Amid great interest, a number of influential figures from the Dutch government and business sector gathered on 8 July.
Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme:
“With collaboration in our genes, we in the Netherlands can be frontrunners when it comes to being a circular hotspot.”
Daan Roosegaarde presented his vision for a circular society and co-initiator Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme kicked off the start of the programme ‘The Netherlands as Circular Hotspot’ in the presence of the 25 parties supporting the initiative.
Daan Roosegaarde:
“The circular economy still takes some getting used to for many people.”
The programme ‘The Netherlands as Circular Hotspot’ will be profiled in various ways in 2016 during the Dutch presidency of the EU: for instance, there will be an exhibition space at Schiphol where entrepreneurs can show off their circular showpieces and incoming trade missions will be organised.
Guido Braam, Circle Economy:
“You must develop transitional paths. And especially leave cynicism behind us.”
Park 20|20 and Schiphol Trade Park will be the centre point of these activities. In the run-up to the presidency, dozens of prominent business people and policymakers from the Netherlands but also from outside will be challenged to give their vision for ‘The Netherlands as Circular Hotspot’. Delta Development Group has a cooperation agreement with Circle Economy for this.
Coert Zachariasse, Delta Development Group:
“The circular economy is situated somewhere between desire and necessity. Here is where we make it reality: the circular economy hotbed in The Valley makes the circle concrete.”
The Valley: National circular showcase project at Schiphol Trade Park
8 July also marked the start of the cooperation between Schiphol Trade Park (with shareholders SADC, Schiphol Real Estate and the municipality of Haarlemmermeer) and Valley CV (with Delta Development Group, Volker Wessels and Reggeborgh). Delta and Eneco are also entering cooperation to work with partners to develop a circular energy concept in The Valley. These collaborations mark the start of the development of The Valley as a Dutch Showcase Project within the programme ‘The Netherlands as Circular Hotspot’.
John Nederstigt, alderman in Haarlemmermeer, showed his philosophical side:
“If you continue to do what you have done, you will continue to get the same results. Have some courage and take the path of the circular economy. You feel the urgency if you look at your child.”
At Schiphol Trade Park, the central innovation area ‘The Valley’ will be the national and international engine for the transition to a circular economy and will serve worldwide as the location where circular developments come together.
Jeanet van Antwerpen, CEO SADC:
“We are developing the first circular business ecosystem in the world here. I am very proud of that.”
Click here for a photographic impression.