Sunday program: Construction site of the Future
Festivals as a testing ground and stage for the transition to a zero-emission, biobased, and regenerative world
During Into The Great Wide Open 2025, we are organizing the Construction Site of the Future: a temporary workspace on the festival grounds where sustainable construction and festival innovations are central. In collaboration with partners such as BAM Infra Nederland, TBI, Topsector Logistiek, Team Infra, Triomf, Watermeln, Greener Power Solutions, Voskamp Groep, Stichting DOEN, and Lab Vlieland, we are exploring how construction can be circular, biobased, and emission-free. This way, we demonstrate how we are working towards a circular and climate-positive future.
The knowledge and experience we gain we are happy to share with everyone involved in this major transition, both in the festival and construction sectors, or in other ways.
On Sunday, August 31, the Construction Site of the Future offers a unique look behind and in front of the scenes. It will be a day full of practical solutions, knowledge sharing, inspiration, and encounters, with the UNESCO World Heritage of the Wadden as an inspiring backdrop.
Program
09:35 – 11:10 | Ferry Harlingen – Vlieland
11:10 – 11:40 | Welcome and coffee/tea in the Harbor
11:40 – 12:40 | Backstage tour with headphones
Lab Vlieland initiates and guides the sustainability projects at the festival and provides a unique behind-the-scenes look.
By:
Tijl Couzij – Head of Sustainability & Innovation Into The Great Wide Open and Lab Vlieland.
Daan Stigter – Project leader sustainability Into The Great Wide Open and Lab Vlieland.
12:45 – 13:45 | Lunch and walk to the next location
13:45 – 14:00 | Introduction & meeting by moderator Linda Vermaat
Linda Vermaat – Moderator & innovation accelerator, specialized in sustainable transitions and circular economy.
14:00 – 14:30 | Energy of the Future, starting Now!
How do we accelerate the energy transition at construction sites and festivals?
Speakers:
Arash Aazami – Energy visionary, founder Synergy/Unify Energy, sees the big picture of the energy transition.
Sjoerd van Gerwen – Advisor Team Infra, connector between infrastructure and sustainable energy practices.
Jasper Visser – Innovation manager BAM Infra Nederland, translates energy trends into the construction sector.
14:30 – 15:00 | Emission-Free Transport & Construction Equipment
How do you achieve zero emission local transport and equipment for the festival and construction sector?
Speakers:
Anne Koudstaal – TBI, project leader Emission 0, expert in emission-free equipment in construction.
Ad van Wijk – Professor Future Energy Systems at TU Delft, founder The Green Village.
Barbara Vos – Works at the intersection of innovation and system change, where she uses living labs and temporary environments to anchor experimental solutions sustainably in policy and practice.
15:00 – 15:30 | Break, performance by Romy Liz Rose
15:30 – 16:00 | Biobased Building
What is our current status on the application of biobased materials, what are the challenges, and why is scaling slow?
Speakers:
Sander den Blanken – Commercial Director BAM Infra Nederland, catalyst for collaboration in sustainable construction.
Leonne Cuppen – Co-initiator of Nieuw Zwanenburg, practical expert in biobased building.
Lucas de Man – Director Biobased Creations, DDW Bio Based Building Ambassadors, accelerator of the biobased transition.
16:00 – 16:05 | Closing Remarks
16:05 – 17:00 | Walk back to the festival grounds
17:00 – 21:00 | Drinks & free time at the festival
Networking, sharing insights, and relaxing in the atmosphere of Into The Great Wide Open.
21:10 – 22:00 | Fast service Vlieland – Harlingen
Return trip; time to share experiences and chat.
Practical
Costs (mentioned prices are excl. VAT)
Regular ticket | €250,- | Including program, boat trip, lunch & drinks at the festival site
Cultural rate | €150,- | available on request - for employees of organizations with ANBI status. If you believe you are eligible for this, please email dna@intothegreatwideopen.nl.
Travel
Traveling to Vlieland can be done with the ferry from Rederij Doeksen from Harlingen Haven. The outward and return ferry crossings are included with the purchase of the ticket.
Outward journey: departure at 09:35 am with the ferry (duration 95 min)
Return journey: departure at 21:10 pm with the fast ferry (duration 50 min)
Would you like to take the ferry at a different time than the above? After purchasing a ticket and receiving the boat ticket, you can rebook the boat ticket to another available sailing.
Accommodation
Would you like to stay overnight in Vlieland after the Sunday program? We would be happy to book a hotel stay for you. A hotel stay from Sunday, August 31 to Monday, September 1 costs €238.50 excl. VAT (including tourist tax and breakfast). Send an email to dna@intothegreatwideopen.nl. We will gladly check what is still available with you.
Questions
Any questions or comments about the program? Please send us an email: dna@intothegreatwideopen.nl.
At the initiative of De Nieuwe Alliantie
The Construction Site of the Future is an initiative by De Nieuwe Alliantie (D.N.A.): a club of progressive entrepreneurs around Into The Great Wide Open and Lab Vlieland. They identify with the ideas of both the festival and its sustainable action team. With the festival, the entrepreneurs aim for a climate-positive future: a goal that requires collaboration and prototyping.
