Expo 2025 preview: Netherlands

Japan and the Netherlands have more than four centuries of shared history, and this often close and frequently eventful relationship has resulted in, among other things, more than 100 words of Dutch origin making their way into the Japanese language. From the mid-1600s to the middle of the 19th century, the Netherlands was the only Western country allowed to trade with Japan. As Japan’s window on the Western world, the Dutch, based on the island of Dejima in Nagasaki, also shared medical, scientific and engineering knowledge with their commercial partner.

The impact of this exchange can still be felt in the present, says Marc Kuipers, commissioner general for the Dutch participation at Expo 2025, who explains that the countries’ common legacy also informs the concept behind the Dutch pavilion. ‘The theme for our pavilion is “Common Ground”,’ says Kuipers, ‘because we believe that in order to deal with global challenges, the world should come together on common ground [at the Expo] to exchange ideas, interact and connect. Our pavilion on Yumeshima will be a token area of common ground, just like Dejima, another artificial island, was for centuries.’

See the video below for more on the idea of Common Ground:

While emphasising that the Dutch pavilion will offer a space for scientists, visionaries and decision-makers to communicate and collaborate, Kuipers promises that the building will be both fascinating to look at and fun to visit for Expo attendees in general, too. ‘The pavilion’s architecture communicates the idea of a new dawn on common ground,’ he says. ‘The central element is a sphere, a man-made sun approximately 11 metres in diameter, that rises out of a façade with waves. This symbolises inspiration for the future.’ And when viewed from the showpiece 20-metre-tall ring structure that circles the Expo site, the pavilion will show off another side of itself: ‘Its roof works like a mirror,’ Kuipers explains, ‘reflecting the sun, moon and clouds in the sky.’

With sustainability and the reduction of waste being fundamental principles of Expo 2025, all pavilions at the site have to be built, operated and disposed of in an eco-friendly manner. The Netherlands team has taken on this mission with gusto, working together with Thomas Rau, a pioneer in the field of sustainable and circular architecture, to design their pavilion. ‘Rau’s idea for the pavilion involves a system called Material Passport,’ says Kuipers, ‘in which you assign a unique identifier to each element of the structure – every beam, door and windowsill.’

This comprehensive index of every piece used to build the pavilion makes it fairly straightforward to disassemble the structure after the Expo and rebuild it somewhere else, as Kuipers’s team is hoping to do. ‘And even if that doesn’t happen, our construction company can still reuse all the materials once the pavilion has been taken apart,’ says Kuipers. Meanwhile, the introduction of Material Passport to Japan may have a more fundamental impact, too. ‘Several big Japanese construction companies have already indicated their interest in the system,’ says Kuipers. ‘[Widespread adoption of Material Passport] could steer the entire architectural and construction scene in this country in a more sustainable direction.’

As for the experience to be had inside the pavilion, Kuipers says that while some details are still being ironed out, the outline is clear – and it involves miniature versions of the structure’s central orb. ‘When you walk in, you’ll get a mini sphere handed to you,’ he explains. ‘You’ll be able to walk around with it, it’ll connect with your energy, and you can charge it by making contact with the pavilion.’ ‘Connection points’ along the way will let visitors find out about various innovations and initiatives involving the Netherlands. ‘The experience will not only be attractive and immersive, but will seek to provide you with the energy needed to address global challenges,’ says Kuipers. ‘We hope it will inspire dialogue and interaction.’

See the video below for a sneak preview of the pavilion:

On a more sober note, while preparations for the Expo are picking up pace and the event is beginning to make its presence felt across Japan, there’s no denying that some still remain sceptical of the concept itself. Joining hands on common ground to brainstorm ideas for a better future is an admirable sentiment, but will it move the general public? Kuipers says he understands the doubters, but believes the Expo will more than pay for itself – both literally and figuratively.

‘Every 1,000 yen invested in the Expo will yield a four- or five-fold return,’ argues Kuipers, ‘and the impact it will have in terms of encouraging more sustainable and circular economic practices is invaluable.’

Even more important, however, is the Expo’s power to inspire. ‘In a time when it feels a bit like the whole world is unravelling, having an event where that world comes together to talk about positive solutions for six months is significant in itself,’ Kuipers says. ‘It’s all about the inspiration this will offer the next generation.’

This is a dynamic Japan has benefited from before. ‘So many older people I meet here get all emotional talking about their experience at the Osaka Expo in 1970,’ says Kuipers. ‘They tell me stories about how they saw the first mobile phone and wanted to become an engineer, or how they saw the moon rock at the US pavilion and wanted to become an astronaut.’

What, then, will be the moon rock of Expo 2025? Kuipers has an idea: ‘Japan and the Netherlands share centuries of history in the field of medicine, and that cooperation continues today,’ he says. ‘For example, RegMed XB, a Dutch consortium of universities and companies focused on regenerative medicine, is working together with Dr [Yoshiki] Sawa of Nakanoshima Qross. Dr Sawa is a true rock star in the world of regenerative medicine. He has developed heart sheets out of iPS cells (a type of stem cell) that can be integrated into the human body when people suffer from heart failure. He will use these heart sheets to create a miniature artificial heart built from iPS cells. A miniature beating artificial heart is in fact set to be displayed at Expo 2025. How’s that for inspiration?’