Last week saw the seventh Holland Fisheries Event in Urk opened by Secretary of State for Agriculture Martijn van Dam and Urk’s mayor Pieter an Maaren on Friday morning and close the following day after close to 3500 visitors from Holland other countries had visited. The date for the 8th Holland Fisheries Event has been set for the 5th and 6th of October 2018.
The show was a sell-out with more than 80 companies from Holland and other countries taking part at the De Koningshof Party & Events venue in Urk, with a heavy rush of attendees ensuring that the place was full to capacity and extra parking space was needed outside by the swimming pool complex next door.
‘Another successful exhibition! Fishing is alive again! On the first day we were already getting enquiries from exhibitors who want a stand at the fair in October 2018. That shows a real confidence in the future,’ said Klaas-Jelle Koffeman, President of Urk Fishing Days Foundation
Mayor of Urk opened the exhibition officially.
Secretary of State Martijn van Dam stressed in his opening speech that the government continues to look how they can serve the fishing industry in the search for innovation.
‘Dutch fishing is a magnificent, economically important sector. You face great challenges but you are not alone. Because we all care about innovation, the Dutch government supports Europe and you do this, even with subsidies. So there will be a special opening of the European fund mid-2017 to stimulate innovation in fisheries, the EMFF, with special focus on new ways to share knowledge,’ he said
‘This strong presence by the industry and suppliers shows that we are moving with the times towards good collaboration and a healthy fishing industry,’ said Auke Hoefnagel of Flynth, one of the event’s sponsors.
‘The Holland Fisheries Event is now ready for the next step. It has grown in terms of quality and the number of exhibitors, as well as attracting people and exhibitors from outside Holland, and we hope that in 2018 we will be able to welcome even more visitors from abroad,’ said Paula van der Woude on behalf of the organisers.
