Toward a circular Netherlands

Thrilling seminar and debate meeting in Hoofddorp: how great is the urgency of healthy materials?

The goals are clear to all of us and there is really no way around it: in just over 25 years - in the year 2050 - the Netherlands must be circular. In other words, we will then be a country where waste is by definition a raw material. The supply of circular materials has therefore grown explosively in recent years. But, are all these materials truly circular or is there perhaps some downcycling after all? It is time for critical reflection!

But there is another question at play, and one that we should all really want to find an answer to: how do these materials affect the users of a building? Because, not every circular material - as good as it is for the well-being of our planet - has a positive impact on people, the environment and the indoor climate. We have left behind the years of the Sick-Building Syndrome, it seems. But these, of course, must not be allowed to return.

In short, it is time for a debate on the urgency of healthy materials in construction.

The program at the Headfirst theater in Hoofddorp is fascinating. Three high-profile speakers will give their views on the theme from their expertise and their own field. After lunch, under the leadership of chairman Rogier Elshout, a number of stimulating topics and propositions will be discussed in a House of Commons debate. Nice to get all the differences of opinion to the surface and also to discover whether there might be a consensus! After all, the first important circular task is approaching: by the year 2030, Europe should have reduced greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by 55% while continuing to work on making the economy circular.

The event will take place in the theater with a 180-degree projection screen at Park 20|20 in Hoofddorp, municipality of Haarlemmermeer. The meeting is an initiative of C2C construction group.

This seminar hopes to welcome as visitors builders, architects, clients (who are ready for the next step in ecological development), suppliers (who want to grow in circular products and processes), networkers in the construction industry as well as investors who are looking for returns in circular projects.

The speakers: Erik Roerdink - Architect and partner at 

The Black Dog

"I work as an architect at De Zwarte Hond from our office in Groningen. I work on various projects throughout the Netherlands including a wooden office building for Alliander in Amsterdam, a Supermarket of the Future in Meerstad and on various transformation projects. Based on these projects, I will explain our vision on healthy and circular building."

Carl-Peter Goossen - Bouwnext

"Trained as a structural engineer and architect, I am engaged in deep innovation in construction. In addition, I get to lead Bouwnext. Our integrated approach is crucial for optimizing construction projects."

Coert Zachariasse - Delta Development Group

Coert Zachariasse is CEO of Delta Development Group, the developer of Park 20|20. Using the development of the new distribution center of Levi Strauss & Co - Germany's first Cradle-to-Cradle optimized logistics project - Coert gives his views on healthy materials in construction.