Next Venue takes a stake in MaterialDistrict; twentieth edition moves to Midden Nederland Hallen
Naarden / Barneveld, 24 September 2026 – Next Venue has taken a stake in MaterialDistrict. Over the coming years, entrepreneur Timo Kruft, founder and owner of Next Venue, will gradually take over the event activities and the MaterialDistrict brand. The twentieth edition of MaterialDistrict will take place from 13 to 15 April 2027 at Midden Nederland Hallen in Barneveld, part of the Next Venue portfolio. In recent years, the event has been held in Utrecht. Jeroen van Oostveen, owner and driving force behind MaterialDistrict, will remain closely involved in the event’s further development and transition over the next three years.
With Next Venue on board, the event is entering a new phase. Its strong content focus, network and established expertise in sustainable material innovation will remain at its core, complemented by Next Venue’s venues and event expertise. The ambition is to further develop MaterialDistrict, strengthen its content programme and reach a broader group of professionals across the construction industry.
From materials library to the next phase
MaterialDistrict was founded in 1998 as a materials library. After Van Oostveen took over the platform in 2008, it evolved into a broad ecosystem centred on material innovation, encompassing an annual trade event, independent material exhibitions, online activities and publications. Over the years, sustainability has become an increasingly central focus.
Jeroen van Oostveen:
“I have poured my heart and soul into MaterialDistrict for almost twenty years. At the same time, I wanted to make the event less dependent on me personally and find a partner that could not only continue it, but also take it to the next level. In Timo Kruft and Next Venue, I found what I was looking for. From 2027 onwards, we will work with Joinlii on the organisation of the event.”
Architects and interior designers will remain a key audience for MaterialDistrict. At the same time, the event will place greater emphasis on other professionals who influence the use of materials, including property developers, housing associations, property owners, municipalities, contractors, engineers, and sustainability and materials consultants.
Theme: Matter of How
For the twentieth edition, curator Leonne Cuppen developed the theme Matter of How. It builds on NextNow, the theme of the 2026 edition, which highlighted that many sustainable material solutions are no longer experimental and, in many cases, are ready to apply today. The next step is acceptance and scaling up.
Matter of How shifts the focus from new materials to the question of how we work with them: how we design, build, use and transform. According to Cuppen, innovation increasingly lies not only in the material itself, but in the combination of design, technology, production, ecology and collaboration.
Leonne Cuppen, curator MaterialDistrict 2027:
“With NextNow, we established that many of tomorrow’s solutions already exist today. For me, Matter of How is the logical next step. Rather than asking again what the next innovative material will be, we should be asking how we can use materials more intelligently, how we can rethink the way we design and build, and how we can make better use of existing buildings and resources. Increasingly, the real innovation lies not only in the material itself, but in the system around it.”
This shift towards practical application was already visible at MaterialDistrict 2026 through a collaboration with TBI. Twenty exhibitors presented their innovations to a jury, after which three companies each received a €10,000 voucher to work with TBI companies on scaling up their innovation or developing a first real-world application.
Timo Kruft to gradually take over the event activities
The initial contact was made at Kruft’s initiative. He is the founder and owner of Next Venue, which operates and develops event and conference venues across the Netherlands. He also invests in events and organisations that align with his long-term vision. By taking a stake in MaterialDistrict, he is adding a content-driven trade event focused on sustainable material innovation to his portfolio.
Timo Kruft:
“MaterialDistrict has been built on a strong vision and has established a position that cannot easily be replicated. We want to build on that foundation. With Joinlii as the organiser, our venues and the capacity to invest further, we can take the next step together without losing what makes MaterialDistrict unique.”
Joinlii to organise the event
From 2027, Kruft will be working with Joinlii to organise MaterialDistrict. Joinlii is led by Paul Verdult and Camille Janssen, who both have many years of experience developing, positioning and organising B2B trade shows at Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs. They will bring that experience to the further development of the event.
New home in the heart of the Netherlands
The twentieth edition will also mark a move to a new home at Midden Nederland Hallen. The venue is part of Next Venue’s portfolio and is centrally located in the Netherlands. The region also has links to the construction and manufacturing industries, knowledge institutions and agricultural raw material supply chains, including those around Wageningen.
The venue itself also aligns with the theme. The event greenhouse and theatre greenhouse were created by reusing a greenhouse originally built for the Floriade Expo 2022 in Almere.
Online, media and publishing activities to remain independent
The takeover covers the MaterialDistrict brand and its physical event activities. The existing online, media and publishing activities will remain with Van Oostveen, continue independently and eventually operate under a new name.
MaterialDistrict 2027
MaterialDistrict 2027 will take place from 13 to 15 April 2027 at Midden Nederland Hallen in Barneveld. The twentieth edition will focus on the theme Matter of How.
Photos MaterialDistrict: Viorica Cernica — Venue photos: Next Venue