In a former defence sports hall, in the same building as AMS Institute, innovators, researchers, policymakers, and residents come together to showcase, connect, and scale circular and regenerative solutions. Using the city as a living lab, CRCL Park aims to play a key role in Amsterdam’s transition towards becoming a fully circular capital.
Recap of the evening
After the official opening remarks by Amélie Strens, we started the program with a panel, bringing together diverse perspectives from Laurens Nolet (Decathlon), Marieke van Doorninck (Former Deputy Mayor of the City of Amsterdam), Mijke van Ballegooijen (ByBorre), and Stef Traa (Droppie). Together, we explored how circular business models, material innovation, and behavior change can make circularity the new normal: where technological and social innovation reinforce each other.
We closed the afternoon programme with connection and creativity: a harp-and-dance performance by (Indra Diallo + Rebecca Wijnruit) around a circular artwork designed and created by Marlies Boterman and Peter van Assche (Bureau SLA), crafted from rejected Secrid wallet cases. A beautiful reminder of what’s possible when we design smarter, extend product lifecycles, and turn waste into value.
We then carried the conversation into the evening with drinks and networking, bites by Kolenkitkoks, and a vibrant set from DJ KatayOun.
For the city
With the opening of CRCL Park, Amsterdam gains a place where the circular economy truly comes to life. For innovators, it provides opportunities to test, demonstrate, and scale new circular business models. For researchers, it creates a bridge between knowledge and practice, increasing societal impact. Policymakers will find tangible examples and collaborations that show how circular policy can be implemented in the city. And for residents, CRCL Park makes circularity visible in everyday life and invites them to take part.
Collaboration at its core
CRCL Park is a joint initiative by AMS Institute and Impact Hub Amsterdam, developed in close collaboration with the City of Amsterdam and a wide range of partners from science and practice. More than just a physical location, CRCL Park is a community, a coalition built around collaboration and real circular impact.
“With CRCL Park, we make Amsterdam’s circular ambition tangible: bringing together knowledge, policy, and entrepreneurship while using the city as our living lab. This is how we accelerate the step from research to real-world implementation.”
Zwanet van Lubek
Managing Director
Impact Hub Amsterdam underlines the importance of entrepreneurship in this transition:
“Over the past years, we have supported thousands of entrepreneurs in developing sustainable innovations. CRCL Park now offers a place to make these innovations visible and to scale them together with partners across the city.”
Ilse Kwaaitaal, Director of Impact Hub Amsterdam
Together, we accelerate the transition towards a circular and regenerative Amsterdam. Located at the Marineterrein, CRCL Park serves as a living lab, and the city as a testing ground for circular innovations that can be refined, scaled, and shared.
We are actively forming a coalition of doers to expedite the transition to a circular and regenerative economy. Join the coalition and sign up here.
