Expo 2025 Osaka is the 36th world exhibition and has the theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives. The Expo will take place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, providing countries and organizations an international platform to present themselves to the world in terms of sustainability and innovation. Expo 2025 Osaka addresses the question: how do we shape the world in light of challenges such as climate change and healthcare that determine our quality of life? These challenges cross borders and require international cooperation.
The Netherlands is participating as a Kingdom in the Expo with a fully circular pavilion. The overarching theme of the participation is Common Ground: bringing people together to solve global challenges based on shared interests. Visitors will interactively learn about Dutch innovations that utilize the power of water. The Dutch pavilion is also a meeting place for businesses, knowledge institutions, and (cultural) organizations, particularly focused on promising sectors such as energy transition, agro-food, life sciences and health, digitization, and culture. The Netherlands participation in the Expo in Japan also marks the centuries-old ties between the two countries since 1600. The relationship with Japan was originally mainly economic but is now also focused on security, innovation, defense, economic resilience, and the international rule of law. Prime Minister Schoof opened the Dutch pavilion on April 22.
Wednesday, May 21
Ceremony National Day and special event
In the morning, the King will attend the ceremony of the Dutch national day and give a speech. The Dutch Introdans and the Japanese LAND FES and Sadamatsu-Hamada Ballet Company will give a joint modern dance performance UNUM, about inclusivity. Afterwards, the King will open the exhibition Bridging Past and Future in Gallery EAST. This exhibition shows how joint designs from Japanese and Dutch creators combine tradition and innovation.
Dutch and Japanese pavilion
In the afternoon, the King and the ministers will first visit the pavilion of the host country Japan, which is themed around the central theme of the Expo Designing Future Society for Our Lives. The pavilion showcases Japanese innovations in sustainability, such as biogas from food waste from the Expo. They will then visit the Dutch pavilion, where they will receive an explanation of the theme Common Ground and speak with the architect and the creators of the interactive experience. The King will experience the pavilion using a so-called orb; a glowing ball that visitors carry during their tour of the pavilion. With the orb, they receive demonstrations of various Dutch innovations via interactive panels.
Later in the afternoon, the King will also receive a tour in another pavilion of interest to the Netherlands; the Pasona pavilion. Pasona Group presents a well-being society, focused on the latest technological developments for the health of body, mind, and society.
CEO roundtable discussion and reception
The King will also join several components of the economic working visit on Wednesday, May 21. He will attend the start of a roundtable discussion with Dutch and Japanese companies, chaired by employer organizations from both countries: the Dutch VNO-NCW and the Japanese Kankeiren. This discussion aims to promote economic cooperation between the Netherlands and the Japanese Kansai region (West Japan). This region offers opportunities for the Netherlands in the fields of life sciences and health and chemistry; sectors that play an important role in solving global challenges.
Thursday, May 22
Osaka Castle
The Kings program on Thursday, May 22, focuses on the historical, contemporary, and future cooperation with Japan. The day starts with a visit to Osaka Castle together with Minister Klever, the place where in 1600 the bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Japan began and where the Netherlands, together with Japanese partners, has organized a special exhibition to commemorate these 425 years of common ground. In addition to historical objects, new narrative objects developed by the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken) will also be on display.
Tekijuku and Nakanoshima Qross
Afterwards, King Willem-Alexander and Minister Klever will go to Tekijuku and Nakanoshima Qross. This visit focuses on the historical medical cooperation between the Netherlands and Japan, which began in Tekijuku, and the future cooperation in advanced (regenerative) medicine, for which Nakanoshima Qross was established in 2024.
Tekijuku was a private school for Dutch Studies Rangaku and was opened in 1838 with the help of Dutch physician Bauduin. The curriculum in foreign languages (Dutch) was primarily focused on medicine and is considered the beginning of Western medicine in Japan. Tekijuku was the predecessor of Osaka University. The King will speak with professors and students, visit a research laboratory, and receive a brief presentation on Western medical history and the role of the Dutch language in Japanese science and technology.
Economic mission high-tech and digitization
In the afternoon, the King and Minister Klever will join the economic mission high-tech and digitization led by Minister Beljaarts of Economic Affairs. The King will attend a roundtable discussion between Dutch and Japanese CEOs and entrepreneurs from this sector and visit an innovation parade. Additionally, he will be present at the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Japanese and Dutch companies and knowledge institutions that are entering into collaborations in areas such as semiconductor technology, quantum computing, and 5G/6G telecommunications.