Amsterdam West: Making the Future - Circular Innovation & Craftsmanship
For a walking tour of Amsterdam West the day before KFF26 opens, where craftsmanship, circular innovation, and the future of work converge across two of the city's most quietly radical workshops, spend an afternoon with the people rebuilding the relationship between making, mending, and meaningful employment.
Tuesday May 26 · 15:00–17:00 Starting point: United Repair Centre, Amsterdam West (full address to confirm with host)
The tour begins at United Repair Centre, a social and circular textile repair hub that has proven circularity can drive environmental and social impact at the same time. By combining the craftsmanship of skilled tailors with their URC platform, which lets brands manage paid repairs and warranty claims at scale while keeping a consistent, branded customer experience, URC extends the life of garments while creating meaningful employment for people distanced from the labour market. Inside the workshop you'll see how the operation runs, hear about the mission, and explore what it actually takes to make circular business models work commercially.
From there, the group walks together through Amsterdam West to CRE8, a creative maker space built around opening up future opportunities for vulnerable young people. Driven by a fascination with modern technologies and a deep commitment to youth development, CRE8 brings craftsmanship back into the heart of the city in a contemporary way: producing locally, with minimal waste and space, through digital manufacturing methods. You'll explore the workshop, meet the makers, and take part in a small hands-on activity, a chance to experience the power of learning by making rather than learning by reading about it.
A two-hour pre-festival anchor in the city's most bioregional corner, for anyone curious about how circular economy and inclusive employment actually look when they're stitched together (literally) on the ground.
YOUR EXPERIENCE INCLUDES (Free)
Guided visit through the United Repair Centre workshop with the team behind the URC platform
Walking tour through Amsterdam West between the two locations
Workshop tour of CRE8 plus a short hands-on making activity
Conversation with both teams on how circular business models, craftsmanship, and inclusive employment shape the future of industry and work
EXTRA
To wrap up the tour, we’d love to gather for informal and optional drinks together at BRET (at your own expense). Location: Orlyplein 76, 1043 DP Amsterdam (next to train station Sloterdijk)
YOUR HOSTS
Marije Mulders and the team at the City of Amsterdam, in partnership with United Repair Centre and CRE8, two Amsterdam-West organisations leading the local intersection of circularity, social innovation, and skills development.
A NOTE ON THIS EVENT
This is a community-organised side event on the KFF26 Luma calendar, hosted by the City of Amsterdam together with United Repair Centre and CRE8. It's not part of the official KFF26 programme; it's one of the gatherings the community is putting on around the festival to extend the conversation and the connections.
This side event is open to KFF26 ticket holders only. You'll be asked to confirm at RSVP.
Capacity is intimate (~20). Reserve early.