Meet the entrepreneurs of Boost je Buurt 2026!
In every corner of Amsterdam, initiatives are flourishing that make the city more social, sustainable and inclusive. From neighbourhood-focused projects to social enterprises: residents, creatives and entrepreneurs work every day to give their area a boost.
With Boost Je Buurt, we shine a spotlight on inspiring initiatives that have a positive impact on their surroundings. Whether it's stimulating the local economy, reducing inequality of opportunity or tackling food waste – these projects show how engagement and collaboration lead to change.
In this overview, you'll discover a selection of initiatives from different districts taking part in Boost Je Buurt 2026! From InterActing, which offers improvisational theatre for young people with autism, to Keuken van de Markt, a local mini food market in a former shop unit on the Buikslotermeerplein. And from De Schoonste Straat, which takes on the fight against litter, to Gezonde Buren, getting every Amsterdammer moving.
From Amsterdam Centrum
Café c(rush) brings young Amsterdammers together for real conversations. Instead of swiping and small talk, Café c(rush) organises social evenings in partnership with cafés and cultural venues across the city, where participants are matched by interests and values. The result is safe, relaxed evenings in which new friendships, dates and communities take shape. With 18 successful editions and an average of 130 sign-ups each time, Café c(rush) demonstrates just how great the need is. Their ambition is to grow into a travelling local that reduces loneliness and strengthens social connection across the city.
The Creative Lab pulls young Amsterdam creatives out of their online bubble and gives them a physical space to grow. Through large-scale pop-up markets in Amsterdam Noord, West and the city centre, among other locations, they give emerging makers the chance to present their sustainable fashion, art and design to a new audience, meet fellow creatives and forge new collaborations. The Creative Lab also organises masterclasses, creative workshops and an accessible fashion show during Amsterdam Fashion Week. Their goal is to become the creative clubhouse for the next generation of makers in Amsterdam.
At plant-based fine dining restaurant TestTafel in Amsterdam Centrum, a new menu lands on the table every week. The team develops a multi-course tasting menu using seasonal, regionally sourced produce, which is refined throughout the week based on guest feedback. At least half of the ingredients come from biodiversity-friendly farming, and in season they also harvest from their greenhouse at Mediamatic and from the city itself. In doing so, they show that innovative, local and sustainable eating can go hand in hand.
Stichting InterActing uses improvisational theatre to help young people with autism aged 12 to 25 grow in confidence and social skills. In a safe and playful setting, participants practise listening, responding and working together, guided by improvisation principles such as "Yes, And". The foundation runs weekly courses, summer schools and workshops in Amsterdam and beyond, alongside trainers with autism expertise and partners from education and healthcare. For many participants, this is a first step towards greater confidence and new possibilities.
From Amsterdam Nieuw-West
In the heart of the Rembrandtpark stands Bolenius, a restaurant that shows how gastronomy and nature can go hand in hand. Head chef and owner Luc Kusters is one of the driving forces behind the Dutch Cuisine movement: a culinary approach that looks not at what's being served elsewhere, but at what the Dutch soil has to offer. In the Rembrandtpark, what ends up on the plate grows in the kitchen garden just a stone's throw from the restaurant.
PLYGRND.city strengthens social cohesion in neighbourhoods by actively involving residents in shaping their own living environment. Using participation and placemaking tools, they organise conversations, activities and programmes in collaboration with local authorities, housing associations and local partners – also reaching groups that don't typically engage, such as young people. One example is the Hoodlab pop-up barber, where young people get a haircut in exchange for ideas and conversations about their neighbourhood. The result is initiatives that are truly owned by residents: from art projects in the Bijlmer to green projects in Nieuw-West.
Anne van den Elzen supports organisations, residents and professionals in Amsterdam Nieuw-West in strengthening their mental health, vitality and resilience. Through coaching and training, she helps people reduce stress and regain a sense of control over their energy and wellbeing. Nature plays an important role in this: as a space for recovery, reflection and movement. Anne is also a co-founder of a coaching cooperative in development, in which female professionals pool their expertise around health, inclusivity and financial self-sufficiency.
From Amsterdam Weesp
At Basis Skills in Weesp, children aged 8 to 13 have an after-school space where they can work on their skills and self-confidence. In a small-scale learning environment, experienced education professionals support children with maths, spelling and reading comprehension. There are also activities such as resilience training based on the Rots & Water method and cookery lessons focused on teamwork and learning by doing. Basis Skills aims to make learning accessible to all children, including families with a city pass, so that income is never a barrier to developing talents and levelling the playing field.
