Norrsken Launches Amsterdam House to Scale Social Innovation
The Swedish nonprofit partners with Dutch startup and impact community to build western Europe’s largest hub for purpose-driven entrepreneurship
Sweden-based Norrsken Foundation is partnering with Dutch entrepreneurs and investors to open Norrsken House Amsterdam – its fourth location worldwide. Established at the historic Van Gendt Hallen complex, the new House looks to become western Europe’s largest hub for accelerating solutions to global societal challenges. In doing so, Norrsken will strengthen the Netherlands’ landscape for NGOs and impact-driven startups.
“Amsterdam has long been a city of innovation. It is the place where shareholder capitalism first took shape. Today, we have an opportunity to redefine it for the 21st century,” said Sara Kappelmark, co-CEO of Norrsken Foundation. “With Norrsken House, we are creating a platform for solutions to problems that genuinely matter, and for those who share our vision of entrepreneurship as a force for positive change.”
At the center of the Netherlands’ entrepreneurial ecosystem
For Norrsken, expanding into the Netherlands means an opportunity to work with the country’s close-knit community of innovators. The move to Amsterdam places the foundation at the center of a thriving startup culture, robust tech scene and globally connected NGO sector. Moreover, the Dutch are renowned as leaders in financial innovation, including investing for social impact.
In that vein, Norrsken is forging close partnerships with a noteworthy group of Dutch unicorn founders, serial entrepreneurs, investors and family offices – all of whom are joining the project as co-founders. Partners include CarbonFix, Eduard Zanen, Heleen Dura – van Oord, De Hoge Dennen, Jolanda Degen, Karin van Leeuwen, Marijn Pijnenborg, Raoul Kiksen, Tanka Foundation and De Wereld van Vermaat.
Supporting startups that “make saving the world their business”
Norrsken’s mission is to support entrepreneurs who make saving the world their business. The nonprofit acts as an impact ecosystem and investor, connecting startup founders with the capital, knowledge and networks they need to scale up globally. All the companies in Norrsken’s portfolio are focused on creating solutions toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Set to open in 2026, Norrsken House Amsterdam brings high value to the Netherlands and its pursuit of a sustainable future for all. The center will bolster the Dutch ecosystem by combining purpose-driven entrepreneurship with access to €700 million in aligned funds. This, in turn, will create a highly visible international hub for scaling social innovation.
Reimagining a historic building to foster new connections
Norrsken House Amsterdam will become a meeting ground for more than 1,000 founders, investors and partners who are working on solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. The hub itself will occupy three floors and more than 3,600 square meters of space designed for co-working, networking and events.
The decision to land at Amsterdam’s Oostenburg island in the Van Gendt Hallen – a former steam train factory and warehouse district with roots in 17th century shipbuilding – is also intentional. Norrsken is reimagining the carefully restored building into a modern hub for culture, creativity, innovation and sustainability.
By bringing together capital, talent and partnerships into a unified ecosystem, Norrsken is poised to elevate the Dutch NGO and impact startup scene to new heights.
Source: Norrsken
19 December 2025