Jurgen Moors, managing director of MCB, stated:
“There is growing demand for unique conference venues. With its cultural appeal, excellent accessibility, and proximity to the Brightlands Smart Services Campus, De Nieuwe Nor is a valuable addition to our regional offer.”
PRESS RELEASE: Nieuwe Nor in Heerlen joins regional conference network
16 July 2025
Heerlen, 16 July 2025 – The Maastricht Convention Bureau (MCB) is proud to welcome the Nieuwe Nor, Heerlen’s dynamic pop venue, as the newest partner in its network of over sixty affiliated organisations. Since its expansion in 2022, the Nieuwe Nor has boasted two modern auditoria accommodating over 1,000 guests, a vibrant café, and advanced technical facilities. While well-known as a cultural hotspot for live music, the venue now also serves as an inspiring setting for conferences and corporate events.
Pop venue strengthens links with Heerlen’s knowledge and conference ecosystem
In the coming years, the Nieuwe Nor aims to further position itself as a conference venue. This ambition aligns with the goals of the Municipality of Heerlen and Brightlands to promote and enhance the local expertise in data science, AI, and urban transformation through knowledge events and conferences. As a vital cultural hub, the Nieuwe Nor collaborates closely with other venues in the city.
It has already demonstrated this role by co-hosting the three-day national ‘Landelijk Platform Buurtgericht Werken’ (LPB) conference alongside Parkstad Limburg Theatre, and by being one of the venues for the conference ‘Spil in de Wijk’, which brought together 450 participants in Heerlen.
Access to an international network of event organisers
By joining the Maastricht Convention Bureau, the Nieuwe Nor now gains access to an extensive (inter)national network of event organisers, academic institutions, and businesses.
Kees van den Berg, managing director of the Nieuwe Nor, commented:
“Becoming part of the MCB network enables us to initiate new collaborations and to more strongly position Heerlen as a destination for knowledge-sharing, innovation, and meaningful encounters.”
This new partnership aligns with MCB’s strategic evolution into a regional convention bureau representing the entire province of Limburg. To support this growth, a four-year collaboration agreement has been signed with the Province of Limburg, the municipalities of Heerlen, Maastricht, Venlo and Sittard-Geleen, and the four Brightlands campuses. Thanks to this joint commitment, MCB is now better equipped to position Limburg as an attractive destination for conferences from both the Netherlands and abroad.