There are many great initiatives around vocational and secondary education. More and more making places and events are also emerging for primary school children. ‘But an ongoing programme in primary education does not yet exist. Super unfortunate because it is precisely there, for children between 4 and 12 years old, that the love for a direction like engineering starts. If we don't hit the nail on the head then, the chances are much smaller that children will still choose technical directions later in life,’ says co-initiator and education expert Tim Post. 

Pioneer of the future

Hangar21 offers that programme. From September, we offer all primary schools in Twente an adventurous hangar at the former Twenthe Air Base where young engineering talent is incubated. Ernst Olde Riekerink says: ‘We thought it would make sense to give primary school pupils access to their own workshop, with lifelike tools and inspiration from young technicians from the industry. Our idea? Doing and giving everything to breathe life into children's own tech dreams. And thereby help them build a promising future in technology.’

Hangar21

Hangar21 is the place where children are inspired and helped to create their own inventions. Here they discover how interesting, versatile and fun technical work is. The focus is not the teacher's wishes, but the children's dreams. Together with technicians, they learn to shape their own technical solutions to today's social challenges. With Hangar21, children, parents, teachers, school leaders and companies therefore build future-proof technology education together. 

But Hangar21 is much more than a hangar. From the 2020/2021 school year, thousands of students are expected to start an annual programme with their teachers that is full of in-service training for teachers and school leaders, as well as all kinds of educational activities for their students. ‘Our aim is to weave technology education into the regular curricula in schools, such as with maths, language and even music lessons and PE. With Hangar21, we thus also offer teachers a roof over their heads. Because interested teachers breed interested pupils,’ Tim said.

Hangar21 will officially open its doors in September 2020. From then on, everyone can get to know Hangar21!