Water is the next bottleneck in area development. Water retention, peak rainfall events and groundwater are increasingly determining what can be built. Yet water is only considered late in the planning process, separate from the programme, finances and other disciplines. This leads to delays and costly adjustments. Under the Acceleratieprogramma Woningbouw Versnellen and the Innovatie- en Opschalingsprogramma Woningbouw of TKI Bouw en Techniek, Citymaker is developing a water module together with TNO and IGG Bouweconomie. This module is directly linked to the housing programme, green space, finances and the other disciplines. Change the programme and you immediately see what shifts in water retention and costs. This means bottlenecks are identified early and better choices can be made faster. This session shows how integrated water-aware design accelerates housing development—not by adding water on top, but by incorporating it from the very beginning. Speakers: Berend Hoffmann and Steven Aerts (Citymaker) Liselore Havermans (TKI Bouw en Techniek) Marianne Aalbersberg (TNO) and Arno Vonk (IGG bouweconomie)
PROVADA winner Michel Baars: 'MOOS will become the ASML of housing construction'
Not a man of one company, but a man of movements. His strength? Not shouting from the sidelines, but starting new companies himself that set the market in motion and challenge existing systems. That's how the jury of the PROVADA Inspiration Award 2026 describes winner Michel Baars. 'Michel gives direction to our entire construction and real estate sector.'
PROVADA 2026: It's a wrap!
For three days, the real estate sector stood shoulder to shoulder at RAI Amsterdam. With a record number of visitors, a packed programme and plenty of energy, PROVADA 2026 was an edition to remember. Below, we look back at the highlights — and at the end you'll find the photos and aftermovie to relive it all.
PROVADA Inspiration Award 2026 for Michel Baars
At PROVADA 2026, the PROVADA Inspiration Award 2026 was presented to Michel Baars. The award is presented annually to an individual who realises sustainable change within the built environment through vision, courage and decisiveness. This year's presentation marks the award's fifth edition.