Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
There is plenty to do in construction and infrastructure in the coming years, think about building homes, energy transition and keeping the Netherlands accessible. And that requires people who want to work in the sector. Bouwend Nederland knows how to get young children and parents excited about the sector. This summer a unique theme park will be built at Twenthe Airport, which is not called “We are building the future” for nothing. Initiator Anne de Jonge, advisor education and labor market at Bouwend Nederland: “Construction is more than just stacking bricks. We want young people to experience that. Therefore, together with the regional business community and the educational field, we are putting on an unforgettable youth event.”
Operate a tower crane, wander through the largest sewer maze in Europe, learn about sustainable materials in the materials passport and sing along with the songs from the family Builder theater play. The theme park brings together all disciplines of construction, infrastructure and engineering in a playful, educational and interactive way. The innovative park was developed in cooperation with Kibeco, known for Dinopark and Big Insects. And is made possible by sponsorship from companies in the region.
Although a recent image survey of the sector showed that the Dutch have a positive image of construction and infra, there is always room for improvement. Anne: “Especially in infra, the average Dutchman finds it difficult to form an image of the activities and professions. There are plenty of examples in the park that directly help with that. For example, there is a traffic square with real road breaks. There are workshops, including with robots and a 3D pen, children can make traffic lights and there is a sandbox for underground infra. Electrical, infra and construction melt together here and show what you can make. Apart from the annual Construction Day, there are no times when parents and children can come and see the construction site. Even though the best things happen behind the construction fences. In the theme park, the children actually get their own construction site, where they can also get to work themselves.”
If the park in Twente becomes a success (and there is no reason to believe it won't), Bouwend Nederland is considering landing the theme park in a different region each year. Anne: “We undertake all kinds of activities aimed at recruiting new employees for the sector, from young people to lateral entrants. This park really complements what we are already doing. I hope that in the future all parents and children throughout the Netherlands will be able to learn about our wonderful sector through our theme park!”
We Build the Future can be visited at Twenthe Airfield from July 16 to August 21, 2022. For more information visit
webuildthefuture.com
