Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam
Updated on 04.12.2025
The Metropolitan Region Amsterdam (MRA, known in Dutch as Metropoolregio Amsterdam) is comprised of 30 municipalities, two provinces (North Holland and Flevoland), and the Transport Authority Amsterdam. Around 2 500 000 people live within the MRA, which is more than 14 % of the Dutch population. The MRA is the country’s most robust economic region.
The various authorities in the MRA collaborate based on the MRA Agenda, which forms the content basis for the partnership. The 2025–2028 agenda aims to strengthen the international position of the MRA as a top economic region with a high quality of life. One of our priorities is circular economy (CE).
Circular Economy in the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam
The Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam (MRA) is working toward a circular and climate-neutral region by 2050. In its 2025-2028 Agenda, circularity is a strategic choice for sustainable growth, job creation, and a resilient living environment.
The Regional approach focuses on circular procurement, smart use of materials, and area development that prioritizes reuse and biobased construction. This is reflected in initiatives such as research into critical raw materials, which supports future-proof resource resilience. Public-private partnerships like the Circular Deal for construction materials (video) and the Haarlem Circular Hub accelerate reuse of building materials, while innovation hubs such as PRICE, IAMM and Flevo campus foster sustainable material innovation and food systems . In the textile sector, the Denim deal and Circular Textile Hub Amsterdam (CTA) work toward closed-loop production chains.
Government, businesses, and knowledge institutions collaborate through networks such as Amsterdam Economic Board and Cirkelstad. Internationally, the MRA engages with cities and networks including the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), Eurocities, ICLEI, Urban Agenda and the Big Buyers Working Together to scale up circular solutions and address urban challenges collectively.
Leading organisation
Province of Noord-Holland
Unit/department/section
Circular Economy and European Affairs
Link to existing circular economy action plan
The Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) focusses on three main development tracks:
- (raw) material flows
- sustainable and circular public procurement
- circular area development
Within these, we focus on five types of resources/materials, as we know this will have the most impact:
- biomass and food
- plastics
- manufacturing industry
- construction
- consumer goods (focus on diapers and textiles)
We do this by:
- working towards laws and regulation, which stimulates the transition to a CE;
- stimulating smart market incentives;
- attracting investments and other financial means;
- developing knowledge and innovation;
- cooperating internationally.
Other activities
Many initiatives have been developed, not only by the territorial cluster, but also by the individual public authorities. In the previous year, the region has agreed upon several Green Deals:
- biobased construction
- textiles
- public procurement
Furthermore, the province of Noord-Holland has established its own, new CEAP in February 2021. This CEAP is an extensive programme, focussed on supporting businesses to make the transition towards CE by offering them finances, training, knowledge sharing, network building and further assistance.
The municipality of Amsterdam has taken an important step towards a system that monitors its material use in the geographical area of Amsterdam with CE principles. Additionally, the municipality of Zaanstad is developing a unique cluster of businesses working on circular textiles.
Participation in other relevant initiatives
The Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam participates in the following initiatives:
