Systemic Change Experts to Headline the 2026 Dutch Green Building Congress
Enschede, Tuesday 9 June 2026
Transition experts Lucas Simons and Aniek Moonen will headline the 8 September 2026 congress in Almere, spotlighting a critical, collaborative shift driving sustainable urban development and future property investments.
Steering the Built Environment Through Collaborative Action
The Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC) has officially unveiled the preliminary programme for its annual congress, scheduled for Tuesday, 8 September 2026, at the Kunstlinie in Almere [1][2]. Operating under the central theme ‘The art of changing together, the power of acting as one’, the event aims to address pressing societal challenges and broad prosperity within the built environment [1]. Keynote presentations will be delivered by systems change expert Lucas Simons, founder and CEO of NewForesight, alongside transition specialist Aniek Moonen, co-founder of the Future Design Institute [1][2]. [alert! ‘Initial reports suggesting the inclusion of speakers from Kennispark Twente, or a focus on high-tech systems and materials (HTSM), robotics, quantum computing hardware, and defence-related manufacturing are entirely unsubstantiated by the official DGBC announcements. The verified agenda remains strictly focused on sustainable urban development and energy transition.’]
Energy Transition Hardware and Regulatory Frameworks
While speculative discussions frequently gravitate towards theoretical deeptech, the DGBC congress grounds its agenda in the immediate realities of energy transition hardware and practical sustainability [alert! ‘The provided sources do not reference dual-use technology or quantum hardware, focusing exclusively on applied building technologies’]. Breakout sessions are slated to cover highly actionable themes, including affordable heating solutions, circular renovation practices, and the integration of biobased building materials [1]. For institutional investors and property developers, these sessions underscore a critical shift: the deployment of advanced heating and energy management systems is no longer a peripheral green initiative, but a core component of asset future-proofing [GPT]. Announced on 8 June 2026, the sector has a lead time of exactly 3 months to align their strategies before the September summit [1].
Integrating Climate Adaptation and Social Sustainability
Beyond the immediate technical and financial hurdles, the congress will also tackle the long-term resilience of urban spaces through the lenses of climate adaptation and biodiversity [1]. As extreme weather events become more frequent, integrating natural resilience into urban planning is paramount for protecting real estate portfolios [GPT]. Additionally, the inclusion of the ‘Roadmap Eerlijk Wonen’ (Fair Housing Roadmap) and discussions on social sustainability highlight an industry-wide recognition that the green transition must be equitable, ensuring that sustainable living does not become an exclusive luxury [1][GPT].