The municipality of The Hague is taking a new step towards a circular city. The Hague Circular Crafts Centre has been launched in the Den Haag Werkt building on Kerketuinenweg. Products are made here from discarded materials, such as bags, candles, notebooks, and refurbished bicycles. The Spullenbak project, where employees sort materials from household waste for reuse, is also being implemented here. We throw away 200 million kilos of stuff every year, and that’s a shame.
Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Raw Materials) says that ” with the Hague Circular Crafts Centre, we demonstrate that sustainability and employment can go hand in hand. This way, we are gradually building a circular city. “
The craft center on Kerketuinenweg is a first step. Because not all functions fit in a single location, the municipality is developing a network of circular craft centers throughout the city. Some locations will focus on producing new products from reusable materials. Others will focus on selling circular products, for example, through thrift stores or online stores. In addition, there will be public venues and temporary pop-up concepts where residents of The Hague can learn about reuse and sustainability.
The ZKD location (Zichtenburg-Kerketuinen-Dekkershoek) remains a key hub within this network. Its location is advantageous: close to the waste disposal site, the manufacturing industry, and various educational institutions. This makes the area ideal for collaboration between businesses, schools, and the municipality. Within ZKD, new forms of collaboration are being developed, such as shared workspaces, joint logistics, and points of sale. A raw materials broker connects entrepreneurs and connects them with The Hague’s raw material flows.
In the coming period, the municipality will further expand its network of circular craft centers. New locations and partnerships will ensure that The Hague is taking steps in the transition to a circular economy.
Text & Image: Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online