The DepARTment is a creative meeting place in Weesp where movement, art and community come together. The space offers makers, teachers and organisations a venue for teaching, gathering and creating. The studios are used for dance lessons, workshops, rehearsals, photo shoots and training sessions, among other things. This mix of activities creates a dynamic space where different disciplines meet and inspire one another. Alongside its hire offering, The DepARTment also organises its own arts and cultural events. Step by step, the space is growing into a vibrant cultural hub for makers, schools and initiatives from Weesp and the surrounding area.
OpenMinds helps organisations with a social mission – such as museums, educational institutions and cooperatives – to create clarity around complex challenges. Using strategy, content and creative methodologies, they strengthen collaboration and make processes of change more understandable. With the neighbourhood toolbox, they bring this approach to communities and local areas. Together with residents and co-designers, they develop practical tools and working methods that help people explore their ideas, think up solutions to neighbourhood problems and collectively bring about change in their area.
From Amsterdam West
Buurthotel connects hotels with their surrounding neighbourhood and shows what they can mean for residents and local initiatives. The platform supports hotels in opening up their spaces, organising neighbourhood activities and building partnerships with local organisations. In this way, new meeting places and shared facilities are created – within walls that already exist. Through analysis, advice and programming, Buurthotel helps hotels develop a community-facing role and contribute to a liveable, connected city.
RepareerSimpel makes repairing easier than buying something new. Via the digital platform, consumers can find trusted repairers, compare them and book directly in just a few clicks. Residents gain insight into costs, turnaround times, guarantees and others' experiences. At the same time, RepareerSimpel helps local repairers with digital tools for bookings, payments and customer contact, increasing their visibility and professionalism. By making repair more accessible and transparent, RepareerSimpel extends the life of products and contributes to a circular, sustainable city.
Hannah's is a hospitality venue and daytime activity space in Amsterdam-West where people with a mild intellectual disability actively work in the restaurant. Participants help with serving, behind the bar and in the kitchen, becoming part of the day-to-day running of the place. Alongside the restaurant, Hannah's Amsterdam also provides catering for businesses and neighbourhood initiatives. With a warm atmosphere and good food, the venue brings guests and participants together. In this way, Hannah's contributes to an inclusive society in which everyone can take part.
De Schoonste Straat brings neighbours together to keep their street clean and liveable. In teams of local residents, they clear litter, keep the area around waste containers tidy and have conversations about waste behaviour. In Amsterdam-West, 156 resident teams are now involved. The project not only results in cleaner streets but also in connection and collaboration within the neighbourhood, with spin-off initiatives including front garden plantings, street gatherings and activities for local children.
From Amsterdam Zuid
Transformers Community is there for young people who sometimes find life a real challenge. The foundation helps young people become more resilient by developing their emotional intelligence (EQ) and building supportive communities. Through an online community, young people can anonymously share what they're going through, support one another and access reliable information and tools. Around 750 young people use the platform each year. In offline group sessions, young people develop – under the guidance of people with lived experience – the skills to better navigate the ups and downs of life.
De Levende Leeuw organises workshops and neighbourhood activities for children and young people in Amsterdam. In areas where access to arts and creative leisure activities is less of a given, children are given the space to make, design and collaborate. Their ideas often form the starting point for projects that take place in squares, at schools and in partnership with local organisations. In this way, De Levende Leeuw strengthens creativity, confidence and connection within the neighbourhood.
Eco Volve's circular pop-up brings together residents, entrepreneurs and pupils around the future of consumption and the circular economy. Through temporary pop-ups, local entrepreneurs show how valuable waste and raw materials are and what people can do themselves to reduce waste. The concept inspires residents to make different choices – repairing, reusing and shopping differently. At the same time, circular entrepreneurs gain visibility and new collaborations emerge. In this way, Eco Volve helps local authorities make circular policy tangible and visible.
Heartbeet is a community in Amsterdam that brings people together around a vegan lifestyle. Members meet at dinners, events and workshops at vegan restaurants across the city. There is also an online platform where members are in daily contact, sharing experiences and supporting one another in the transition to vegan living. The community now has around 300 members, from entrepreneurs and creatives to students. By eating together, sharing knowledge and inspiring each other, Heartbeet wants to show that vegan living can be social, accessible and appealing.
