Zuid Holland
Updated on 12.12.2023
The province Zuid-Holland is a local government in which 1 600 employees work on the development of the province. The region is diverse: it has many different business sectors and is the most populated province in the Netherlands. The province is defined by its coast (the sea and dunes), the polder landscapes, and large cities.
With three top universities located in Zuid-Holland, we are a region where knowledge and education are concentrated. As a province, we work on eight ambitions ranging from strengthening the nature and biodiversity to increasing the accessibility in the region.
More information
The circular economy (CE) team works on becoming fully circular by 2050. The transition to a circular society requires a different way of thinking, working and organising.
In the long term, this should lead to new societal structures, institutions, networks and practices. Transitions are long term processes, where building up and converting the new and existing go hand in hand. The province Zuid-Holland fulfils the role of connector and driver within the transition themes: Built Industry, Green Resources and Food, Plastics and Manufacturing industry.
Leading organisation
Provincie Zuid-Holland
Unit/department/section
Circular economy team
Link to existing circular economy action plan
The province of Zuid-Holland stands behind the ambition of the national government of the Netherlands to achieve a CE in 2050, with the subgoal to become circular for 50 % in 2030.
In December 2019, the strategy for a circular Zuid-Holland was adopted. In the strategy, four ‘transition themes’ are described, and each transition theme has a focus is made in line with the character of Zuid-Holland:
- Circular Built Industry
- Circular Plastics
- Circular Green Resources and Food
- Circular Manufacturing Industry.
To become fully circular in 2050, the province works together with businesses, governmental organisations, knowledge institutes, and the inhabitants of Zuid-Holland. We bring these parties together, share knowledge and help to accelerate the transition. In each transition theme we work together with regional stakeholders in three phases:
- Scouting and design: initiatives within the transition theme are mapped and small projects are started with stakeholders to come to first partnerships.
- Transition agenda’s: in each transition theme, the stakeholders develop a joint transition agenda. The transition agenda describes the vision, ambition, goals and initiatives.
Execution agenda: on the basis of the transition agenda, an agenda is developed with the stakeholders on how to execute the plan. This describes the concrete actions, efforts and resources that are necessary.
Objectives
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Other activities
We work together with the ‘IPO’, an interprovincial initiative, where we share knowledge with other provinces in the Netherlands on the circular initiatives we work on.
We support the Circular West programme, together with the Province Noord-Holland. This is an organisation that aims to accelerate the CE by starting projects with companies in the whole value chain.
We initiate and support CIRCO Tracks: this is a three-day programme that can be followed by companies working within the same sector in order to improve their circularity and reach new circular business models. We have initiated and funded several CIRCO tracks the past five years.
We are involved in the regional programme of two rural municipalities in Zuid-Holland to accelerate the CE: the Hoeksche Waard and Goeree Overflakkee municipalities. We also connect the municipalities to relevant projects and initiatives.
We are also a member of the ‘City Deal Building Circular and Conceptual’. The agreements made in the City Deal are focused on formulating a joint ambition to achieve a circular and conceptual buildings. The province has an important role in the spatial planning of these buildings, and we offer support to municipalities to achieve this.
Link to Circular Systemic Solution
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Circular economy good practices
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Key publications, policies, legislations and initiatives
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Support from CSO
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