BlueCity

What BlueCity does

BlueCity operates a circular economy innovation hub inside the former Tropicana swimming pool building in Rotterdam, Netherlands, which it acquired in 2015 and adaptively reused as a co-working, lab, and event venue. The organization serves circular entrepreneurs ("BlueCitizens") - startups and small teams in food, materials science, textiles, cosmetics, construction, and bio-based products - by providing physical infrastructure including dedicated offices, production spaces, the BlueCity Lab (with a Fungi Lab specialization), and the FoodHub food-production facility.

BlueCity generates revenue across three streams: recurring workspace subscriptions (ranging from a Super Flexwerkplek at 1 day/week through Kantoorunit offices, Productieruimte production spaces, FoodHub units, and BlueCity Lab full-time/part-time/day-pass tiers); pay-as-you-go event venue rental across six distinctive spaces (Ballroom, Dome, Skybox, Studio, Deck, Bar Stroom) for corporate clients and private functions; and structured programs including Startup Studio (six-month concept-to-proof program), Circular Factory (nine-month pilot-to-demo-plant accelerator), Circular Challenge (six-week challenge), and Het Nieuwe Nassen (sustainable menu program for restaurants and healthcare). The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with public events (Fuckup Nights, Townhalls, CHANGEZ), building tours, newsletter, and Eventbrite ticketing serving as both revenue streams and top-of-funnel acquisition channels for workspace tenants and program participants.

The business is anchored to a single iconic building (Maasboulevard 100, Rotterdam) and a community of 25+ named tenants and alumni. In 2025 the organization underwent a leadership transition (Marije Stijkel appointed director) explicitly framed around recalibrating operations and addressing significant financial challenges, alongside a co-development partnership with YES!Delft to extend its programmatic surface into tech-startups.

Name

BlueCity

Legal name

BlueCity

Website

https://bluecity.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BlueCity is a circular economy innovation hub in Rotterdam's transformed Tropicana building, hosting 25+ circular entrepreneurs through workspace rentals, lab facilities (including Fungi Lab and FoodHub), event venue hire, and accelerator programs such as Startup Studio and Circular Factory, serving startups, SMEs, and corporate clients in the Netherlands circular-economy ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circular Economy Innovation Hub

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH), Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

Keywords

• Circular economy hub
• Coworking workspace rentals
• Event venue rental
• Startup accelerator programs
• Innovation ecosystem

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Workspace Rentals: BlueCity rents various workspaces including Super Flexwerkplek (1 day/week), Flexwerkplek (5 days/week), dedicated offices (Kantoorunit), production spaces, and BlueCity Lab subscriptions (full-time 40hrs/week, part-time 8hrs/week, or day passes). This is a recurring revenue stream from circular entrepreneurs and startups.
2. Event Space Rental: BlueCity rents out multiple event spaces including the Ballroom, Dome, Skybox, Studio, Deck, and Bar Stroom for corporate events, workshops, talks, and private functions. Revenue is generated through venue bookings and catering services.
3. Programs and Accelerator Services: BlueCity runs various programs including Startup Studio (6-month program to proof of concept), Circular Factory (scaling program for demo factories), Circular Challenge (6-week challenge for young professionals), and Het Nieuwe Nassen (sustainable food program for restaurants and healthcare). Programs may generate revenue through participant fees or attract funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BlueCity operates a circular economy innovation hub inside the repurposed former Tropicana swimming pool in Rotterdam, providing flexible workspaces, production and lab facilities, event venues, and structured accelerator programs to circular entrepreneurs and companies. Its offering combines a physical ecosystem of more than 25 resident ventures with programs (Startup Studio, Circular Factory, Circular Challenge, Het Nieuwe Nassen) that support circular ideas from concept through proof of concept to demo plant.

Product overview

BlueCity is a circular economy hub and event venue in Rotterdam's former Tropicana building, offering a physical ecosystem for circular entrepreneurship. The company provides workspace rentals (from flexible desks to production spaces and lab facilities), event venues (Ballroom, Dome, Skybox, Studio, Deck, Bar Stroom), and structured programs (Startup Studio, Circular Challenge, Circular Factory, Het Nieuwe Nassen). BlueCity acts as an aggregator space where circular entrepreneurs, makers, and pioneers work on new materials, products, and value chains, supported by events, tours, and catering services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BlueCity Lab: Laboratory space and program for biotech and circular innovation startups
• BlueCity Dome
• Circular Factory
• Startup Studio
• Het Nieuwe Nassen
• FoodHub
• BlueCitizens
• BlueSouvenir
• Circular Catering

