Holland Circular Hotspot

07/05/2026

🌍♻️🤝 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗙𝗔𝗧 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

As coordinator of the 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 (𝗣𝗜𝗕) 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝟮𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, we were energised to be on a mission to 𝗜𝗙𝗔𝗧 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵. One of the most important international trade fairs for our PIB members and a strong follow‑up to our recent mission to China.

Known as the world’s largest and exceptionally well‑organised environmental trade fair, IFAT showcases the latest innovations in environmental technology and waste management. It was no surprise to see a strong 🇳🇱 Dutch presence, with dedicated recycling and water management pavilions.📍 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝟰.𝟯𝟬𝟱 quickly became the hub of activity for the PIB delegation.

A real highlight was welcoming Chinese delegations of more than 30 participants into our compact 3 × 3 m PIB booth 🤝. We hosted delegations from 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗶 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝘂, which is responsible for handling roughly half of Shanghai’s waste, as well as government and business representatives from 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀.

The day concluded with an evening dinner in a traditional Bavarian outdoor setting 🍽️🌿, offering the perfect opportunity to deepen relationships and continue technical discussions in a more informal atmosphere. IFAT Munich once again demonstrated the power of international collaboration in accelerating circular economy solutions.

Next to representing the capabilities of our PIB companies NX Filtration, Carbotreat, Centritech, Bio-Up, Bouman, BeePro B.V. (Beeksma Products), Paques and Dorset Green Machines, we made strong new connections with the PIB and DESPRAY Environmental ♻️ , TriTech Solutions (Haico Wevers and Dennis Zegers), ISWA International Solid Waste Association, SweepSmart Colubris Bollegraaf and Lubo Recycling Solutions, International. We were delighted to meet so many friends from our Nigeria projects, like Ifedolapo Runsewe, Niels van den Hoek, Mike MacKay, the Saudi mission (Charles DARIDON, Rogier van de Weijer) and international friends (Marc Tijhuis, Aditi Ramola, Jose Uribe).

This mission is made possible through strong public-sector support, including the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Munich (thank you, Consul Annelies Faro for opening the Dutch reception), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, Holland Circular Hotspot and the Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat (the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) and our Chinese Liaison, Mr. louis Wang.

Interested in being part of the next mission?

👉 Get in touch ([email protected] or [email protected]) and explore how we can accelerate your international impact—together.

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23/04/2026

🔥 WOW, what an exposure for the dutch circular companies in our PIB Waste to resource programme!

80 people in the room was great… but that’s not the real story.
👉 Local Chinese media picked up our Dutch circular companies.
Interviews. Articles. Visibility.

And “local” in China?
That means Shandong Province — home to over 101 million people.

For those who read Chinese — enjoy the articles below 👇

https://lnkd.in/eCwCZz5z
https://lnkd.in/ejJ9GGCr
https://lnkd.in/ezET4KAT
https://lnkd.in/eKnXG8UJ

23/04/2026

Our Waste to Resources PIB program cluster is exploring collaboration and market opportunities in Shandong province, China. Who is there? Some of the top Dutch companies providing circular and environmental solutions: Bouman, BeePro, Bio-Up, Carbotreat, Centritech, DORSET GREEN MACHINES B.V, NX Filtration, Paques and Tible meeting Chinese solution seekers.

The program is supported by Dutch Embassy, Consulate General, Embassy and NBSO in China, and coordinated by Holland Circular Hotspot and our Chinese Liaison Mr. louis Wang. Interested in growing in Chinese market? Drop us and email: [email protected]

23/04/2026

20/03/2026

Behind the Scenes of 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Next

What actually makes a Circular Hotspot Event work?
👉 Not on paper, but in real life, across different continents.

Next Friday, we’re opening the doors behind the scenes of Circular Hotspot Events.

💬 Together with organisers from 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮, we’ll unpack:
• How these events actually look and feel in practice
• What really sparked them to start
• What makes a Hotspot successful (and what doesn’t)
• How to design events that are engaging, inclusive, and circular by design
• The biggest challenges — and proudest moments
𝗣𝗹𝘂𝘀: 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 👀

𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 & 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 in
🇦🇺 Australia | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
This is not a standard webinar.
It’s 90 minutes of real stories, honest lessons, and practical insights you can actually use.
If you’re serious about Circular Economy, this is one you don’t want to miss.

🎊 10 Years of Circular Hotspot Events: Driving Systemic Change Through Local Action
📅 27th March 2026, 10 AM CET
⏱️ 90 minutes

👉 Secure your spot here: https://hollandcircularhotspot.nl/events/10-years-of-circular-hotspot-events-driving-systemic-change-through-local-action-webinar/

Stay tuned: we will announce speakers next Monday 🤝

Explore how Circular Hotspot Events drive the circular economy. Join this free 90-minute webinar with real case stories and insights on future events.

