On April 13, the next world exhibition will start in Osaka, Japan. The Netherlands will participate with its own circularly built pavilion under the theme Common Ground. The pavilion demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in addressing major challenges, such as accelerating the energy transition and keeping the planet livable. There will also be an extensive program for six months where Dutch companies, knowledge institutions, and organizations can meet Japan and establish or strengthen contacts.

Participation in Expo 2025 offers the opportunity to deepen the bilateral relationship with Japan. As a reliable partner in East Asia and the fourth-largest economy in the world, Japan is important for the Netherlands. This year we celebrate 425 years of bilateral ties. These form the basis for good cooperation on (economic) security, trade, agriculture, food security, defense, cyber, and innovation.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Reinette Klever: Expo 2025 is a unique opportunity for Dutch companies and knowledge institutions to present their expertise to a large international audience. With their innovative power, the business community is crucial in solving global challenges, for example regarding food security and health.

Over six months, an extensive program has been set up, where Dutch companies and institutions can present themselves and meet companies from Japan. Various theme weeks are planned around promising sectors such as energy, food, health, tech, and there is a continuous cultural program featuring works by Dutch artists and ensembles. Six trade missions will be organized from the Netherlands. On April 22, Prime Minister Schoof will officially open the Dutch pavilion during his visit to Japan.

The Dutch participation is inspired by the unique relationship that the Netherlands has with water. Our location, partly below sea level, has taught us for centuries to work together. Now that we are facing new challenges in 2025, cooperation is once again of great importance at the international level. The Netherlands invites Japan – and other countries – to step onto common ground and work together on solutions.

The Dutch pavilion is designed and realized by the Dutch-Japanese consortium AND BV, consisting of the architectural firm RAU, engineering firm DGMR, experience design studio Tellart, and the Japanese construction company Asanuma. The pavilion is shaped like a rectangular building with a glowing sphere at its center – an impressive symbol of a “man-made sun”: a clean and inexhaustible energy source based on hydropower. The façade is clad with wavy slats that depict flowing water. Together they form a length of exactly 425 meters, as a tribute to 425 years of trade relations between the Netherlands and Japan. The pavilion is also a powerful example of circular building. All materials used are registered in Madaster, the digital materials passport for circular construction and infrastructure. This keeps track of which materials have been used, ensuring that no valuable resources are lost.

When visitors arrive at the pavilion, they receive a small glowing sphere. This reacts to the installations placed in various spots throughout the building. This takes them through the history between the Netherlands and Japan and our struggle against water. As the highlight of the show, visitors step into the large sphere in the center of the pavilion. There they will see an AI film in a 360-degree dome. Finally, visitors can share their own ideas and dreams for the future through an interactive artwork.

At the center of the pavilion are ten impressive Dutch innovations that all utilize the power of nature. These contribute in their own way to changing how we generate energy, transport ourselves, and grow food. Among the presented innovations are, for example, growing fish from cells (Upstream Foods), using waves from the sea to generate electricity (Weco), and self-driving boats for fast and clean transport (Roboat).

Expo 2025 Osaka is open from April 13 to October 13, 2025. About 160 countries and organizations will participate. The Expo organization expects to welcome more than 28 million visitors.