News from Ergotherapie Nederland (Netherlands)

In 2026, Occupational Therapy in the Netherlands continues to develop through collaboration, knowledge exchange and connections with the international Occupational Therapy community. An International Relations Committee (IB Committee) is active within Ergotherapie Nederland. The committee consists of occupational therapists who volunteer their time to support international engagement. It follows international developments, maintains professional contacts and shares relevant information with the Dutch Occupational Therapy community. 

The IB Committee works closely with Dutch delegates and representatives involved in international organisations. They regularly exchange information and seek each other’s feedback and perspectives on international topics. This collaboration helps bring Dutch experiences into international discussions while also ensuring that relevant international developments are shared within the Netherlands. 

An important event for the Dutch Occupational Therapy community this year was the Occupational Therapy Congress 2026, held in Den Bosch on 13th March, with more than 540 participants. The theme, ‘Strong Together with Occupational Therapy’, was reflected in a range of topics relevant to the future of the profession. Sessions explored the role of Occupational Therapy in primary care, regional and multidisciplinary collaboration, and the societal challenges associated with supporting people to live independently at home for longer. Other topics included AI and innovation, reablement, energy management, neurological rehabilitation, and person-centred care for people living with dementia. The programme combined lectures, interactive workshops, a panel discussion and poster presentations, providing opportunities for participants to share knowledge and practical experiences. (Ergotherapie Nederland, 2026a; 2026b) 

Another development of international interest is ‘Zeker blijven lopen!’ (Keep Walking Safely). This Dutch group-based training programme originates from the American Stroll Safe programme. Commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Stroll Safe was adapted to the Dutch context in 2024 by VeiligheidNL, the Radboudumc Chair of Occupational Therapy and Ergotherapie Nederland. The programme is aimed at independently living adults aged 65 and over and supports them in recognising risks when walking outdoors and developing safer strategies. Following an initial pilot in three Dutch municipalities, the programme is being further implemented and evaluated in several neighbourhoods in Amsterdam in 2026. (Ergotherapie Nederland, 2026c; 2026d) 

This project illustrates how international knowledge can be adapted to a local context and subsequently evaluated and further developed. The experiences gained in the Netherlands can, in turn, contribute to international knowledge exchange within Occupational Therapy. 

References 

Ergotherapie Nederland. (2026a, 19 March). Ergotherapie Congres 2026. 

Ergotherapie Nederland. (2026b). Jaarcongres 2026 – Samen sterk met ergotherapie!. 

Ergotherapie Nederland. (2026c, 18 February). Zeker blijven lopen!. 

Ergotherapie Nederland. (2026d). Ergotherapie groepstraining Zeker blijven lopen!. 

News from Polskie Stowarzyszenie Terapii Zajęciowej (Poland)

On May 14–15, 2026, the National Occupational Therapy Conference titled “The Potential of Occupational Therapy in Supporting Mental Health across Diverse Target Groups” took place in Warsaw. The Polish Association of Occupational Therapy (PSTZ) granted its honorary patronage to the event. Anu Söderström, President of COTEC, delivered an online lecture for the attendees. The conference provided an excellent opportunity for Occupational Therapy researchers and practitioners to connect. The first day featured lecture sessions, a poster session for undergraduate and doctoral students, and a panel discussion. On the second day, workshops were held for participants. 

In June 2026, the Polish Occupational Therapy Association organized its 2nd Training Meeting for association members, where practitioners shared their knowledge and clinical experience. The initiative behind these training sessions stems from legislative changes that officially recognized occupational therapists as a medical profession in Poland. Statutory provisions now require occupational therapists to collect continuing education credits. As a National Association authorized to award these points, PSTZ launched a cycle of regular training meetings for its members. 

Also in June, the General Assembly of PSTZ Members took place, during which a new Board was elected. Edyta Janus has been elected President of the Polish Occupational Therapy Association. Anna Misiorek has been elected Vice President of PSTZ. The Board consists of seven members. The newly appointed Board members will continue the mission of promoting and developing occupational therapy in Poland, as well as undertaking new initiatives aimed at increasing the recognition of the profession.  

Furthermore, in June, the Polish Occupational Therapy Association was granted full member status in the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). This represents a significant step forward for Poland and provides strong motivation for future work. 

There is a lot happening, and we hope the coming years will be fruitful for Polish Occupational Therapy. Keep your fingers crossed for us! 

News from Zbornica Delovnih Terapevtov Slovenije (Slovenia)

In May 2026, Slovenia hosted the 12th National Congress of Occupational Therapists, a two-day professional event attended by approximately 150 occupational therapists from across the country. The programme included 25 presentations, 11 workshops, two round-table discussions, and 13 poster presentations, providing opportunities for professional exchange, knowledge sharing, and discussion of current developments in occupational therapy. 

Contributions from the congress were published in the Slovenian Journal of Occupational Therapy and are available online through the Slovenian Association of Occupational Therapists. The titles and abstracts of the contributions are also available in English, making the congress proceedings accessible to an international audience: 
Slovenian Journal of Occupational Therapy – Volume 15 

Looking ahead, Slovenia will host the Occupational Science Europe Conference 2027, bringing together researchers, educators, practitioners, and others interested in occupational science from across Europe and beyond. Further information about the conference is available on the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences website: 
Occupational Science Europe Conference 2027 

Another important development for Occupational Therapy in Slovenia is the expansion of Occupational Therapy education. Since 2025, Slovenia has had two Occupational Therapy study programmes, one in Ljubljana and one in Jesenice, both approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. This represents an important milestone for the further development of Occupational Therapy education and the profession in Slovenia.