On 26–27 November, Jaarbeurs Utrecht hosted the annual POLIS Conference, Europe’s largest event on sustainable urban mobility. Utrecht welcomed policymakers, city representatives, researchers, and companies from across Europe, including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Stockholm, and Munich.
Geplaatst op 27 november 2025
This year, Connekt-ITS Netherlands, organised by its international label Smart Mobility Embassy, joined forces with Dutch Cycling Embassy and ROM Utrecht Region to create a shared meeting space for members and participants. The initiative offered organisations the opportunity to showcase their projects and innovations to a European audience, under the motto: “Stronger connections, better cities – together in the Netherlands.”
With thanks to contributions from Connekt members: CROW-KpVV, Municipality of Helmond, Municipality of Rotterdam, Royal HaskoningDHV, Intertraffic, MAPtm, Panteia, Rebel, Roadscor, Scenexus, Significance, Technolution Move, TNO. Their support made the shared meeting space and member presentations possible, helping highlight innovative solutions to a wide European audience.
Programme Highlights
Day 1 (26 November)
Opening Plenary: “Happy if Healthy: Mobility as a Mood” explored the link between sustainable mobility, active travel, and health. Speakers included Karen Vancluysen (POLIS Network), Senna Maatoug and Eva Oosters (Municipality of Utrecht), Sam Johnson (World Bank), and Francesca Racioppi (WHO European Centre for Environment and Health). Deputy Mayors Maatoug and Oosters highlighted Utrecht’s focus on public health, community wellbeing, and accessible streets for all, stressing that policy only works when it matches lived experience. Sam Johnson called for dedicating up to 10% of road budgets to active mobility by 2035, stressing the economic, social, and health benefits of walking and cycling, the importance of safe infrastructure, and integrating rural and peri-urban areas.
Panel discussion moderated by Karen Vancluysen included Francesca Racioppi (WHO), Anne Staufer (HEAL), Christian Horemans (Union Nationale de Mutualités Libres), Raoul Schmidt-Lamontain (Deputy Mayor of Heidelberg), and Senna Maatoug. Key messages: active mobility is a core health intervention, streets designed for children work for all, and community engagement is crucial for policy success.
Parallel sessions: Topics included transport poverty, shared mobility, active travel, urban accessibility, and safety.
Day 2 (27 November)
Workshops and parallel sessions: Focused on urban mobility innovation, smart transport solutions, and policy development.
Closing Plenary: “Enriching the Mobility Menu: Tackling Transport Poverty” addressed the impact of limited mobility on social inclusion and quality of life. Panelists included Karen Vancluysen (POLIS Network), Beatriz Yordi (DG Clima, European Commission), Jan Peter Balkenende (New Mobility Foundation), Maxim Romain (Dott), André van Schie (Province of Utrecht), Melissa Bruntlett (Modacity Creative), and Lidija Pavic-Rogosic (European Economic and Social Committee / ODRAZ).
The conference also saw the launch of the seventh volume of POLIS’ biannual magazine, Cities in Motion, featuring articles and interviews on urban mobility innovations, including Catalonia’s interurban strategies, Hasselt’s mobility approach, Örebro’s parking reforms, and Helmond’s citizen-driven experiments.
Key Takeaways
The two-day event provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration, highlighting the importance of sustainable, inclusive, and innovative mobility solutions across European cities and regions.
The joint initiative by Connekt (ITS Netherlands) , Dutch Cycling Embassy, ROM Utrecht Region demonstrated the strength of collaboration: creating a shared meeting space amplified the visibility of innovative projects, allowed organisations to exchange ideas, and showcased how pooling knowledge and resources maximises impact.
Ultimately: Working together—across organisations, sectors, and cities—enables stronger, healthier, and more liveable urban environments. Together, we are stronger.