Last week, as part of the VLAIO Living Lab Hennep+ initiative, part of the Hemp4Circularity team joined a group of 30 professionals from Belgium and the Netherlands on a two-day study tour to explore the potential of industrial hemp across sectors. Organized by Boerenbond and Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, the visit brought together farmers, advisors, architects, processors, policymakers, and companies with three clear goals: to inspire, learn from each other, and build partnerships.
Day 1 - biobased construction and circular design
The journey began at Agro-Innovation Centre De Marke, where participants discovered a meeting pavilion built entirely from local, natural materials such as straw, hemp, and miscanthus. The visit provided a tangible example of how bio-based design can merge sustainability with functionality. Program director Jan Willem van de Groep from Building Balance shared the Dutch national strategy for making the construction sector more circular and bio-based, while Arne Eindhoven and Gerrolt Ooijman illustrated how regional collaborations and housing cooperatives are driving this transition forward.
The second stop took the group to Spinning Jenny, a pioneer in producing yarns from recycled fibres, flax, and hemp. Here, Paula Gerritsen guided participants through the production process and the company’s circular textile approach.
Representing the Hemp4Circularity project, Valentine Donck and Joséphine Allaert shared insights from Belgium’s growing hemp textile ecosystem, highlighting how the project aims to reconnect farmers, processors, and designers to build a resilient and circular value chain. In the same spirit, Eileen Blackmore from House of Design presented the Wad van Waarde initiative, which is revitalising natural textile markets in the Netherlands.
The first day concluded with an insightful visit to Bedrocan, where Jaap Erkelens explained the company’s pharmaceutical cannabis production – an interesting contrast to industrial hemp applications in food, textiles, and construction.
Day 2 - from seed to building solutions
The second day focused on large-scale hemp processing and its applications in sustainable construction. The group visited HempFlax BV, where CEO Mark Reinders presented the company’s diverse product portfolio, including insulation mats, composite materials, and animal bedding. Later, at Dun Agro Hemp Group, CEO Albert Dun showcased how hemp is transformed into prefab building panels, acoustic solutions, and other bio-based materials — all part of a fully integrated supply chain “from seed to building.”
Bridging Belgium and the Netherlands
The study trip highlighted how the Netherlands has taken a few steps ahead, thanks to supportive policies and a well-developed processing infrastructure. However, it also revealed the tremendous potential in Belgium, where initiatives like Hemp4Circularity are working to strengthen collaboration and encourage policy support to scale up bio-based and circular hemp industries.
Picture credit : ©VLAIO Living Lab Hennep+