Utrecht, 17 September 2026 – The need for collaboration in cybersecurity is growing. This became clear during Cybersec Netherlands 2026, organised by the Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs, where AI, digital sovereignty and the impact of increasing cyber threats took centre stage. Last week, the government, the business community and knowledge institutions came together to share knowledge and work jointly towards making the Netherlands more digitally resilient.
AI and digital sovereignty set the agenda
The impact of AI, growing cyber threats and digital sovereignty dominated discussions at Cybersec Netherlands 2026. According to the Minister for Justice and Security, David van Weel, the speed and scale of cyberattacks call for greater urgency and preparedness. “We are seeing more and more attacks on large companies and government departments. We are seeing sabotage of critical infrastructure, and it seems as though we are becoming desensitised to it. We must prevent that from happening.” At the same time, AI offers organisations new opportunities to identify threats more quickly and manage risks more effectively. Digital sovereignty also received a great deal of attention. In his keynote speech, Pieter van Oordt demonstrated how dependencies on technology partners are increasingly linked to issues of continuity, autonomy and national security.
Growing need for knowledge and solutions
Organisations have an ever-increasing need for independent knowledge and practical solutions to keep on top of rapidly changing cyber risks. During Cybersec Netherlands, this trend was reflected in growing interest from both visitors and exhibitors, as well as a large turnout at the specialist programme sessions. Jordi van Herk, IT Cluster Manager at Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs: “We are seeing clear growth on both sides. Organisations are seeking independent expertise and insight to understand what lies ahead, but at the same time they need practical solutions. We can see this reflected in the growth in visitor and exhibitor numbers, and perhaps even more clearly in the enormous interest in our specialist programmes.”
Stronger together as a community
As the organiser of Cybersec Netherlands, Jaarbeurs promotes innovation and knowledge-sharing in the IT sector by connecting professionals, organisations and experts around challenges that require joint action. Particularly in cybersecurity – a market that is constantly evolving – Jaarbeurs sees its role as fostering knowledge-sharing, facilitating meetings and accelerating innovation. This ambition extends beyond the exhibition floor: it is about building a community where networking, knowledge-sharing and collaboration take centre stage all year round. Van Herk: “We cannot solve cybersecurity issues on our own. We need one another to share knowledge and experiences, to learn from one another and to jointly strengthen our digital resilience. For me, that is the strength of this community: together we are stronger.”
From Utrecht to an international community
Cybersec Netherlands was once again held alongside Data Expo. This brought together professionals from the fields of cybersecurity, data and AI on a large scale. The combination reflects just how closely these disciplines are now intertwined. This exchange of knowledge does not stop at the Dutch border. With Cybersec Netherlands in Utrecht, Cybersec Europe in Brussels and Cybersec Asia in Bangkok, Jaarbeurs is building an international network in which professionals, experts and organisations share knowledge and experiences on issues such as cyber threats, AI and digital sovereignty. Van Herk: “Sharing knowledge doesn’t stop at the border. By connecting experts and communities internationally, we can learn from one another more quickly and, together, become more digitally resilient.”
Cybersec Europe will take place on 26 and 27 May 2027 in Brussels.
