HortiContact 2025 brought together 300 exhibitors and 7,542 trade professionals at Evenementenhal Gorinchem on 18, 19 and 20 February. The trade show organizer shared the visitor figures, which are slightly lower than in 2024 (7812) and 2023 (>8000).
From innovations and smart energy applications to knowledge sessions, award-winning solutions and firsts, HortiContact was a place where the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector came together to look ahead and take steps towards the future together.
View our photo reportage of the trade fair here. 
Three days full of knowledge-sharing
The second edition of the National Horti Symposium preceding the fair on 19 February, with 250 visitors led by Dick Veerman, was dedicated to energy and crop protection. Experts discussed topical issues at the event organized by trade magazine Onder Glas and shared their insights in interactive break-out sessions.
During the fair, the KasLokaal offered three days of practical workshops on heat pumps, evaporation and cybersecurity. These sessions, organized by Kas als Energiebron, the innovation program of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) and Glastuinbouw Nederland, provided visitors with essential knowledge on sustainable innovations.
The World Horti Center Pavilion also offered knowledge sessions on cultivation systems, energy saving and the influence of sunlight, with visitors able to actively participate in the sessions via a silent disco system.
Innovations and firsts
The HortiContact Innovation Award 2025 was presented during the exhibitor drinks reception, for which visitors voted for their favorite before and during the trade show. OPUSWatch won with a smart application for labor registration via a smartwatch. Second and third place were for KUBO's CO2-negative greenhouse and AVF+ Young Plants by Artechno Growsystems.
In addition, two innovation awards were presented on 20 February by Adri Bom-Lemstra, chairman of Greenports Netherlands and Julian Starink of the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management for water management and water quality: Division Q was awarded for their transparent water quality measurement, while Delphy's QMS Water received an award for social innovation.
Also at HortiContact, the first 4.5 MWh Huawei container battery in the Benelux was officially presented. This first marks the start of a wider roll-out of energy storage systems in the horticultural sector. The collaboration between Bata Energy Solutions, Wattkraft Benelux and Huawei Digital Power creates a solution that stores excess solar energy, reduces peak loads, stabilizes energy costs and provides a grip on grid congestion.
Young talent and the future of the sector
On the second day of the fair, Horticulture & Agribusiness students from Inholland Delft got hands-on experience of the sector through the KAS Working & Learning Tour. During this tour of exhibitors and innovations, they were introduced to the latest developments and career opportunities.
Looking to the future
Besides attracting young talent, the trade fair organizers are also focusing on the further development of HortiContact. Lucas van 't Hof, Head of Cluster Agri, Groen & Horti at Easyfairs, stresses the importance of dialogue with the sector: "We will be taking ample time in the coming period to enter into a dialogue with the sector and build on the future of the trade fair together." HortiContact will return to Evenementenhal Gorinchem on 24, 25 and 26 February 2026, and half of the exhibitors have already registered.
For more information:
HortiContact
Franklinweg 2
4207 HZ Gorinchem
Tel: +31 (0) 523 289 813
www.horticontact.nl