North Sea Conference highlights

Participants could try to keep the Dutch feet dry at the Schilthuis pumping station.

Back-up on top of back-up are secured at the pumping station to manage water at 6 meter below sea level.

A visit to BoTu and its community house: In this vibrant area in Rotterdam residents could submit and decide on projects in health, safety, work, climate and energy transition.

The BoTu team explains how ERDF funds where made available to a so-called Local Action Group consisting of residents, entrepreneurs and representatives of social organizations who then approved 34 plans for the neighbourhood.

An insight into the workings of the Rainlevelr partnership where greenhouse farmers work together with the water authority and the municipality to give space to water at heavy rainfall.

The oldest stone building in the city of Delft houses the 700 years old water board institution. 

The innovative start-up Aquasmart showcased their aquatic drones that can inspect the waters of Zuid-Holland. The drones are part of the Interreg North Sea project DIOL. 

Thanks to a very foggy morning it was not safe to travel by water taxis to the study visits. Taxis and busses where arranged last minute. The two French Maries from the Joint Secretariat guided people to the right transportation.

The planned city tour by boat was quickly transformed in a walking tour when two local experts of the city of Rotterdam volunteered to be (excellent!) tour guides.

Seasoned European correspondent Caroline de Gruyter captivated with the silver-linings of the 'ring of fire' at the EU borders and EU scepticisme inside its borders.

Dr. Irene McMaster presented megatrends expected to influence Europe and its Cohesion Policy. She names for example a just green transition, artificial intelligence, rising external cost for the EU and an aging society that will shape the policy priorities post-27.

Nathalie Verschelde from the European Commission explained that all Interreg programmes are asked to reach out to stakeholders and citizens for feedback on how to shape the future of European cooperation. This will contribute to how transnational cooperation may look like post-2027.

Mariette van Leeuwen, regional minister of the Province of Zuid-Holland, urges us to promote the work on the ground better.

Freshly elected president of the North Sea Commission Elisabet Babic highlights the importance of cooperation with the Interreg North Sea Programme. 

Shanne Bouma from the Province of Fryslân, explains how the WaterWarmth project engages local communities to utilise aquathermal energy.

Poul E. Mortensen leads the North Sea project SUSTAIN-3D that equips SMEs for innovation using 3D technology. Poul Erik explains how quickly 3D printing can be deployed. He gives a great example of how crucial hospital equipment was ready to be used in less than a week thanks to this technology.

Moderators Christian Byrith and Sarah Holsen guided us through the afternoon with crucial questions and some less crucial questions (such as who attended a Zoom call in their pyjamas).

Some challenging and almost philosophical questions did not shake the panel! The audience gained some great insights into the rise of EU-skepticism, compromises in the EU, and what to expect when the EU grows beyond its current borders.