Into The Great Wide Open was one of the participating pioneer festivals in the Green Deal Circular Festivals (GDCF), which officially concluded in 2025. This is one of approximately 300 Green Deals currently active in the Netherlands.

A Green Deal works simply: a group of pioneers from one sector sits down with a ministry, in this case Infrastructure and Water, and a number of knowledge partners. Together they set goals, develop pilots, and build knowledge and networks that are subsequently available to everyone.

In the GDCF, international pioneers also came together for the first time: dozens of European festivals from 17 countries, including us. Together, we strived for circular and climate-neutral festivals. In addition, we develop measurement tools, a toolbox, a blueprint for a circular and climate-neutral festival, and a series of pilots. 

Although this Green Deal has now come to an end, the network continues to exist through the Go-Group, which is facilitated by Yourope. And the Dutch participants are currently contemplating a new group of pioneers.

The outcomes of the GDCF are now, among other things, freely available via the new knowledge platform Duurzame Cultuursector.