Cybersec Netherlands 2026: cyber threats increase the need for knowledge sharing and collaboration
Utrecht, September 17, 2026 – The need for collaboration in cybersecurity is growing. This was evident during Cybersec Netherlands 2026, organized by Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs, where AI, digital sovereignty, and the impact of increasing cyber threats took center stage. The government, the business community, and knowledge institutes came together last week to share knowledge and work collaboratively towards a more digitally resilient Netherlands.
AI and digital sovereignty dictate the agenda
The impact of AI, increasing cyber threats, and digital sovereignty dominated the discussions during Cybersec Netherlands 2026. According to Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel, the speed and scale of cyberattacks demand more urgency and preparation. “We are seeing more and more attacks on large companies and government services. We are seeing sabotage of critical infrastructure, and it seems as though we are getting used to it. We must prevent that.” At the same time, AI offers organizations new opportunities to detect threats faster and manage risks better. Digital sovereignty also received a lot of attention. In his keynote, Pieter van Oordt showed how dependencies on technology partners increasingly affect issues regarding continuity, autonomy, and national security.
Growing need for knowledge and solutions
Organizations increasingly need independent knowledge and concrete solutions to maintain a grip on rapidly changing cyber risks. During Cybersec Netherlands, this development translated into growing interest from both visitors and exhibitors, as well as a large turnout for the content programs. Jordi van Herk, IT Cluster Manager at Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs: “We see clear growth on both sides. Organizations are looking for independent knowledge and interpretation to understand what is coming their way, but at the same time, they need concrete solutions. We see this reflected in the growth of visitors and exhibitors, and perhaps even more strongly in the enormous interest in our content programs.”
Stronger together as a community
As the organizer of Cybersec Netherlands, Jaarbeurs stimulates innovation and knowledge sharing in the IT sector by connecting professionals, organizations, and experts around challenges that require joint action. Particularly in cybersecurity, a market that is constantly in motion, Jaarbeurs sees it as its role to stimulate knowledge sharing, facilitate meetings, and accelerate innovation. The ambition extends beyond the exhibition floor: building a community in which networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration take center stage all year round. Van Herk: “We cannot solve cybersecurity individually. We need each other to share knowledge and experiences, to learn from one another, and to jointly increase our digital resilience. For me, that is the strength of this community: together we are stronger.”
From Utrecht to an international community
Cybersec Netherlands once again took place in co-location with Data Expo. This brought together professionals from cybersecurity, data, and AI on a large scale. The combination reflects how strongly these disciplines are intertwined nowadays. This knowledge exchange 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 organizations share knowledge and experiences regarding issues such as cyber threats, AI, and digital sovereignty. Van Herk: “Knowledge sharing does not stop at the border. By connecting experts and communities internationally, we can learn from each other faster and become more digitally resilient together.”
Cybersec Europe will take place on May 26 and 27, 2027, in Brussels.
