Waterwijsweek 2025

The Meet Waterwijs! theme focuses on three inspiring afternoons from 12:30 to 5 p.m. followed by drinks:

• Wednesday, 11 June 2025: Policy meets Waterwijs! Policy with vision. For policymakers, administrators and water professionals who look to the distant horizon. Register here.
• Thursday, 12 June 2025 Practice meets Waterwijs! From knowledge to action. With the presentation of the Waterwijs Practice Award for practice-oriented water professionals with their feet in the water. Register here.
• Friday, 13 June 2025: Science meets Waterwijs!  Discover the research ecosystem for drinking water. For researchers, scientists and water professionals who want to think in depth. Register here.

We look forward to welcoming you on one of these days.

Location: Waterkwartier, Groningenhaven 7 in Nieuwegein

Wednesday 11 June 2025: Policy meets Waterwijs

On Wednesday, 11 June 2025, we look ahead and discuss how research findings contribute to policy challenges. We highlight the links between major societal issues and bring the value of water to life in the sustainability transitions. Policymakers discuss the water policy agendas and knowledge questions for the future. The water utilities share their strategic vision of the changing context. And researchers describe the policy impact of sociological Waterwijs research. In Policy meets Waterwijs: policy with vision, we invite policymakers, administrators, water professionals and researchers to shape the how of the water transition.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, 11 June to join us in the conversation about the relationship between vision and policy. You can register here now.

Thursday 12 June 2025: Practice meets Waterwijs

How can we use relevant research knowledge about drinking water to solve real-world problems?

We are working every day on safe and sufficient drinking water for everyone. That is what we, with each other, stand for. Now and in the future. In Practice meets Waterwijs: from knowledge to action, we invite drinking water professionals to share their experiences with each other about how to translate knowledge into, and implement it in, day-to-day practice.

During the 2025 Waterwijs Week, we will go to work on implementation, action perspectives and action on Thursday, 12 June: roll up your sleeves! We hope to meet you then! You can register here now (cancellation is possible until 1 June). We will keep you posted about the speakers and the programme.

Waterwijs Practice Award

On this day, we will see the Waterwijs Practice Award entrants, who will have competed for the Waterwijs Practice Award public award in the previous weeks. And we meet the teams nominated for the jury award. They will introduce themselves with a short pitch. In addition, these teams will each host a session at which participants attending on the day can engage in discussions about successful implementation and learn more about the do’s and dont’s for their own day-to-day work.

Real-world work is the primary focus in the keynote address What do you have in your Water Transition Knowledge Kit? In an interactive and practical way, we will be guided through the steps from knowledge, via cases, to action perspectives for water transition topics. Using the Rainwater use case, we will run through these steps. How would you go to work with this issue in your work tomorrow?

And of course, at the end of the afternoon, we will honour the winners of both the public award and the jury award of the Waterwijs Practice Award.

Friday 13 June 2025: Science meets Waterwijs

How do we connect all the essential and current research knowledge about drinking water in a smart way for a sustainable and powerful drinking water ecosystem?

Collaboration is indispensable to cope with the challenges of safe and sufficient drinking water together. Now and in the future. In Science meets Waterwijs, we invite researchers to make the connection, identify links and work with one another to explore smart ways to develop, share and use knowledge together.

During the 2025 Waterwijs Week, we will look in depth on Friday, 13 June at Discover the research ecosystem for drinking water. We highlight drinking water research from the perspectives of Health, Sustainability, Society and Enabling Technologies. Numerous leading scientists will share their knowledge and engage with each other, led by KWR Chief Science Officers Ruud Bartholomeus and Milou Dingemans. We will spring across sectors, wander through domains and leave well-trodden paths behind us. With AI, we will create a digital mind map of the drinking water research ecosystem. What is your position in the complex playing field and who do you work with to make an impact? And what new connections would you like to make?

Work with us on this journey of discovery and join us on 13 June! Register here.

Waterwijs the long-term collective research programme for the drinking water sector that is conducted by KWR with the drinking water utilities.