AJN day at Jaarbeurs brings youth doctors together

In early April, youth doctors, youth nurses and researchers from across the country gathered for the AJN Day. A day that centred on knowledge exchange, practical research and encounters. Not in a clinical setting, but in the heart of the Netherlands. Namely in Jaarbeurs. And that was not for the first time; this long-standing collaboration now feels like coming home.

Those who stepped inside Supernova quickly realised: this was no ordinary conference. It was the place where passionate youth health care (JGZ) professionals came together to push their field forward. First, the general members' meeting started, followed by the programming, which this year was dedicated to research. Youth doctors, researchers and nurses were able to present their research here. They did so during presentations in halls and with a poster walk where submitted abstracts were explained.

Fully up to date in just one day
Yvonne de Vette, organiser of the AJN Day: “Research in our field is sometimes neglected. It still receives too little attention. We wanted to encourage that. I always say: you’d be mad not to come to the AJN Day, because in just one day you’ll be fully up to date on the latest developments. This time, that means ongoing research. For example, screening for mental health in adolescents or new insights into hip ultrasound in babies.”

The finer points of the profession
The AJN Day has been held at Jaarbeurs for many years now. And that’s no coincidence. Yvonne: “We’ve been working together since 2012 and organise several events a year at Jaarbeurs. We did try one event at a different venue once. But we missed the finesse there. They didn’t really know the first thing about catering. It seems so obvious, but when it’s not there… that’s when you realise how essential it is. Jaarbeurs understands exactly how to organise everything surrounding an event like this.”

Being flexible and thinking along with us
Yvonne is very pleased with the collaboration: “Bas and I have been working together for a long time; it all runs very smoothly. We know each other well. But what I find most important of all is flexibility. On a day like this, things do sometimes go wrong. That’s not a problem at all; it’s all about how it’s sorted out. For example, if we – or our guests – forget to specify dietary requirements, Jaarbeurs can react quickly. And they always manage to come up with a solution. Or if there’s an issue with the furniture or something’s missing, it gets sorted out straight away. As an organiser, that always makes me happy.”

Focus on health
Bas Sterrenburg, account manager at Jaarbeurs, is also delighted to have AJN as the organiser. He says: “We’re keen to invest in our partnership. We contribute ideas, make improvements and ensure everything runs smoothly. And what’s more: it’s a great topic. Jaarbeurs wants to position itself as the go-to venue for healthcare-related events. This fits in perfectly with that. We’re also committed to health ourselves, for example by organising events such as Dutch Health Week or making our catering healthier.” Yvonne nods and says: “The catering is now mainly pescatarian, which suits our target audience perfectly. Because many of our participants don’t eat meat. And another nice thing: the quality has improved even further, as the dishes are very creative!”

On to the next AJN Days
The AJN Day is a knowledge boost. And a valuable opportunity to meet others. As this year’s event focused on research, it was also relevant for paediatric nurses. And although the event is originally intended for members, Yvonne emphasises that everyone is welcome, including non-members: “You get so much information within the profession; it’s a really interesting day,” she says. “Anyone with a connection to youth healthcare is welcome to attend the upcoming AJN Days in November 2025. The dates for April and November 2026 have also already been set. We don’t yet know what the central theme will be. What we do know is that it will definitely be at Jaarbeurs!”