On Saturday 20 September, the Dutch energy transition will once again open its doors. During the fifth edition of the Open Energy Day, citizens throughout the country will have the opportunity to view sustainable energy projects up close. From wind farms and solar fields to geothermal installations and bio-energy plants: visitors can experience for themselves how the energy future of the Netherlands is being built.
With more than sixty participating projects and thousands of expected visitors, the Open Energy Day has grown into an accessible and broadly supported initiative. The organizer is the Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE), together with six industry organizations. Their shared goal: to strengthen support for the energy transition by stimulating transparency, curiosity and encounters.
Energy from nearby
The Open Energy Day is not a standard open day. Visitors can literally and figuratively step into the world of sustainable energy. Think of a tour of a windmill, a bike ride along hydroelectric installations, or a presentation on how wood chips are used as a bio-energy source. Installations for geothermal energy, heat pumps, aquathermy and advanced energy infrastructure also open their doors.
Companies and collectives wanted
The NVDE is once again calling on developers, operators and energy cooperatives to open their doors this year. Participants will receive support via a communication toolkit and can design the day entirely according to their own wishes – from mini-expo to walk, from lecture to interactive demo.
The only condition: it must be an existing project, accessible to the public, and relevant to the energy transition. Individual homes are not included in the plan; there are other initiatives for that, such as the Sustainable Homes Route.
From curious local resident to critical policy maker
In practice, the audience at the Open Energy Day appears to be very diverse. Where one visitor comes with practical questions about solar energy on the roof, the other is interested in system integration or the role of bio-energy in the future energy supply. More and more municipalities and policymakers are also seizing the day to enter into discussions with initiators and residents.
Participating organisations often report that the discussions during the Open Energy Day are surprisingly open and constructive. Quite often a visit leads to more understanding, less resistance and even to new local collaborations.
Participate?
Registration for the 2025 edition is possible via the NVDE website or the campaign 'Dat krijg je energie van'. Registration is possible until the summer, but the sooner the better - then there is enough time for local publicity and preparation.
More information and registration:
https://www.daarkrijgjeenergievan.nl/open-energiedag/
