Symposium during DDW | The creative economy (featuring Peter Wennink and others)

Symposium featuring Peter Wennink and others

Former President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ASML Peter Wennink’s report on the Netherlands’ long-term earning capacity forms the basis of the national growth strategy and the coalition agreement. Wennink identifies four areas in which the Netherlands must invest: digitalisation and AI, security and resilience, energy and climate technology and life sciences and biotechnology. The creative industries are absent.

While the Innovation Platform and the Top Sectors policy still regarded the sector as a driver of innovation, it has disappeared from today’s economic debate. Yet the challenges Wennink addresses, from the energy transition to digital sovereignty, demand the imagination and systemic solutions of designers more than ever.

During Dutch Design Week (DDW) 2026, we will bridge the gap between the ‘hard’ economic growth strategy and the innovative power of the creative economy. This raises one central question for the sector itself: do we dare to commit explicitly to the Netherlands’ national growth ambitions?

Programme

• Anna van Nunen (director Eurosonic Noorderslag) and Willem van Zeeland (director Dutch Design Foundation) will open with an overview of the sector: where do the creative industries stand and what do the figures tell us?
• Peter Wennink will then discuss the Netherlands’ growth strategy and the role the creative sector could play within it.
• Responding to his analysis will be Jeroen Bartelse (Director TivoliVredenburg and Chair of Kunsten ’92) on culture as an economic driver, Anne Ligtenberg (Programme Director at Design Development Eindhoven) on designing for societal transitions and Mark van Iterson (Chair BNO) on design entrepreneurship and business models.
• Together with Wennink and the audience, we will define more clearly what is needed to embed the creative economy structurally within growth policy.
• Moderator: Monique van Dusseldorp.
• The symposium will be followed by a networking lunch at the Next Nature Museum. Afterwards, you can visit the Dutch Design Week exhibitions individually or in a group.

When? Monday 19 October 2026 | 10:30–12:30 (doors open at 10:00) | Followed by lunch
Location: Next Nature Museum, Noord Brabantlaan 1A, 5652 LA Eindhoven (Google Maps)
Who is it for? Senior leaders from the creative industries and cultural sector, policymakers and politicians from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, innovation leaders and entrepreneurs. Participation is by invitation only.
Language: Dutch
Buy your ticket here

Speaker biographies

Peter Wennink
Peter Wennink is an entrepreneur and business leader, and the former President and CEO of ASML. Under his leadership, ASML became one of Europe’s most valuable technology companies and the global market leader in chipmaking machines. Since retiring in 2024, Wennink has held various supervisory and advisory positions. In 2025, at the request of the Dutch government, he issued independent advice on the Netherlands’ long-term earning capacity.

Jeroen Bartelse
Jeroen Bartelse is Managing Director of TivoliVredenburg and Chair of Kunsten ’92. His previous roles include Director of the Council for Culture, and positions at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Through his various roles, he works to strengthen the cultural and creative sector in the Netherlands.

Anne Ligtenberg
Anne Ligtenberg is a designer and Programme Director at Design Development Eindhoven (DDE). She graduated with honours from Design Academy Eindhoven and is co-founder of social design agency AM. As a designer, she focuses on the societal power of design and on connecting people and perspectives. In her role at DDE, she works to strengthen Eindhoven’s design ecosystem.

Mark van Iterson
Mark van Iterson is a designer and has served as Chair of the Association of Dutch Designers (BNO) since 2026. Before this, he worked at Heineken for many years, where he was responsible for design across the company’s international brand portfolio as Global Design Director. As Chair of BNO, he champions the position and significance of design and designers in the Netherlands.

Anna van Nunen
Anna van Nunen is Managing Director of Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS), the European platform for emerging music talent. She previously worked in both the cultural sector and the start-up and scale-up world, and developed Innofest into a platform where innovations are tested in practice at festivals. Her work connects culture, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Willem van Zeeland
Willem van Zeeland is Managing Director of Dutch Design Foundation (DDF), the organisation behind Dutch Design Week, Dutch Design Awards and Coalitions. Through DDF, he champions the position of designers and the role design can play in addressing societal and economic challenges.

Brainport Development
Brainport Development is the economic development agency for Brainport Eindhoven. The organisation works with businesses, knowledge and educational institutions and government bodies to strengthen the region and its innovation ecosystem. Brainport Development develops the regional economic strategy, delivers projects, supports businesses and promotes Brainport Eindhoven in the Netherlands and internationally. In doing so, the organisation contributes to a strong and future-proof Brainport region. More about Brainport Development.

Dutch Design Foundation
Dutch Design Foundation (DDF) is optimistic and believes that the problem-solving abilities of designers can improve the world. DDF therefore offers designers opportunities, support, visibility and a platform. DDF organises Dutch Design Week, Coalitions and Dutch Design Awards and is also active internationally. Through debates, lectures, exhibitions and events throughout the year, DDF provides a platform for the best and most promising designers and helps share their ideas and work. More about DDF.

Design Development Eindhoven
Design Development Eindhoven (DDE) connects Eindhoven’s design community, knowledge institutions, businesses and government to structurally strengthen and expand the design ecosystem. DDE works to create an attractive business climate, encourages entrepreneurship and harnesses the power of design to address societal challenges. By bringing together knowledge, talent and the capacity to act, DDE creates space for new collaborations and initiatives that contribute to Eindhoven’s development as a leading design city. More about DDE.