Download the Dutch Offshore Wind Innovation Guide 2026, which highlights innovative solutions from the Dutch offshore wind sector and features ambitious Dutch companies and flagship projects ready to drive the European and global offshore wind market forward.

The textile industry is ready for a transformation. For decades, it has leaned on oil-based synthetics and animal-derived fibres, materials that cost the planet more than they should.

Every day, hairdressers sweep away kilos of hair that could be something more. Strong, renewable, and full of keratin, the same protein found in wool, human hair is one of the most underused biomaterials on Earth. We collect these clippings, clean and process them using gentle, low-energy methods, and spin them into ādara®, the first commercial fibre of the Human Material Loop.
 

Durable, traceable, and kind to the planet

Made entirely from upcycled human hair, ādara® offers the warmth and softness of wool without the cruelty, plastics, or allergens. It’s naturally fire-retardant, antibacterial, and hypoallergenic. It regulates temperature and moisture, making it ideal for interiors and textiles that feel as good as they do good. Each strand of ādara® is fully traceable, from the salon floor to the final fabric roll. By collaborating directly with hairdressers, The Human Material Loop builds a transparent and ethical supply chain.
 

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ādara® is a 100% biobased protein fiber created for interiors. 
 

The Human Material Loop process uses mild salts and low temperatures, reducing energy use while keeping the natural strength of keratin intact. No toxins, no microplastics, just a clean loop of human material turned into high-performance textiles. Every step is tracked, and a digital product passport is in the works to show the complete journey of their material.
 

It's not just rethinking fibres, The Human Material Loop is rethinking responsibility. How they source, produce, and value materials in design. With ādara®, it offers architects, interior designers, and textile innovators a tangible path toward a circular future. The Human Material Loop shows their innovation at Architect@Work, Workspace Design Show, Heimtextil, and more. If you’re a designer seeking sustainable materials, or an investor ready to back a radical, scalable solution, take a look and join them. Because the next revolution in textiles isn’t synthetic. It’s human.
 

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#newdutch is a mentality, a movement, and an international platform for Dutch innovation.

Get in touch

Does #newdutch spark an interest or a golden idea with you? We love hearing from you! You can email us at newdutch@nlbranding.nl
 

The Netherlands and Hauts-de-France are natural partners for smarter, more sustainable urban mobility. In 2025, our countries have committed to deepening economic ties, and Northern France, is investing in transformation: Lille is scaling sustainable mobility with EU support, while rapid industrial growth around Dunkirk will generate tens of thousands of jobs, raising urgent questions about infrastructure capacity, accessibility, and liveability.

Given the surge in transport demand in coming decades, fast‑growing areas like Dunkirk and Lille believe that existing infrastructure will not be sufficient without systemic upgrades. The Netherlands, as one of the most densely populated and industrialised countries in Europe, has dealt with many of these challenges in one form or another.

The Dutch mobility system today integrates innovative multimodal transport networks, emphasizing sustainability through electrification and zero-emission vehicles, supported by public transport, cycling, and urban logistics solutions. Deepening our partnership will accelerate smart and sustainable mobility, standardise data and infrastructure, strengthen European value chains, and create high-quality jobs. All while delivering cleaner air, safer streets, and better access for citizens and businesses.

Additional resouces

Morocco and the Netherlands are working together to strengthen sustainable water management. Both countries have developed valuable experience in using water efficiently, reusing water, and implementing smart irrigation and treatment solutions. Bringing together practical know-how and creative approaches, both countries are shaping smarter and more sustainable ways to manage water.

This mission brings Dutch and Moroccan partners together to exchange knowledge and create new opportunities for collaboration. From efficient irrigation and water reuse to desalination and sustainable water management in agriculture, the mission opens new avenues for cooperation and long-term partnerships.

By combining strengths and ambition, both countries aim to drive forward a water sector that is innovative, resilient, and sustainable. United in purpose, Morocco and the Netherlands are building a future that supports water security, economic growth, and environmental responsibility.

