IAAPA Europe 2022: The Show Gets Under Way in Amsterdam

The giant IAAPA Europe exhibition got under way in the Netherlands yesterday at Amsterdam's RAI Centre. The three-day show was notable for the official confirmation – what we described as one of the best-kept secrets of the year – that IAAPA is to run a Middle East trade show in 2026.

The giant IAAPA Europe exhibition opened in the Netherlands yesterday at Amsterdam’s RAI Centre.

The three-day show was notable for the official confirmation – what we described as one of the best-kept secrets of the year – that IAAPA is to run a Middle East trade show in 2026.

For the moment, however, the focus was on getting into the hall in the first place and then seeing what the industry’s suppliers have to offer.

That, we concluded, was considerable.

It is the largest IAAPA Europe ever staged in the series that uniquely ‘travels’ around Europe annually; next year it goes to Barcelona.

Running until Thursday, the show sees 650 exhibitors spread around 18,500 sq.m. of exhibit space.

The opening ceremony was spectacular with a display of music, dance and lighting in the ‘IAAPA Theatre’, where Dutch society was celebrated with a Van Gogh backdrop and a BMX/ballet/breakdancing performance.

The formal part of the evening was capped with a presentation to Dutch theme park Waarbeek to mark 100 years in operation. A welcome was also provided by Jakob Wahl, the IAAPA President, welcoming guests to his home country from the city’s canals.

There were long hold-ups at the entrance as the badge collection booths were swamped initially, created some grumblings, both from those trying to get in and the suppliers inside.