Products and services

• Workspace Rentals Subscription-based flexible workspace solutions for circular entrepreneurs, including Super Flex (1 day/week), Flex (5 days/week), dedicated desks, lockable office units, production spaces, FoodHub units, and BlueCity Lab access (full-time 40hrs, part-time 8hrs, or daily passes).
• Event Space Rentals Rental of six unique venues inside the Tropicana building — Ballroom, Dome (old wave pool), Skybox with Maas river view, Studio, outdoor Deck, and Bar Stroom (old lazy river) — for workshops, dinners, talks, seminars, meetings and break-out sessions.
• BlueCity Lab Laboratory facilities within BlueCity, including a dedicated Fungi Lab and additional lab spaces, available through subscription plans (full-time, part-time, or day passes) for startups working on circular bio-innovations.
• Startup Studio Six-month accelerator program for circular entrepreneurs that guides founders from initial idea to prototype and business plan, with structured expert guidance and access to the BlueCitizens community.
• Circular Challenge Six-week challenge program where young professionals develop circular business cases based on waste streams from participating organizations.
• Circular Factory Nine-month scaling program that guides circular startups through the phase from pilot to demo plant, preparing them to build a demo factory with circular alternatives.
• Het Nieuwe Nassen Program that helps restaurants and organizations make menus sustainable, healthy and future-proof, providing practical tools to measure and transform dishes.
• BlueCity Tours Guided tours of the BlueCity building, showcasing the transformation of the former Tropicana swimming pool into a circular economy hub and the work of resident entrepreneurs.
• Circular Catering Sustainable catering service that applies circular principles by treating waste as a residual flow in food preparation, aiming to eliminate waste entirely.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ visitors at major events like CHANGEZ against Black Friday consumerism
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• YES!DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2025YES!Delft and BlueCity partnered in November 2025 to create a circular program for tech-startups. The partnership combines YES!Delft's strengths in helping founders move faster from lab to market with BlueCity's ecosystem for circular innovation. Scaling circular and tech-driven startups requires heavy infrastructure, patient capital, and strong networks that connect lab innovation to the market. By joining forces, the two organizations help founders navigate the challenging scaling phase.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The New Farm: Dutch circular agriculture initiative developing urban food systems and circular farming ventures. Comparable as a Dutch circular-economy startup enabler, though more focused on food systems specifically.
• YES!Delft: Dutch tech incubator and accelerator based in Delft, recently partnered with BlueCity (Nov 2025) to support circular tech-startups. Comparable as a Dutch startup support organization running cohort programs and providing ecosystem access, though more tech-centric and less circular-economy focused.
• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs offering workspace, programs, and community for social entrepreneurs. Directly comparable as an impact- and sustainability-oriented multi-service hub, though operating a franchise model across many cities worldwide.
• Impact Hub Amsterdam: Local Impact Hub in Amsterdam combining workspace, events, and accelerator programs for impact-driven entrepreneurs. Closely comparable in service mix (workspace, events, programs, community) and mission alignment with BlueCity.

Regional players

• Pakhuis de Zwijger: Amsterdam cultural and innovation platform in a former warehouse, hosting events, programs, and community gatherings on social and sustainability themes. Comparable as a Dutch event- and program-driven hub in an iconic adaptive-reuse building.
• Circulair Friesland: Regional circular economy network and program in Friesland supporting circular entrepreneurs and projects. Comparable as a Dutch circular-economy ecosystem builder, but operating as a regional network rather than a single physical hub.
• NDSM-werf: Amsterdam-based creative and circular hub on a former shipyard, hosting makers, artists, and circular entrepreneurs. Comparable as a Dutch adaptive-reuse circular hub with workspace and event venue offerings, but serving a different city.

Broad incumbents

• WeWork: Global flexible workspace provider offering offices, event spaces, and community programming. Comparable as a multi-revenue workspace and event venue operator, though not circular-economy themed and serving a broader corporate market.
• CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center): Global operator of innovation campuses combining workspace, labs, and venture programs for startups and corporate clients. Comparable as a large-scale workspace-plus-program operator, though more commercially focused and not circular-economy themed.
• Brightlands: Multi-campus Dutch innovation organization focused on sustainability, health, and materials with labs, programs, and tenant companies. Comparable as a larger, broader Dutch innovation campus operator with circular-economy tenants and accelerator-style programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bluecity-rotterdam
• Xx.com/bluecity010

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BlueCity