The Hague. Following the successful NATO summit in The Hague, the World Forum has implemented a series of renovations. Investments in technology, comfort, and facilities prepare the conference center for future international events and strengthen The Hague's role as a world-class meeting place.
Impact of the NATO Summit
The NATO Summit, held earlier this year at the World Forum, was a diplomatic highlight for the Netherlands and brought international attention to The Hague. The event also had an immediately noticeable economic impact: it generated an estimated €15 million in local spending, through hotels, restaurants, and the transportation of thousands of visitors.
Important international agreements were made during the meeting. NATO countries agreed to increase their defense spending to 3,5 percent of gross domestic product, supplemented by investments in security and infrastructure. The summit emphasized not only the geopolitical weight of the meeting but also the strategic importance of the World Forum as a venue for international decision-making.
The Hague as an international conference city
For The Hague, the summit strengthened its position as a city of peace and justice. The organization demonstrated the city's ability to facilitate complex, large-scale meetings with high demands in terms of security, logistics, and technology. This further strengthens The Hague's profile as a place where politics, knowledge, and international cooperation converge.
Innovations in the World Forum
The World Forum used the NATO summit as a catalyst for innovation. The auditorium underwent a thorough upgrade: all 2161 seats were reupholstered and restored, and both the sound system and the theater's technical equipment were updated. This has noticeably improved the acoustics and image quality, a real asset for both speakers and audiences.
The lighting has been replaced with energy-efficient, programmable bulbs that can be set to any desired color. This makes it easy to tailor the room's atmosphere to the nature of the event. New digital screens and a fast, secure fiber optic connection ensure reliable information provision, essential for hybrid and international meetings.
The boardrooms have also been upgraded with comfortable, modern chairs and a calm, contemporary feel. There's also a greater focus on well-being: a quiet room and a prayer room offer visitors opportunities for rest and reflection, a new addition that complements the international character of the venue.
“The NATO summit was a special moment for us,” says Michiel Middendorf, General Manager of World Forum. “Not only because of the event's size and importance, but also because it gave us the opportunity to invest in our venue and the development of our team. We take that experience into everything we do.”
Ready for the future
The renovations at the World Forum seamlessly meet the growing demand for modern, sustainable, and technically well-equipped conference venues. By investing in quality, hospitality, and technology, the World Forum is strengthening its position as a leading venue for international meetings.
Organizers now find a contemporary and safe environment where every event, from international summits to intimate board meetings, is facilitated with care and precision. And for the city of The Hague, it means another step closer to its ambition: to be the international meeting place where the world comes together to speak, make decisions, and connect.