Niels Klarenbeek: “Metstrade’s Future Extends Far Beyond the Exhibition”

With more than 1,700 exhibitors confirmed, Metstrade 2026, taking place from 17 to 19 November at RAI Amsterdam, alongside The Superyacht Forum on 16–17 November, is preparing for another record-breaking edition. Networking, innovation and international business opportunities remain at the heart of an event that increasingly connects the entire global leisure marine industry. With artificial intelligence already an integral part of the industry’s technological evolution, Metstrade is now looking beyond its traditional three-day format, aiming to become a year-round platform for market intelligence, knowledge sharing and business development. In this exclusive interview, Niels Klarenbeek, Director of Metstrade and President of the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO), discusses the exhibition’s growth, emerging industry trends and his vision for its future.

Metstrade continues to grow in scale and international reach. What are your projections for exhibitor participation and visitor attendance at this year’s edition, and how do these figures compare with previous years?

Metstrade 2026 will once again be larger than any previous edition. Last year marked a milestone as we utilized every exhibition hall within the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre for the first time in the show’s history. Through further optimisation of the exhibition floorplan, we have been able to accommodate even more companies this year. We now have well over 1,700 exhibitors confirmed, representing every major maritime cluster worldwide. Visitor registrations are progressing in line with expectations and reflect the event’s increasingly global appeal. What continues to distinguish Metstrade is its ability to bring together marine professionals from all continents and all sectors of the leisure marine industry in one location. It has become a truly international business platform where innovation, networking and commercial opportunities converge.

Which new companies or brands are joining the exhibition this year? What can you tell us about the participation of French and Italian shipyards and marine equipment manufacturers?

Rather than highlighting individual exhibitors, I prefer to focus on the broader market developments reflected on the show floor. The country pavilions of Italy and France are indeed two of the largest in the show. More generically speaking, the strongest growth this year can be found in the Construction Material Zone, where visitors will discover a significant number of new suppliers and innovative materials supporting the next generation of yacht construction.  We are also witnessing substantial expansion in the Marina & Yard sector. Across the world, marina operators are investing in upgrades to existing facilities while new marina developments continue to emerge. This trend is clearly visible within our dedicated Marina & Yard Zone. Finally, the Superyacht Zone continues to strengthen its position as one of the most dynamic areas of the exhibition. Today, Metstrade serves as the global capital of the superyacht supply chain, bringing together the companies, technologies and expertise that drive this highly specialised market.

How important has the superyacht industry become to the exhibition’s overall identity and development?

The growth of the Superyacht Zone and the acquisition of The Superyacht Forum are closely connected. Together, they have significantly enhanced Metstrade’s relevance to the superyacht sector.

Since bringing The Superyacht Forum into our portfolio, we have seen increased exhibitor participation, stronger visitor engagement and the launch of several new initiatives tailored to this market segment. More importantly, it allows us to align conference content with exhibition development.

A good example is the growing focus on refit and lifecycle management. We deliberately strengthened the refit agenda within The Superyacht Forum while simultaneously expanding the refit presence on the exhibition floor. This creates a powerful synergy between thought leadership and business opportunities. For exhibitors, one of the key benefits is access to senior decisionmakers. The Superyacht Forum attracts owners’ representatives, executives, shipyard leaders and other influential stakeholders. By creating a seamless experience between conference and exhibition, we ensure these decisionmakers are easily accessible to exhibitors throughout the event.

However, Metstrade aims to service the entire leisure marine industry, from the smallest dinghy to the tallest superyacht. While Superyacht Zone is often getting much of the spotlights, we should not underestimate the significant size and enormous amount of innovation taking place in the volume market. 

Artificial intelligence is transforming many aspects of the marine industry. How is AI making its way into Metstrade?

Artificial intelligence is already influencing both how events are organised and how marine products are being developed. Within the Metstrade organisation, AI-driven tools increasingly support market intelligence, audience insights and decision-making processes. However, perhaps the most interesting developments are taking place among our exhibitors. Across navigation, onboard monitoring, predictive maintenance and energy management systems, we see products becoming increasingly intelligent and connected.

AI is no longer a future trend. It is becoming an integrated component of the technologies shaping the next generation of recreational marine products.

What are the most significant innovations being presented this year?

Several innovation themes stand out across the exhibition. Products are becoming more integrated, more energy efficient and significantly easier to use. Today’s boat owner increasingly expects the same seamless digital experience they enjoy in modern electric vehicles. This means intuitive interfaces, centralised control systems and connectivity through a single application environment. Keep telling us Niels klarenbeek, at the same time, manufacturers continue to push boundaries in areas such as propulsion efficiency, onboard energy management, automation and system integration. The result is a boating experience that is smarter, simpler and more sustainable than ever before.

What are the main emerging trends in yacht design, materials and onboard solutions?

Across the industry, we see a clear convergence of innovation, design and user experience. Products are becoming more intuitive, more robust and aesthetically refined, while maintaining exceptional technical performance. Owners increasingly expect technology to disappear into the background. Functionality must be effortless, systems must work seamlessly and every touchpoint must reflect premium design quality. These developments are clearly reflected in the entries and winners of the 35th DAME Design Awards, where criteria such as usability, sustainability, innovation and design excellence continue to play an increasingly important role.

Networking remains one of the main reasons professionals attend Metstrade. What initiatives help visitors and exhibitors connect?

Connecting people and businesses remains at the heart of Metstrade. We facilitate networking in a variety of ways, ranging from structured matchmaking opportunities to informal social gatherings and industry receptions. We have also invested heavily in initiatives that support talent development and entrepreneurship. The Young Professionals Club provides an active platform for attracting and retaining the next generation of marine industry talent, while our dedicated careers services help companies connect with skilled professionals.

At the same time, we have expanded our support for startups through dedicated programming designed to accelerate innovation and strengthen pathways into the wider marine industry ecosystem. Our objective is simple: create meaningful encounters that lead to long-term business relationships and industry growth.

How do you envision the event evolving over the next five years?

Metstrade will remain firmly committed to its role as the world’s leading B2B platform for the leisure marine industry. Our primary focus will continue to be the full value chain of the business, from suppliers and manufacturers to shipyards, designers, distributors and service providers.

Shipyards are already a crucial part of the Metstrade ecosystem, primarily as visitors representing the demand side of the market. One exception is the rapidly growing refit sector, where shipyards and refit specialists are increasingly represented as exhibitors.

Looking ahead, I believe Metstrade’s influence will extend far beyond the three days of the exhibition itself. Traditionally, we have played a leading role in setting the industry’s agenda each November. Our ambition now is to add value throughout the year by providing market intelligence, industry insights, knowledge-sharing platforms and opportunities for professional engagement.

In that sense, the future of Metstrade is not only about growing the exhibition, but about strengthening our role as a year-round catalyst for innovation, knowledge and business development across the global marine industry.

*Niels Klarenbeek metstrades-future-extends-far-beyondis a Dutch exhibition and trade show professional best known for his leadership roles in the marine and maritime industry. Director of METSTRADE and The Superyacht Forum: Since April 2020, he has served as the Show Director for METSTRADE