Theme 2025

Every day, thousands of news articles and social media items are uploaded, cameras are continuously filming the debates in parliament, official board meetings have to be documented, bank transmissions are reported and we can track each other's movement using the location sharing feature on our phones. Thus it seems like our world is more transparent than ever before. However, in our increasingly complex society, many of the most important decisions regarding our future are taken silently, out of our sight.

For instance, how much societal dialogue is there about the influence of Silicon Valley on different layers of our government; the influence of investment banking on the companies governing our economy, and the influence of nudging on our personal choices? About human rights violations happening on the dark web, or the fact that many important decisions, such as whether or not you get a loan, are now seemingly taken by algorithms, rather than people. Which parties are making these decisions and whose interests do they take into account?

When talking about the big opportunities of our future, it seems like our blind spot is even bigger. Not only do lots of promising innovations never get to see the light of day, even if we know they exist, we often don't take full advantage. Like high speed trains that could have replaced environmentally polluting means of transport years ago; fishing techniques that would've prevented ruining the seabed; easy solutions for drinkable water in third world countries that could be more broadly applied; or more longevous business models that could and should have taken the costs to human welfare and the environment in mind.

Instead, we once again find ourselves stranded in polarizing discussions on the topics we are already familiar with, and which, crucially, are often unjustly presented to have an easy solution.

How can it be that the public's eye seems to be centered around just a couple of issues while the rest are in dire need of attention and action? Is it because of company lobbyists sending us on a wild goose chase? Is it because governments favor symbolic action to appease their voters over real decisions? Or is it because we can't deal with the complexities of society and favor a simplified image to combat an otherwise bleak picture? Because in our personal lives, untouched by the crutches of politics and business, we face the same problem. Whether that be friends who silently struggle with mental issues, our neighbor's financial problems, or violence against a cashier.

We either don't know about it, or we don't want to know about it because we feel like we can't change anything about it anyway. Whichever it may be: this year the Veerstichting will help us face our blind spots. Experts from all over the world will teach us how to keep some of the major hidden challenges and possibilities of our future within sight and face them head on.

Are you ready?

For further information about our theme, please also see our theme video.