From Amsterdam Zuidoost
Since 2020, Stichting Kings Island has been supporting young men in building confidence, responsibility and their future, by connecting them with male role models and mentors. In a safe environment, young people work on self-knowledge, developing their talents and resilience. Stichting Kings Island organises weekly sports sessions, personal development programmes and workshops around creativity and entrepreneurship.
Sabo Advies believes that cities can be developed, built and managed more inclusively, and so creates space for residents and young people to contribute their thinking on construction, housing and liveability. Through the Ik Bouw ZO programme, young people are introduced to the construction, real estate and liveability sectors through hands-on activities, encounters with professionals and projects in their own neighbourhood. In this way, they discover their talents and are encouraged to progress into education, work placements or employment in these sectors.
Garden of Saba develops skincare products with a focus on reuse, simplicity and conscious consumption. The initiative came about in response to overconsumption and the polluting impact of the skincare industry. With refillable glass packaging and ingredients sourced from waste streams, Garden of Saba offers an alternative free from disposable packaging and unnecessary additives, encouraging people to choose skincare products more consciously – for reuse rather than repeated repurchase.
From Amsterdam Noord
Kunstmarkt Noord organises art markets where artists can show and sell their work to a new audience. The markets offer a low-threshold space without high costs or closed-off networks, with free entry for visitors and direct encounters between maker and public. More than 70 artists take part in each edition. With the Kennis programme, Kunstmarkt Noord extends this offering with workshops, talks and online content, giving artists support in their development and entrepreneurship as well.
At neighbourhood hub JOFEL in Tuindorp Oostzaan, locally made products and second-hand children's items come together. In the hub, you'll find sustainable products from local makers alongside second-hand children's clothing, toys and books. JOFEL is also a place for community connection, hosting activities such as yoga classes, workshops and the monthly Repair Café, where neighbours repair things together. In this way, JOFEL brings sustainability and a strong sense of neighbourhood together.
The Holistic Women's Centre (THWC) organises workshops, fitness classes and gatherings focused on women's health and wellbeing. Alongside informative sessions on topics such as the menstrual cycle, menopause and burnout prevention, THWC offers physical classes including yoga, pelvic floor training and relaxation exercises. Community is a central element of THWC: through talks, dinners and gatherings, women come together to share experiences and learn from one another and from experts. In this way, THWC supports women in better understanding and actively strengthening their health.
Keuken van de Markt
Keuken van de Markt is a local mini food market in a former shop unit on the Buikslotermeerplein in Amsterdam-Noord. Up-and-coming chefs from the neighbourhood hire a market stall and serve their own dishes – food from their own kitchen, with their own story. As a visitor, you taste flavours from a range of cultures, while the chefs gain hands-on experience of running a business. Keuken van de Markt supports them throughout: from pricing and menu choices to the practical realities of running your own venture. The result is more than a food market: it's a place where cooking, eating and learning come together and neighbours can meet.
From Amsterdam Oost
NieNieuw is a second-hand department store in Amsterdam-Oost. The shop sells carefully selected pre-owned goods, including clothing, furniture, electronics and bicycles. NieNieuw also serves as a collection point where local residents can drop off items they no longer need. After inspection, cleaning or repair, these products are given a second life. In this way, NieNieuw encourages reuse and contributes to a circular economy.
Gezonde Buren works in Amsterdam-Oost towards something that ought to go without saying: that everyone gets to take part. Not all Amsterdammers find it equally easy to access sport or physical activity. Older residents, people with limited time or confidence often fall through the gaps. Gezonde Buren organises accessible movement activities and community meet-ups in the neighbourhood. No gym or expensive memberships – just walking, moving and meeting one another in the area, alongside volunteers and familiar faces from Amsterdam-Oost. Together with neighbourhood ambassadors, they organise walking groups, active weeks and local events. In this way, they help residents become more active, step by step, contributing to neighbourhoods where nobody has to sit on the sidelines.
Showroom is a shop, creative studio and event space in Amsterdam-Oost celebrating contemporary African art, fashion and culture. You'll find books, clothing and other products from independent makers from the African continent. Showroom also provides space for exhibitions, book launches and cultural events, and supports emerging makers by giving them a platform to show their work and mount exhibitions. The result is a space where art, culture and stories come together.