13th. February 2015

‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’ relocates to the Jaarbeurs Utrecht

After eleven successful editions in the Amsterdam RAI, the ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’ (Cycling & Walking Fair) will relocate next year to the ‘Jaarbeurs’ events centre in Utrecht. On the 20th. and 21st. February 2016 the 12th edition of the Fair will take place in halls 2, 3 and 4 of this events complex.

The central location of this city dominated by the Dom Tower was a major reason for the Fair’s organisers to choose the Jaarbeurs as its new home. “The ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’ is a national event and Utrecht is very easy to reach from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam conurbation as well as from the south, east and north of the Netherlands,” says Fair director Theo Jorna. “The Jaarbeurs buildings are just a five-minute walk away from the Central Station. Many of our visitors come by train and this saves on travelling time.”

New impulses

Jorna cites 'change' as a positive side effect of the relocation. “The event has developed tremendously in the RAI, but a new city and a new partner force you to think hard about the concept and sub-division of the Fair. That creates space for fresh ideas and new impulses. Furthermore there are great synergies with the existing activities of the Jaarbeurs and that creates opportunities. There are major opportunities for mutual strengthening within the travel and bicycle sectors with the ‘Vakantiebeurs’ (Holiday Fair) and Bike MOTION respectively.“

Consumer events

Henk Broeders Managing Director of the Jaarbeurs is delighted that the ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’ will be coming to Utrecht. “Consumer events are important spearhead activities for the Jaarbeurs which will build up our strong position. The ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’ combined with the ambition and the portfolio of the Jaarbeurs offers many opportunities for the future. I am really looking forward to the twelfth edition of this successful event.”

Contract

The Jaarbeurs and Holcus Buiten, organiser of the ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’, signed a multi year contract. After which it was time for the parties involved to take a ride on a four-seater bike, property of ‘Vierfiets’ in nearby Amersfoort. This company wants to make the four-seater viable for people with learning difficulties or physical limitations via the ‘BuitenGewoonFiets’ initiative and is collecting funds via crowd funding (www.slimmersamen.nl). With the aid of donations, care homes and other institutions can use the machine as a ‘share bike’ – whereby, as the name indicates, they can share the bike with other organisations.

The ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’ is the largest Fair in Europe for cyclists and walkers. Each year the event draws about 20,000 visitors. There is also a ‘Fiets en Wandelbeurs’ in Flanders. The fourth edition of the Flemish Fair takes place on 28th. February and 1st. March 2015 in Antwerp Expo.