What Circulair West does

Stichting Circulair West is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) established in 2020 and headquartered in Hillegom, Zuid Holland, that operates as a membership-based coordination platform for circular economy initiatives in the West-Netherlands region (North and South Holland provinces). The foundation was co-founded by six companies from the Duin- en Bollenstreek region (AW Groep, De Beelen Groep, Hoek, Meerlanden, Ouwehand Bouw, and Timpaan), each of which holds a board seat, and is led operationally by kwartiermaker (initiator) Leon van Ast with Angeline Kierkels (CEO of Meerlanden) serving as voorzitter (chairman). Its core function is to organize chain collaboration among companies, government bodies, and knowledge institutions around four thematic challenges: material streams, human behavior, mobility, and circular construction. Approximately 50 organizations now participate, representing a combined turnover exceeding €750 million and over 2,500 employees (of which roughly 10% are social labor participation positions).

The foundation delivers its impact through icon projects (icoonprojecten), peer learning sessions (Circulair Cafés), annual congresses, knowledge publications (blueprints, whitepapers, and guides such as Blauwdruk Duurzame Woonwijk, Circulair beton, and Mobiliteit en Duurzame Woonwijken), and structured programs including the Circulair West Regio Sprint for SMEs and the CSRD-focused MKB Meetbaar Duurzaam initiative. It also maintains the Circulaire Kansenkaart Noord-Holland, an interactive map identifying circular economy opportunities. Knowledge partners include Metabolic (material flow research), TU Delft, Erasmus University, Hogeschool Leiden, and advisory partners Lansigt, Green By Blue, and IDDS. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capability, and no API surface; outputs are knowledge frameworks, practical guides, and human-facilitated working sessions rather than software products.

Commercially, Circulair West runs on annual membership fees priced at €6,000/year (excluding 21% VAT) for a minimum 3-year initial commitment, with a reduced rate of €3,000/year for organizations with fewer than 10 FTE or turnover under €1 million. Koploper (leader) tier members commit additional resources including UN SDG program registration and at least one employee working 8 hours per week on icon projects. Revenue is supplemented by co-financing from Provincie Noord-Holland and Provincie Zuid-Holland. The organization employs approximately 11 staff and is governed as an independent foundation with no parent company, no venture funding, and no parent-subsidiary structure; it is operationally active and expanding its program portfolio while remaining geographically constrained to West-Netherlands.

Name

Circulair West

Legal name

Stichting Circulair West

Website

https://circulairwest.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stichting Circulair West is a Dutch non-profit foundation (est. 2020, Hillegom) that coordinates a membership-based network of 50+ companies, governments, and knowledge institutions in North and South Holland to accelerate circular economy transitions through icon projects, publications, and SME programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hillegom

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from participating organizations. Standard rate: €6,000/year (excl. 21% VAT) for a minimum initial period of three years. Reduced rate: €3,000/year for organizations with less than 10 FTE and/or turnover under €1 million per year. After the initial 3-year period, membership is renewable annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Circulair West is a membership-based foundation (Stichting) that facilitates circular economy collaboration among companies, governments, and knowledge institutions in the West-Netherlands region. It offers structured programs, icon projects, and knowledge frameworks to help member organizations transition toward circular production processes, products, and services, supported by annual membership fees and a network of 50+ collaborating organizations representing over €750 million in combined turnover.

Product overview

Circulair West is a foundation that serves as a collaboration platform for circular economy initiatives in West Netherlands (North and South Holland). The organization offers a network-based approach with membership tiers (Founders, Koplopers/Pioneers, Vrienden/Friends) and focuses on four main challenge areas: Material Streams, Human Behavior, Mobility, and Circular Construction. Its product portfolio consists primarily of programs, publications, and frameworks including the Circulair West Regio Sprint for SMEs, the Blauwdruk Duurzame Woonwijk (Blueprint for Sustainable Residential Areas) with seven thematic inspiration cards, the Circulaire Kansenkaart for mapping circular opportunities, and various whitepapers and guides on topics like circular concrete, mobility, sustainable gardens, and CSRD compliance. These offerings are designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and practical implementation of circular economy principles across businesses, governments, and knowledge institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circulair West Membership Annual membership program for companies, governments, and knowledge institutions to participate in the circular economy network. Standard rate €6,000/year (3-year minimum), reduced rate €3,000/year for SMEs under 10 FTE or under €1M turnover. Koplopers additionally commit an employee 8 hours/week and register with UN SDG program.
• Circulair West Regio Sprint

