The Hague catering establishments on the Grote Markt are well on their way to sustainable entrepreneurship. For example, heating cushions for the terrace have been purchased with a discount via the municipality of The Hague. These cushions are more economical than heat lamps and they offer more comfort for the catering visitor. To see how the SME entrepreneurs get started in practice, alderman Kapteijns visited the Grote Markt.
‘I am proud to see how The Hague’s hospitality industry is participating in the energy transition. As a municipality, we would like to help them with this,’ says alderman Kapteijns (Energy Transition). ‘That is why, for example, we offer discounted heating pads via the municipality and we provide free advice on sustainable measures with the Energy Scan. It is wonderful to see how entrepreneurs from The Hague, such as De Grote Markt Groep, are taking the lead. We hope that their example will inspire others.’
Municipality supports
Entrepreneurs can use the municipality to make use of a 50% purchase discount on the Sit&Heat heating pads. This is part of the program Verduurzamen Haags MKB. Through the program, The Hague supports SME entrepreneurs with advice, subsidies and practical tools.
The municipality also offers a free energy scan. Within an hour, an advisor maps out energy-saving measures, including costs and payback period. This allows entrepreneurs to get started quickly and in a targeted manner.
Sustainable entrepreneurship
In addition to the heating pads, there are many other ways for entrepreneurs to reduce their CO₂ emissions. For example, the catering establishments on the Grote Markt cook electrically and have a special sustainable menu. Also, buying products locally and delivering them from a nearby hub has a positive effect because freight traffic in the city is limited.
For more information about sustainable entrepreneurship, please visit https://www.denhaag.nl/nl/ondernemen/duurzaam-ondernemen/
Text in Dutch & Images: Gemeente Den Haag. English translation: The Hague Online.
Photo 1: Grote Markt entrepreneurs in conversation with councillor Kapteijns (middle left), with a chair with a heating cushion in the foreground.
Photo 2: Visitors to the Grote Markt sit comfortably on the heated cushions.
Photo 3: The heating pads turn on automatically when someone sits on them. This saves a lot of energy