A living lab for the circular economy

At NYMA, innovation isn’t managed top-down. It bubbles up from the ground. And is shaped by local energy and shared ambition. You’ll find food labs experimenting with sustainable ingredients, festivals celebrating community and culture, and circular start-ups piloting low-impact materials. Whether you’re an architect, a brewer, or a bio-designer. The atmosphere is open, equal, and horizontal. A true expression of the Dutch polder model in practice.

A living lab for the circular economy

The idea behind NYMA is simple but powerful: creating a space where people can build a new kind of city, together. This means repurposing old buildings, testing biobased construction, growing urban food, and rethinking waste as a resource. It’s not just a concept; it’s happening here every day. From upcycled materials in artist studios to inclusive programming in public spaces, NYMA is a testbed for the transition to a circular, regenerative economy. The innovation is not only technical, it’s social. Decision-making is done through dialogue, not hierarchy. Projects emerge through informal networks, not strict planning. It’s a form of collaboration that’s very Dutch: flat, practical, and based on trust. This makes NYMA not just a place, but a method: a way of working that shows how creativity and climate action can go hand in hand.

Events, workshops, and hands-on transformation

The best way to experience NYMA is to get involved. From design expos and cultural festivals to hands-on workshops in shared maker spaces, there are plenty of ways to participate. Local schools and universities are deeply connected to the site, making it a learning ground for future circular professionals. The community regularly organises open days and guided tours that show how a concrete factory can become a home for sustainable futures.

A #newdutch community-driven transformation

What makes NYMA unique is not just its vision, but its structure. It wasn’t shaped by a central government plan or top-down investment. Instead, the site has been reimagined by its own users: local architects, grassroots collectives, small businesses and artists. It’s a New Dutch way of shaping space - based on shared ownership, mutual support, and collective imagination. With its roots in history and its eyes on the future, NYMA is a bold example of how cities can reinvent themselves from the ground up. By connecting creativity, community and climate solutions in one place, it shows how the Netherlands is rethinking not only what we build, but how we build it, together. That’s #newdutch!

#NewDutch is a mentality, a movement, and an international platform for Dutch innovation. Discover the makers of tomorrow on www.newdutch.nl and join us!

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