Green inspirators
We would like to introduce you to some of Holland's finest and most innovative people when it comes to combining sustainability and entrepreneurship.
A selection of Holland’s finest green ideas
In our Fresh Dutch Views Magazine we regularly focus on innovative, green ideas from Dutch soil that already have gained or are bound to gain international recognition.
Wubbo Ockels: "Some people believe in God; I believe in innovative technology, sustainability and youth.”
Wubbo Ockels is Holland’s first astronaut, pilot and professor of Aerospace Sustainable Engineering and Technology. He has an enthusiasm that inspires others to take action.
Stef van Dongen: "Sustainability means an economy that creates value for humans and nature"
Stef van Dongen (1976) comes from a family of entrepreneurs. After graduating with a degree in small business studies, he went on to specialise in global business and society management. It was there that Van Dongen saw the light.
Ragbag: “Free karma with each bag”
Creating a product that not only sells, but also cleans the streets and provides honest employment in low-cost countries: impossible? Enter Ragbag, a Dutch company that makes fashionable bags from recycled plastic waste bags.
Piet Hein Eek - Design founded on common sense
In 1990, Piet Hein Eek (1967) graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven with a striking final project: an expertly crafted cupboard made from scrap wood. In a time of exuberance, Eek chose simple materials and sober design.
Meiny Prins: "Change comes through people; they make the difference"
Last year, Meiny Prins (1962) was awarded the Prix Veuve Clicquot 2009 for Dutch businesswoman of the year. Prins is CEO of Priva BV, a Dutch company that specialises in hardware, software and services for climate and process control.
Kuyichi: "I think green is the direction of the future, and it is here to stay"
Kuyichi is an eco-conscious fashion label from the Netherlands. The brainchild of Dutch NGO Solidaridad, Kuyichi is based on two basic principles: organic jeans and fashion put together in a chain of fair trade.
Jacqueline Cramer: "Business as usual is not going to cut it anymore"
Jacqueline Cramer (1951) was the Dutch Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning until 2010 and a true expert in the field of sustainability.
Food Design: "Food is emotion"
Food design is a relatively new design discipline. Katja Gruijters (38) was one of the first food designers in the Netherlands, setting the stage for an industry that is now booming. Gruijters is both an artist and a food professional.