Partnering for a water-secure future!

Life in cities depends on what happens underground. Health soil cools our streets, absorbs excess water, supports plants and trees, stores carbon, and filters pollution. But when soil is damaged, cities become hotter, wetter and less liveable. As urbanisation accelerates and soil sealing continues to spread, safeguarding urban soils is no longer optional,  it is essential for climate resilience, biodiversity, and public health. That message takes centre stage this year on World Soil Day, a global moment to reflect on the role soil plays not only in agriculture, but also in ecosystem health, food security, and the future of our cities.

Dutch soil solutions around the world

The Netherlands has long understood that the quality of its soil underpins everything from flood protection to food production. Today, that experience is being translated into international action, from farmlands and deltas to fast-growing urban regions around the world.

From climate adaptation and water management to urban resilience and food security, Dutch soil solutions are being applied worldwide. Drawing on centuries of experience in living with water and working with complex soils, the Dutch approach combines cutting-edge research with practical, scalable solutions.

Through international partnerships, field projects, and knowledge exchange, Dutch experts are helping regions restore soil health, strengthen ecosystems, and build long-term resilience. One key driver of this global cooperation is the Dutch Agricultural Network, which connects researchers, policymakers, farmers, and urban planners across borders. 

As the Dutch Agricultural Network, we work with partners, researchers, farmers and city planners to improve soil health through shared learning and practical solutions.

In Poland, a public-private soil improvement project shares Dutch expertise, runs field trials, and offers a Polish language e-learning module on soil structure, organic matter, pH and sustainable fertilization. Poland is now a leading example of applying regenerative principles that improve soil health and yields.

Thousands of kilometres east in Thailand, the Netherlands supports nature-based agriculture, together with Dutch agribusinesses and experts from Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Through hands-on work with farmers, we promote regenerative practices, crop improvement, and soil care training that support long-term food security.

Meanwhile across Nordic countries, WUR and Aarhus University organised an event that used footage from Planet Soil to show citizens what happens beneath their feet and why soil matters. This helped spark public understanding and engagement with soil health.

In Serbia, we contributed to the Greening the City project in Belgrade, offering expertise to integrate green spaces into major development plans. The WUR Lighthouse farm LoginEKO shows how regenerative and organic agriculture can restore soil and biodiversity at scale. 

Across West Africa, we support programmes that restore soil fertility, such as Soil Values, and promote partnerships with organisations like Safisana. We also raise awareness among policymakers and the public through activities including screenings of Planet Soil.

From innovation to everyday impact 

High above the streets of Bangkok, rooftop farms are transforming food waste into rich compost that restores depleted soils and feeds fresh produce back into the city. What began as a small-scale solution has become a powerful circular model for urban areas around the world, showing how waste can become the foundation for renewal. 

Closer to home, the Green Denmark agreement brings together farmers, nature organisations, government, and citizens to improve water quality, biodiversity, and soil health. The collaborative approach shows how shared responsibility can tackle complex food system challenges.

In Ghana, farmers rely on simple, locally applied methods, proving that improving soil health does not always require expensive technology. In North America, Dutch partners support collaborative research, advanced soil measurement technologies, regenerative farming, and climate-smart grazing demonstrate, straightforward practices that rebuild soil quickly while strengthening farm resilience. 

Healthy soils for healthy cities

Healthy cities begin with healthy soil. It cools our streets, supports green spaces, absorbs rainfall, filters pollution, and enables food production in and around urban areas. As climate risks intensify and cities continue to grow, soil is emerging as one of the most powerful, and yet overlooked, tools for urban resilience. 

From rooftop gardens to regenerative farms and green infrastructure projects, Dutch expertise shows that living soils are not just an environmental asset, they are the foundation of resilient, liveable cities worldwide.

On this World Soil Day, and beyond, the message is clear: protecting soil is not only about what we grow, it’s about how we live.