User Needs First International Conference 2025
In 2025, we are hosting a multi-day and international event: User Needs First International Conference 2025! The event will take place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th of April 2025. There is also a pre-conference day on Wednesday the 9th, for visitors from outside the Netherlands. Will we see you there?
Or read everything you need to know about the conference first:
- About the conference
- Programme
- Location
- Accessibility
- Registration for the conference
- Accommodation
- About us

About the conference
We’re organizing an international conference in April 2025 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for anyone working on better government services. We’re doing so in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (opens in new tab). We’re also actively collaborating with the International Design in Government community.
This year, the Dutch community Gebruiker Centraal (User Needs First) celebrates its 10 year anniversary. During these 10 years, we’ve learned that working on a user-friendly government requires a long-term vision and collaboration. As Mithula Naik (keynote speaker at our 2019 conference) aptly put it:
“You don’t work in government for speed, but for the impact of change!”
So, let’s have that impact together! Read more about the programme below or register for the conference straight away.
Programme
We are now putting together the full programme. Expect inspiring keynotes and over 25 unique, interactive breakout sessions to choose from. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with people working on better government services all over the world. If you live and work outside the Netherlands, you can also participate in the pre-conference day: Wednesday April 9.
Be sure to regularly check this page for updates on the full programme. You’ll find the programme so far below.
Note: The format and times of this programme are provisional and subject to change. All times are in CET, Central European Time.
Wednesday April 9 (pre-conference day)
The day is intended for participants coming from outside the Netherlands.
- 10.30-11.00: Registration
- 11.00-11.30: Intro keynote speaker
- 11.30-12.00: Keynote speaker
- 12.00-13.00: Lunch
- 13.00-14.00: Travel time to visit several government organizations
- 14.00-17.00 Excursion
Thursday April 10
- 9.00-9.30: Registration
- 9.30-10.15: Keynote speaker
- 10.15-10.30: Short break
- 10.30-11.30: Keynote speaker
- 11.30-12.30: Wisdom of the crowd
- 12.30-13.30: Lunch
- 13.30-16.30: Breakout sessions
- 16.30-17.15: Keynote speaker
- 17.15-18.00: Drinks
- 18.00-…: Evening programme
Friday April 11
- 9.00-9.30: Registration
- 9.30-12.30: Breakout sessions
- 12.30-13.30: Lunch
- 13.30-14.00: Something interactive
- 14.00-14.45: Keynote speaker
- 14.45-15.00: Break
- 15.00-15.45: Keynote speaker
- 15.45-16.00: Closing of the conference
- 16.00-17.00: End of the conference and drinks
You may attend 1 or multiple days. You indicate this when you register.
Read more about the location below or register for the conference straight away.
Location

The conference will take place at:
Meervaart Theater
Meer en Vaart 300
1068 LE Amsterdam
The Meervaart Theater is a beautiful venue in Amsterdam. With spacious, yet cosy rooms for the keynotes, and with all kinds of smaller rooms for the breakout sessions.

As a theatre, Meervaart has an important role in the neighbourhood. Meervaart wants to make all residents of Amsterdam Nieuw-West shareholders in its activities. The theatre sees performing arts as an important value in both personal and social life.
Travel and parking
The location is easily accessible via public transport and by car. By public transport, the travel time between Meervaart Theater and Schiphol Airport is about 25 minutes.
You can park your car in the Q-Park Osdorpplein (opens in new tab) or in Parking Nieuw-West (opens in new tab). In a few weeks, it will also be possible to use our carpool app, to offer a ride or to ride along.
Check directions and parking on their website (opens in new tab)
Read more about accessibility of the venue below or register for the conference straight away.
Accessibility venue
The venue is fully accessible. For more details:
Is Meervaart Theater wheelchair accessible?
The venue is fully accessible. Most of our premises are at ground level and a lift is available to reach the first floor. One or more wheelchair and companion seats are also available in both the Blue and Red Halls. Should we take this into account when you arrive? Let us know when you fill in the conference registration form.
Is it possible to park with a parking card for people with disabilities?
The City of Amsterdam has created 2 parking spaces for people with disabilities, in front of Meervaart Theater. If you are in possession of a valid parking card for people with disabilities, you may park there. Unfortunately, it is not possible to reserve those spaces, and full is full. We therefore advise you to arrive on time.
Is it allowed to bring my guide dog / SOHO dog?
An officially trained guide dog may accompany you. Please inform us in advance. Together with you, we will then look at the best seats to sit in, so that not only you are comfortable, but your dog can also lie down if necessary. Should we take this into account when you arrive? Let us know when you fill in the conference registration form.
Is ear amplification / ringing available?
Meervaart has a Phonak FM-controlled hard-of-hearing system available. This consists of a unit that can be worn around the neck along with headphones.
This unit can also be used to control the loop setting on your own hearing aid. Headphones are then not needed. Please be sure that your own set is also suitable for this. Otherwise, consult your hearing care professional to activate this function once.
The sets can be borrowed from our reception / cash desk. Should we take this into account when you arrive? Let us know when you fill in the conference registration form.
Do you need some peace and quiet or a stimulus-free environment in between sessions? There is also a quiet room if needed.
Are there other things we should consider for you in terms of accessibility? If so, please be sure to let us know when you fill in the conference registration form.
Registration for the conference
The conference is a multi-day and international event, we’re expecting many registrations. So, don’t wait too long to sign up!
Accommodation
Participating in the conference is free of charge. However, you must provide your own travel and accommodation. Meervaart Theater has made several price agreements with hotels nearby:
- Citiez Hotel Amsterdam (Discount code: MEERVAARTSPEC)
- WestCord Fashion Hotels (Discount code: WESTCORDFRIEND)
About us
User Needs First (Gebruiker Centraal) is an active community of Dutch government professionals working on inclusive and accessible services and communications. Working together helps us share knowledge, best practices and experiences, and inspire and motivate each other to improve government services and communications.
Our ambitions aren’t limited to Dutch government, we would like to look beyond our borders to contribute to inclusive and accessible governments internationally. That’s why we’re actively collaborating with the International Design in Government community (just like in 2019).