The New Farm: Where Sustainability, Circularity, Creativity, and Social Enterprise Thrive Together

The story of The New Farm begins in 1958, when the building was still part of Philips

In the 1980s, it was taken over by a US telecoms company, AT&T, and by the 1990s, it functioned as an office collective building. The big change came in 2016 when Urban Farmers moved into the building. Known for the impressive rooftop greenhouse, they created a circular system with a fish farm and grew vegetables such as cucumbers and lettuce. Unfortunately, they went bankrupt in 2019 due to high energy costs, among other things. 

Since 2019, the building is known as The New Farm and has been transformed step by step under the guidance of architect Corine Keus. "Every floor is being tackled and transformed into a vibrant hub for makers from The Hague," Tanja enthuses. This is a place for social, sustainable and circular enterprises. Whether you make chocolate, beer or socks, there is room for innovation and collaboration here. 

With around 40 companies, mostly startups and scale-ups, The New Farm is committed to several SDGs

A great example is i-did, a company that turns old company clothing into felt and uses it to make beautiful products, such as bags, home items, and new clothes. They combine social, sustainable and circular values by employing people distant from the labour market and turning waste into useful items. This approach supports SDG 8 (fair work and economic growth) by creating decent work and promoting economic growth, and SDG 10 (reduce inequality) by providing equal opportunities to people who find it harder to find work. 

"Eiber, a beer brewery, donates their leftover brewing grain to farmers and companies like Yespers, they this process it into their crackers." explains Tanja. Even the leftover cocoa beans from chocolate production are put to good use, for instance in gardens. These cross-pollinations between companies create beautiful, sustainable impact and embrace SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) by using resources more efficiently and reducing waste. 

The New Farm's social enterprises offer opportunities to people from nearby neighbourhoods such as Moerwijk and Zuidwest Den Haag

Companies such as i-did, Sox2Sox, Dutch & Decent and 2TestIT help people distanced from the labour market by employing and supporting them. Den Haag Werkt, located opposite The New Farm, plays an important role in this by creating short lines of support. 

Tanja Berntsen ensures that the community within The New Farm stays connected. She does this by organising events, newsletters and activities. "The creative minds within The New Farm know how to find each other well and work together on innovative projects," she says proudly. 

Besides workspace, The New Farm also offers one-and-a-half- to two-hour inspiration tours, where visitors can take a look at the premises and businesses. For companies, there is the possibility to rent meeting rooms and combine a tour with a company outing full of inspiration. From screen printing at Mr Apple Syrup and Mr Meowgi to beer tasting at Eiber and dining at Volkskeuken, there is something for everyone. 

Free tours and workshops

On 15 September, The New Farm will open its doors to local residents and interested parties with free tours and workshops. A perfect opportunity to discover for yourself all that this special place has to offer. At The New Farm, we embrace the Sustainable Development Goals to guide our initiatives and collaboration. We are proud of the impact we are making in The Hague by creating fair employment, reducing inequality and producing and consuming responsibly. Together, we are building a better future for our city and showing how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. Join this inspiring community of makers and pioneers and contribute to a more beautiful The Hague.