12/12/2025

Dear Circular Friends,
Our second newsletter of 2025 is out now! 🎉
Join us as we wrap up the past months, celebrate our progress, and look ahead to the exciting events and opportunities coming up.
Check it out here 👇

Keep up with our takes about all things circularity by subscribing to our newsletter HERE. Intro and foreword from our Director, Freek van Eijk Strengthening International Circular Cooperation Across the Globe Over the past months, the global Circular Economy Hotspot community has continued to expan

01/12/2025

🌏 ♻️ Join the Netherlands Pavilion at Saudi Arabia 2026
26–28 January | Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is taking bold steps in waste, water and resource management — creating exceptional momentum for Dutch circular and environmental solutions.
Together with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Saudi Arabia and Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), Holland Circular Hotspot invites Dutch organisations to be part of this landmark first IFAT edition in the Kingdom.

🌟 Highlights of the Netherlands Pavilion
✔️ Prime visibility for your organisation through a coordinated Netherlands Pavilion
✔️ Shared NL space designed for meetings, hosting and engagement
✔️ Pre-set meetings & strengthened matchmaking with key Saudi institutions
✔️ A Dutch–Saudi networking reception to welcome your guests
✔️ Curated content moments positioning Dutch expertise for local decision-makers
Saudi Arabia’s rapid shift toward integrated circular systems is creating real openings for companies active in waste management, water technology, recycling, waste-to-energy, digital solutions and resource recovery.
This is the right moment to step in!! 🇳🇱🇸🇦
👉 Secure your place: https://lnkd.in/g22rasfn

📩 Freek van Eijk

01/11/2025

Celebrating the 16th Circular Hotspot hosted by Taiwan – the Most Visited Hotspot Yet! 🇹🇼

What an incredible milestone for the global Circular Hotspots!
The 16th Circular Hotspot in Taiwan brought together over 500 participants from 50 countries, marking our most visited Hotspot event so far!
👏 Congratulations to the Taiwan team for this outstanding achievement!

Over several inspiring days, the first edition of the Asia-Pacific Circular Hotspot showcased:
🔹 A rich international program covering circularity across all sectors
🔹 Deep-dive discussions on governance, metrics, and financing circularity
🔹 High-level visibility with ministers, a closing session by the President of Taiwan, fully endorsing the transition to a circular economy and live national TV coverage
🔹 Matchmaking sessions, interactive programs, and eye-opening site visits showcasing real-world circular solutions
🔹 Strong representation from the business community

The event was organised back-to-back with the Circular Cross Expo at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and the Asia Pacific Circular Economy Roundtable.
🎤 Director General Lai of the Ministry of Environment, Matthijs van der Hoorn van den Hoorn of the Netherlands Office Taipei, and Vesna Lavtižar and Freek van Eijk of Holland Circular Hotspot had the honour of opening the Expo.

A huge congratulations to the superb organisers — Taiwan’s Ministries of Environment, Economy, and Agriculture, together with our long-term partner 循環台灣基金會 Circular Taiwan Network — for delivering such an impactful event.

🙏 Thank you, Taiwan, for being an outstanding host of the 16th Circular Hotspot edition!
The journey continues!
📍 Next stop: Mexico – November 5–6, 2025 https://lnkd.in/gsA7cVj7
🌍 Upcoming Hotspots in 2026: Budapest (2026) https://lnkd.in/e5Hp9U8a | Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) | Gaborone (Botswana) | and newly elected Sydney (Australia) and Brno, Czechia (2027)
Let’s keep building a global movement for circular change — one Hotspot at a time. ♻️

💡 What are Circular Hotspot events?
Since 2016, when the first Circular Hotspot took place in the Netherlands, these events have been organised annually under the wings of Holland Circular Hotspot.
Each Hotspot is unique — rooted in local context, showcasing regional opportunities, initiatives, and policies, and giving them the recognition they deserve.
🎯 The goal? To make change happen. To give the circular economy wings.
The Circular Hotspots bring a regional and action-driven focus, complementing the more global, policy-driven (and equally important) World Circular Economy Forum.

🌎 Interested in hosting a future Circular Hotspot in your region?
👉 Get in touch: [email protected]

18/10/2025

⚙️ When Lithuanian manufacturing meets Dutch circular innovation

What a wonderful Lithuanian group we had in the Netherlands this week — a follow-up to the circular economy workshop our Vesna Lavtizar, PhD held in June.
The mission brought together Lithuanian manufacturing experts and Dutch pioneers for a deep dive into circularity that works in practice.

What we explored:
💡 Signify – showed us how circular design and smart systems reduce energy use while enhancing well-being, mood, and productivity.

🪑 Ahrend – proved that refurbishing instead of remaking saves massive amounts of CO₂ and resources — and their refurbished furniture looks almost brand new.

🚀 Innoboost – inspired us with real circular economy cases and their creative office space where everything is reused or repurposed — even the kitchen is a service!

➡️ East NL – showed us why the region is becoming a magnet for circular manufacturing. Open for partnerships, open for business — and yes, open for Lithuanian innovators too!

At Holland Circular Hotspot, we were happy to curate and facilitate this program — helping to connect ideas, people, and businesses between the two wonderful countries.