How can we make Events Zero Waste? 

GRANDE FINALE NATIONALE HACKATHON CE 2026
Student teams from across the country pitch their solutions for the circular transition

From Monday 2 February to Friday 6 February over 650 students (mbo-hbo-wo) come together at various locations in the Netherlands to create innovative ideas on the real challenge of PreZero Nederland: How can we make events Zero Waste? Friday afternoon, Feb. 6, marks the festive highlight of the week: the Grande Finale in Utrecht, in which the best teams from every region pitch their solutions to a jury of experts!

This sixth edition of the National Hackathon Circular Economy, students engaged in a challenge making events zero waste experiences. 

During this hackathon, students will work on creative, practical ideas. With various workshops and inspiration sessions, ideas were sharpened into real pitches. During the Grande Finale, an expert jury will assess these solutions and pick a winner. Next to that a jury of researchers will select the pitch with the most research-worthy idea!

Be a part of the Grande Finale by joining us and find out what solutions young people have for a circular future! The Finale is held at Jaarbeurs Utrecht 13.45-16.00hrs CET. 

Want to join? Register here. 

We are pleased that the professional and energetic day chair Marte Schuurmans will be hosting the final.

The expert jury
A jury consisting of experts in the field of circularity will determine the winner during this Grand National Finale.
The names of all jury members will be revealed soon, but the first jury members are:

• Elsbeth van der Linde, Chief Technology Officer, Directeur Processing at PreZero Nederland
• Freddy Pelders, Business development manager innovatie at PreZero Nederland
• Gerd-Jan Frijters, Founder Greenhouse Monkeys & Board Member Zero Waste Netherlands Foundation
• Lysanne van der Lem, Hoofd Kennis at Verpact / Marcel Keuning, Sustainable Packaging expert 
• Antoine Heideveld, Directeur Het Groene Brein

The research jury is powered by het Lectorenplatform Circulaire Economie, and consists of three members of het Lectorenplatform Circulaire Economie: 

• Ton van Kollenburg, Lector Impactvolle Waardeketens, Avans Hogeschool
• Sjoukje Goldman, Hogeschool hoofddocent duurzame marketing, Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE), Hogeschool van Amsterdam
  
• Liesbeth Rijsdijk, Lector Netwerken in een Circulaire Economie, Hogeschool Windesheim

The National Hackathon Circular Economy is part of the National Program Leadership for the Circular Transition. Want to know more? Contact Dianne de Fijter via dianne.defijter@hetgroenebrein.nl or Danielle Twardy, danielle.Twardy@zuyd.nl

Information:
Date: Friday 6 februari
Timeslot: 13:45 - 16:00hrs (walk-in: 13.15-13.45 CET)
Location: Jaarbeurs Utrecht,  Beatrixgebouw, next to railway station Utrecht Centraal
Want to join? Register here (full = full)