Queen Máxima and André Kuipers at festive launch of 25 years of Vakkanjers
The educational program Vakkanjers is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a special anniversary edition under the theme Space Mission Earth: A View of the Future! This special anniversary will be celebrated with a festive national launch on October 2, 2024, attended by Queen Máxima, André Kuipers and his colleagues Helen Sharman en Claudie Haigneré.
Launch with Queen Máxima
The official kick-off of the anniversary year will take place on October 2, 2024 at the Space Expo space museum in Noordwijk. Queen Máxima will attend this festive event, together with André Kuipers, who is the ambassador of Vakkanjers this year. Barbara Hoppel, director of Space Expo, is enthusiastic: “We are really looking forward to the arrival of Vakkanjers and the visit of Queen Máxima. In our museum, we make space and the vulnerability of our planet tangible and inspiring for young people. With this year’s theme, we hope to inspire future scientists or even astronauts.”
25 years of Vakkanjers: Space Mission Earth
Vakkanjers, which was founded 25 years ago to inspire young people for technology, has the theme ‘Space Mission Earth: A Look at the Future!’ this school year. Together with the ASE (Association of Space Explorers) and under the guidance of André Kuipers, students will think about how space technology can contribute to a better and healthier world. Kuipers, who has experienced the vulnerability of the earth from space, calls on students to think along: “Space travel helps us to understand and protect the earth. I challenge the Vakkanjers to come up with innovative ideas that improve the world.”
A quarter century of technical inspiration
Beatrice Boots, director of Platform Talent for Technology, emphasises the impact of Vakkanjers: “In 25 years, Vakkanjers has inspired and challenged tens of thousands of pupils with technical issues. The programme not only offers young people fun and challenge, but also a valuable introduction to the world of innovation. This year, we are going all out, partly thanks to the involvement of André Kuipers.”
Vakkanjers: discovering and developing talents
Vakkanjers is an educational programme in which pupils can discover their technical and innovative talents. From group 7 to the fourth year of secondary education, they are challenged to work on socially relevant, technical issues. The programme, which fits in perfectly with the curriculum, offers schools an inspiring way to integrate career orientation and new skills. Moreover, participation is free for schools.
About Vakkanjers
The Vakkanjers programme is an initiative of A+O Metalektro, OOM and Wij Techniek, and is implemented by Platform Talent for Technology. With challenges, regional finals and a national final, the creativity and technical knowledge of students are put to the test, with the ultimate goal: innovation for a better world.
About the ASE congress
The launch of Vakkanjers is one of the components of the XXXV Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers that takes place in the Netherlands this year.