dutch professionals gathered, a table was usually ready.

It is a small tradition, but it signifies something larger: the Dutch smart mobility sector travels as a network, not just as individual companies and institutes. And that is exactly what Connekt stands for, even when you are away from the Netherlands for a while.

More than a dinner

The name suggests it is all about the food, but that is only half the story. During the day, participants are busy with presentations, booth visits, and one conversation after another. In the evening, at the table, there is finally room for the conversations that the day allowed no time for. Directors, policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and suppliers sit side by side and exchange developments in the fields of mobility, logistics, and digitalization, often more freely than at home.

This mix of public and private is what makes the Connekt Dutch Dinner special. It brings together people who might only encounter each other a few times a year in the Netherlands, and who suddenly find themselves sitting next to each other at a table abroad.

Wim Broeders, CEO of MAPtm, puts it this way: "It is not just a little dinner! It is a valuable moment where you can exchange knowledge and experiences with colleagues from various organizations — public, private, knowledge institutions — who all work in the same domain, in an open and relaxed atmosphere. New networks, ideas, and initiatives emerge there, while you enjoy a delicious dinner, usually in beautiful locations!"

A private table that reveals something

The Dutch Dinner is exclusive to Connekt members and their colleagues. Not to exclude others, but to keep the evening familiar and accessible. Newcomers are quickly drawn into the conversation, and regular guests use the dinner to maintain existing relationships.

For those observing from the outside, this closed circle says a lot. It demonstrates how connected the Dutch smart mobility sector is: the same directors, researchers, and entrepreneurs appear time and again, congress after congress, country after country.

The maiden speech

Every good tradition has its own ritual, and the Dutch Dinner is no exception. Those joining for the first time give the now-famous maiden speech: a few sentences about who you are, which organization you work for, and what brought you to the congress. No slides, no formalities, just a moment to introduce yourself.

Each time, it demonstrates how diverse the Dutch mobility network actually is. And it ensures that new faces immediately become part of the conversation and the network, instead of remaining on the sidelines.

Changing times

The Dutch Dinner also shows how the Dutch ITS ecosystem itself has changed. In the early days, the dinner was often linked to a dedicated Dutch pavilion at the congress, a natural home base from which to head to the table together afterward.

That has changed. Travel and exhibition habits have shifted, and Dutch organizations increasingly opt for targeted delegations, member trips, and focused collaborations, such as the Nordic+ partnership, instead of their own large stand. The Dutch Dinner has grown with these changes: it is still very much alive, just less tied to a physical Dutch presence on the exhibition floor. Attendance varies per congress, but the need for the evening itself has not disappeared.

Joyce De Winter, Director Intertraffic at RAI Amsterdam: "As a long-standing partner and member of Connekt, Intertraffic is proud to support the Dutch Dinner because it reflects what we strongly believe in: that meaningful collaboration often begins in an informal setting. International congresses are essential for sharing knowledge and showcasing innovation, but moments like this provide space to connect on a more personal level. That is where trust is built, ideas are exchanged more freely, and partnerships can grow. For us, the Dutch Dinner encapsulates the strength of the Dutch mobility sector: a community that competes, collaborates, and learns together."

The real value

Congresses change. Formats change. Technology changes. But the need to share knowledge, meet new people, and explore new collaborations remains. The Dutch Dinner offers a simple formula for this: a table, good company, and a network that always manages to find one another, even beyond the Dutch border.

Whether you are a seasoned congress-goer or have just delivered your maiden speech: the Dutch Dinner consistently demonstrates what Connekt is ultimately about: connecting people.

Are you a member of Connekt and would you like to join the next Dutch Dinner? This year, the edition took place in Istanbul. The next stop is the ITS World Congress in Birmingham, October 25–29, 2027, with the Dutch Dinner likely held on the second day. Please contact Marije de Nijs (marije.denijs@smartmobilityembassy.nl) for more information or to pre-register.

And if you are not yet a Connekt member and are interested, please also contact Marije via marije.denijs@smartmobilityembassy.nl.