Circular City

Welcome to the Circular City. This city combines 18 trial projects, and represents an important step towards the Circular Netherlands in 2050. In 2016, this programme by the Dutch government represented a positive and daring ambition to have structured the Dutch economy to be fully circular at the latest by 2050. This is essential if we are to make sure that now and in the future, there are sufficient resources for everyone. Against that background, businesses, trade unions, government authorities, nature conservation and environmental organisations, knowledge institutes, financial institutions and many other social organisations in the Netherlands have already signed the Grondstoffenakkoord (Resources Agreement).

Almere – Raw Materials Collective

The Raw Materials Collective Almere (GCA) is a collaborative venture between 40 government authorities, knowledge institutions and market parties, aimed at bringing about a more circular and regionally oriented economy. The initiative is gradually becoming a fully fledged project organisation with participation by the municipality and other parties. Almere already has eleven benches produced from bio-composite material, and more than one hundred metres of bio-based riverbank protection, both produced by the GCA.

Almere – Upcycle Centre

The Upcycle Centre is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs who can make use on the spot of the residual waste flows provided by the residents of Almere. In this way, the traditional recycling centre is transformed into an innovative centre where resources are no longer lost but instead upcycled. In addition, in the adjacent education centre, interested parties can acquire knowledge of and be inspired by the upcycling of materials.

Amsterdam – Circular Buiksloterham

Since 2017, the Municipality of Amsterdam has been developing Buiksloterham as a circular urban district. Buiksloterham is a former industrial area and is currently undergoing redevelopment to a residential-working area with a total development programme of around 1,000,000 m2 gross floor area. Amsterdam will put circular area development into practice during the vision development stage, remediation, land preparation for building, tendering and in reaching agreements with individual developers.

Amsterdam – Circular Westas

Companies, governments and institutions are working together in the Westas with the goal of strengthening circular activity and the transition to a circular economy. The (future) businesses in this area are needed for the circular economy to succeed.

Apeldoorn – De Maten

The neighbourhood De Maten is designed according to a typical layout of the nineteen seventies ‘Bloemkoolwijk’. Revitalisation of the public space in De Maten is overdue. The municipality has decided to focus on the circular economy and energy transition to make De Maten more futureproof, with specific attention for paving, green and water in the district.

Apeldoorn – De Parken

De Parken in Apeldoorn is a district with listed status. Over the next five years, the roads will undergo a facelift with asphalt and concrete being replaced with paving bricks. The Municipality of Apeldoorn has announced held a circular tendering procedure.

Den Haag – Circular Coalition

The coalition is a group of seven Hague-based companies and institutions from the sectors trade, construction & real estate and (government) service, that recognise the importance and impact of the transition to the circular economy. The organisations that make up the coalition are together examining how a circular economy would look in The Hague, by developing initiatives on a local scale. The municipal authorities are investing 200,000 euro per year in the coalition.

Den Haag – Circular area development De Binckhorst

De Binckhorst is a former industrial area where housing is currently being developed. For the realisation of this project, core values have been drawn up including the creation of experimental space for the circular economy. Knowledge institutions have also developed a research programme (ACCEZ).

Dordrecht – Campus development Leerpark

The Leerpark is a breeding ground for government, education and enterprises at the interface between innovation and sustainability. Together with the Duurzaamheidsfabriek (Sustainability Factory), the Leerpark has been nationally identified as the leading example of a practice-based education platform with a bridging function between education and the private sector (hybrid learning).

Dordrecht – Restructuring Wielwijk

In the Wielwijk residential district of Dordrecht a restructuring programme is currently underway. This involves the demolition/new building of some sections and the laying out of a green park ribbon development. The Municipality of Dordrecht and the housing corporation Woonbron view the restructuring of Wielwijk as an opportunity to put into practice the principles of the circular economy.

Haarlemmermeer – Lincolnpark

The municipality is developing the new Lincolnpark district as a circular district for the future. In 2018, Lincolnpark is still in the project planning stage, whereby the municipal authorities have set the course, and laid down the project description. The municipality is currently investing in the preparation and implementation costs for preparing the 32 hectares of land for building and subsequent occupation, for around 800 homes.

Haarlemmermeer – Schiphol Trade Park

Schiphol Trade Park (STP) consists of 6 establishment environments that mutually complement one another. The municipal council has announced the ambition of making the STP the most sustainable business estate in Western Europe. The Municipality of Haarlemmermeer fulfils a series of different roles within this area development programme, from land owner through to partnership. All investments are made via the Joint Operating Company (Gemeenschappelijke Exploitatie Maatschappij, GEM) for STP. The municipality holds 41% of the shares in the GEM. The total investments amount to 401 million euro, with an intended yield of 449 million euro.

Rotterdam – Central District

The Rotterdam Central District is the area around Rotterdam station. The municipality aims to restructure this area based on the principles of energy neutrality, circularity and climate adaptation. During the restructuring process, subprojects will be organised that challenge the various stakeholders to contribute to these objectives. Buildings will be sustainably renovated and used for business service providers and flexible lease concepts. High-rise residential concepts and hotels will also be added. Financing will be a mixture of public and private funds.

Rotterdam – Nieuw Kralingen

A housing location is being developed in Nieuw Kralingen. The spatial parameters have already been defined in the area vision and zoning plan. The plans focus heavily on sustainability both during the construction and use phase.

Utrecht – Hof van Cartesius

The Hof van Cartesius is a test ground organised by creative entrepreneurs where work is undertaken according to circular principles. The pavilions surrounding a large green public courtyard garden are 90% built using reused and/or bio-based materials. The initiative is the result of an Open Call organized by the municipality in 2014.

Utrecht – The Greenhouse Restaurant

The Green House is a restaurant based on circular principles: no waste, a temporary and removable building and food from local suppliers. Utrecht is encouraging and facilitating this initiative for example with a flexible zoning plan. The land has been made available by the Central Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf) and private investment amounts to 2.5 million euro.

Venlo – Frederik Hendrik Kazerne

The Frederik Hendrik Barracks are a former military barracks and listed building. The municipality has drawn up an area vision for the development of the public space, based on a circular ambition. The total development of the area will involve investment of around 80 million euro of public funds and 80 million euro of private funds.

Venlo – Municipal Office

The Stadskantoor (Municipal Office) of the Municipality of Venlo was designed and built according to cradle-to-cradle principles. Forro both the municipal office and for its cradle-to-cradle activities, Venlo has received a series of nominations and awards. The municipal authority is the contract-awarding party for the Municipal Office and invested 53 million euro, resulting in annual savings of around 100,000 euro.

Numerous circular initiatives are already underway in the Netherlands. As a result, both cities and businesses have a great deal of knowledge and expertise, which will be important in bringing about a circular economy in the future. Cooperation is essential in expanding this knowledge and ensuring it is made widely available. In the future, this process will help make the Netherlands an international hotspot for knowledge and expertise in respect of circular developments. Partly for that reason, 9 municipalities, three Ministries and three knowledge partners signed the City Deal Circular City on 11 November 2016.