More than 25,000 visitors walked the halls and attended the hubs and forums across the four days of the 2025 edition of Aquatech Amsterdam.
Over 900 exhibitors and entrepreneurs showcased the latest and best in water technology spanning four 'worlds: Industrial & Corporate Water World; Digital World; Clean Water World; Wastewater & Resources World. Pavilions showcased companies from individual countries, as well as by sponsor or special interest.
Conferences, talks, forums
Each world had its own stage which hosted a series of talks each day on relevant topics. These were free to attend and gave visitors a chance to engage with a range of industry leading experts and deep-dive into the hottest topics of the day. Fireside chats added another layer of interaction.
The Integrated Leaders Forum was an invitation-only gathering for influential decision makers in the water sector. The theme of the day was Water in transition and through panel discussions, workshops, keynotes and roundtables, the attendees discussed ideas for how best to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean water, hunger, climate action, and sustainable infrastructure.
Throughout the week, breakfast meetings, including the European Water Accelerator Breakfast and the Investor Breakfast sponsored by Rabobank, brought smaller groups together to discuss shared interests and focus on practical solutions that will help shape the future of the global water sector.
The Innovation Hub showcased the latest cutting-edge technologies as chosen by the Aquatech Innovation Award. Visitors had prime access to both the technologies and the people who pioneered their research and development.
Celebrating innovation
In addition to the exhibition and the multiple stages hosting talks throughout the show, Aquatech Amsterdam hosted a series of events which kicked off the evening before the show officially opened. Guests gathered on Monday evening to applaud Royal HaskoningDHV as the Danish company was announced as the Aquatech Innovation Award Overall Winner 2025.
The company's Aurea solution combines the best properties of biological activated carbon filtration and oxidative treatment to remove a wide range of organic micro-pollutants. It was designed for use in wastewater treatment plants, drinking water production sites, and industrial wastewater treatment facilities, helping to meet the objectives of the European Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD).
Solving a challenge like PFAS will require more than just one company or one breakthrough solution
The Innovation Forum, which ran throughout Tuesday brought together a stellar cast of panellists and moderators to talk in depth about a series of topics designed to 'align action to scale water innovations'. Sessions ranged from navigating the water procurement labyrinth to enhancing breakthrough business models, and from discussing whether start-ups and multi-nationals could and should work together to the welcoming investors into the water world.
The one-day conference ended with The Great PFAS Solutions Pitch, a digital derby that provided an opportunity for three start-ups to pitch their forever chemicals clean up potential to a panel of experts from CDM Smith, ImagineH2O and BlueTech Research.
The derby was won by Dr Fajer Mushtaq, Co-Founder & CEO of Oxyle, who told Aquatech Online: "Solving a challenge like PFAS will require more than just one company or one breakthrough solution. It was an honour to pitch alongside Aquagga and Puraffinity, and even more so to have them in the fight with us against PFAS contamination."
It's not all work, work, work
As well as the chance to network with thousands of fellow water professionals, Aquatech Amsterdam recognised the need to entertain. As well as DJ's, roaming musicians, booth drinks, and more, visitors were able to watch a screening of the Our Blue World film, and get 'roasted' by a group of comedic improvisors who turned the audiences' anecdotes into comedy gold.
And now for something completely different… for the third time, Aquatech Amsterdam hosted a sold-out Fuck Up Night. The night saw three industry leaders share their experiences of failing and the lessons they learnt – or to put it another way, how they failed upwards. The informal, safe-space setting encouraged others to also share those experiences that would normally be glossed over in favour of celebrating the wins. It was a reminder that we are all on a journey to a water positive future and that we are all human. And that water professionals have a great sense of humour!
The place to showcase new technologies and collaborations
With more than 900 exhibitors and the world of water descending on the RAI Amsterdam for four days, the show provided the perfect opportunity to announce and showcase new technologies, partnerships and initiatives.
For example, in the Residential & Commercial World, ANGEL Group presented its latest innovations in water purification for the home, including its Ionic Microsensor which utilises solid-state electrodes to measure water quality at increased efficiencies and lower energy costs than traditional methods. This makes the sensors ideal for use in water softeners, as they provide continuous quality testing and salt adjustment. The group also showcased a new diaphragm pump which displayed a significantly reduced movement (vibration) range, resulting in virtually no friction or wear, greatly enhancing its service life.
In the same world, Korean company Coway revealed its latest eco-friendly water purifier for home and office settings. Provisionally titled SWITCH, the purifier can operate without using electricity, helping to address concerns of environmentally-conscious customers.
In the Water & Wastewater world, H20 innovation presented it's scaled-down dummy version of the Megavessel, the company's latest innovation in reverse osmosis (RO) technology. H20 Innovation will distribute the Megavessel which is being built by Impact Filtration. Designed to improve water treatment efficiency, the 7x7 array of membranes removes pressure drop and reduces the footprint of the RO system.
REDStack announced partnerships and agreement with Membrion, for large-volume production of its standard stacks, and with SACYR Agua from Spain.
Royal Eijkelkamp launched its Water Works initiative, alongside partners Altop Kunststoftechniek BV, Jotem Water Solutions, Sumaqua and FieldFactors.
World Waternet and World Water Academy announced that they were joining forces to make 'hands-on water knowledge and skills accessible worldwide'. The goal is to reach six million people with better water services by 2030, by empowering water professionals to deliver clean drinking water, safe sanitation, and climate-resilient water systems, both faster and smarter.
A significant step forward in sustainable water treatment
Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI) made a suite of announcements during the show, including collaborations with other exhibiting companies. NSI announced a partnership with NieuWater and Jotem to scale BODAC® (Biological Oxygen-Doused Activated Carbon) technology on a global scale following successful implementation at WWTP Emmen in the Netherlands.
The partnership will see the technology trialled in combination with Ozone Strong Water (OSW) for superior water purification, pharmaceutical residue removal, and biofouling control while cutting costs and reducing environmental impact.
[CREDIT: Nijhuis Saur Industries]
Eddie Broeders, NSI Global Business Development Manager Municipal, told Aquatech Online: "BODAC® technology can be retrofitted in any existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), either in steel vessels for small/medium scale WWTP, or when a modular approach is desired or in concrete for medium/large installations."
Explaining the reasons for combining with OSW, he added: "Whereas BODAC® can reach 70-80 per cent removal of pharmaceutical residues, even higher removal efficiencies can be achieved by combining BODAC® and the MicroOxi technology (ozone + OSW) to reach removal efficiencies of pharmaceutical residues well above 90 per cent."
Coffee was a prevailing trend across each of the worlds at the show. NSI revealed a collaboration with Natural Systems Utilities and Sodai ─ Canal Café, an espresso bar with a difference. The innovation uses a unique combination of natural purification methods with advanced filtration to transform canal water into high-quality drinking water. Water reuse and management combined for the perfect cup of coffee.
Axine Water Technologies and NSI announced their intention to enter in a supply partnership that will contribute to tackling the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) clean up operation. NSI will assemble, manufacture and supply the PFAS Destruct solution, which uses Axine's electraCLEAR™ technology to dismantle the chemicals at molecular level, ensuring almost total destruction of both short- and long-chain PFAS contaminants.