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ organizations collaborating, representing €750 million+ turnover and 2,500+ employees
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AW GroepcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2020Co-founder of Circulair West. AW Groep is active in ground, road and water construction, concrete construction, remediation, green & nature, engineering services, and construction & ground materials supply. Director Ad Wijnhout serves on the board. Active in material streams and circular construction icon projects.
• De Beelen GroepcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2020Co-founder of Circulair West. Mobility company offering car sales, leasing, fleet management, car rental, replacement transport, commercial vehicle outfitting, modifications, and maintenance for 33 years. 85 employees, €12M turnover. General Director Frank Beelen serves on the board and leads mobility icon projects.
• Hoek (HOEK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2020Co-founder of Circulair West. Horticulture and landscape company with 75+ years history. 150 employees, €16M turnover. Director André Hoek serves on the board. Produces Bokashi from fermented green residues, uses local wood via Bollenstreekhout.
• MeerlandencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2020Co-founder and Chairman organization. Social and innovative enterprise with €75M turnover and 500 employees including ~100 with distance to labor market. Collects, processes, reuses and recycles waste and raw materials. Chairman Angeline Kierkels is General Director and serves as Circulair West Chairman.
• Ouwehand Bouw & OntwikkelencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2020Co-founder of Circulair West. Construction and real estate development company with 150 employees building ~500 homes annually in North and South Holland and North Brabant. Director Peter Ouwehand serves on the board.
• TimpaancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2020Co-founder of Circulair West. Property and area developer with ~20 employees. General Director Ingeborg de Jong serves on the board. Focuses on diverse housing needs including starters, specific care housing needs, and organizations.
• MetaboliccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Research partner for material streams analysis. Conducted the first icon project - material flow analysis with impacts and opportunities for circular North and South Holland. Collaborated on refining and enriching data with founding company information.
• Economic Board Duin en BollenstreekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-financier for the 'Circulaire Duin en Bollenstreek' program. Regional economic board supporting circular economy initiatives in the Duin- en Bollenstreek area.
• RabobankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecution partner for Circulair West Regio Sprint and supports circular economy initiatives. Provides financing expertise and network access for participants.
• LansigtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partner and advisor on CSRD compliance. Provides inspiration documents on corporate sustainability reporting. Partner Marc van den Eijnden contributed to the MKB Meetbaar Duurzaam icon project.
• Green By BlueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability advisory partner contributing to CSRD implementation guidance. ESG Director Dennis Mes provides expertise on sustainability strategy and reporting.
• IDDSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge partner providing guidance on data measurement for CSRD compliance. Contributes to icon project on making sustainability measurable for SMEs.
• New StoryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite management and hosting partner for Circulair West Regio Sprint, Circulaire Duin en Bollenstreek, and Circulaire Kansenkaart Noord-Holland websites.
• MOL Bedrijf & FinanciënminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFinancial administration and participant administration partner. Handles invoicing and financial record keeping for the organization.
• Route CirculairminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExecution partner for multiple programs including Circulaire Duin en Bollenstreek and Circulaire Kansenkaart Noord-Holland.
• Provincie Noord-HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government co-financier and supporter. Gedeputeerde Zita Pels (Circular Economy) participated in the symbolic launch of Circulair West. Co-financier for Circulaire Kansenkaart Noord-Holland.
• Provincie Zuid-HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government co-financier and supporter. Gedeputeerde Adri Bom-Lemstra (Economy and Innovation) participated in the symbolic launch of Circulair West.
• Center for Sustainability (TU Delft & Erasmus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge institution partner from TU Delft and Erasmus University contributing sustainability expertise.
• Hogeschool LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences contributing knowledge and expertise to circular economy initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Rotterdam Circulair: Rotterdam's regional circular economy initiative bringing together businesses, government, and knowledge institutions. Comparable as a regional circular network but based in South Holland-adjacent territory and structured around Rotterdam's industrial cluster.
• Amsterdam Circular: City of Amsterdam's circular economy program partnering with businesses and knowledge institutions. Comparable in convening regional circular activity but operates as a municipal initiative rather than an SME-led foundation.

Direct peers

• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based impact organization driving the global transition to circular economy through data, advisory, and programs. Closely comparable as a Dutch-headquartered circular economy platform convening businesses, governments, and knowledge institutions.
• MVO Nederland: Dutch national network of more than 2,000 companies working on sustainable and circular business. Comparable as a membership-based foundation providing CSR/circularity programs, events, and member services in the Netherlands.
• Kringloop Nederland: Dutch trade association for reuse and circular retail/social enterprises. Comparable as a Netherlands-based circular-economy membership association providing events, knowledge sharing, and advocacy for member organizations.
• Holland Circular Hotspot: Dutch public-private partnership showcasing Dutch circular economy expertise internationally. Comparable as a Dutch circular-economy platform connecting companies, knowledge institutions, and government around circular transition.
• CIRCO: Dutch circular design and business training program for SMEs and designers. Comparable as it delivers structured tracks and circular business model training to Dutch companies, often in partnership with regional networks.

Broad incumbents

• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: Global standards and certification body for circular and safe materials. Comparable as it advances circular-economy practices across industries, but operates as an international incumbent focused on certification rather than regional SME collaboration.

Emerging players

• Madaster Foundation: Dutch-founded platform providing material passports and circular asset registries for buildings. Comparable as a Netherlands-based circular-economy organization addressing material streams, but focused on a specific digital-product niche rather than broad SME collaboration.
• NL Greenlabel: Dutch foundation certifying and promoting green, healthy sustainable products and environments. Comparable as a Dutch sustainability membership/certification foundation working with companies and governments on sustainability transition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circulair-west

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 Circulair West