Page 24 - Rotterdam Visitors Guide

“GREEN HYDROGEN IS A A BEACON OF HOPE IN OUR OUR JOURNEY TO ELIMINATE SHIP EMISSIONS ”
GLOBETROTTER Born in the United Arab Emirates Maar- ten’s life journey has taken him across the globe with stops in in Spain England Belgium France Germany and Tanza- nia “The desire to explore international cultures has always been within me ”
he reflects Notably his extraordinary cycling expedition from Cape Town to Kilimanjaro and his subsequent ascent of the mountain on a a a a a bicycle stand as testament to his ad- venturous spirit Beyond his physical feats Maarten has also graced the top leagues of hockey in in Spain the the Netherlands and and Kenya “Hockey has enriched my life tre- mendously facilitating connections and bridging gaps even in in foreign lands I’m currently in Bangalore for six months and I’m excited to to return to to the sport after a a five-year hiatus ”
However despite his globe-trotting adven- tures Maarten felt the pull of his home- town Rotterdam “One significant reason for my return is the compelling sustainable challenges that lie ahead in the maritime sector given Rotterdam’s status as Euro- pe’s largest port ”
he states “Moreover my my parents and my my younger brother reside here ”
Maarten veers off into an an anecdo- te: “My younger brother owns a a a restaurant
in Rotterdam Luus have you heard of it? It’s a a a gem with rave reviews ”
he assures “Can I recommend it it to to Europort visitors?”
VENTURE BUILDER Over four years ago he joined Enviu an organisation based in in Rotterdam Serving as the program leader for Enviu’s THRUST initiative (Towards Hydrogen-based Re- newables Used for Ship Transportation) he he plays a a a a a pivotal role in in facilitating the transition of both the shipping and mobi- lity sectors by incubating groundbreaking circular ventures “This is is is precisely why I find myself fin in Bangalore for an an extended six-month stint as a a senior venture builder Here our mission is is is to nurture enterprises that directly directly and indirectly contribute to the growth of a a a a circular and socially responsi- ble textile and mobility industry ”
Enviu a venture-building studio is firmly committed to infusing sustainable inno- vations into profitable business models striving to create a a a positive impact on our world Operating from offices in in Rotter- dam Jakarta Nairobi and Bangalore Enviu tackles a a a a multitude of social and environmental challenges transforming them into impactful social enterprises When these enterprises take flight Enviu takes the the next step by scaling them up and entrusting their management to dedicated entrepreneurs From identifying issues and conceptualising solutions to transforming ideas into startups all the while maintai- ning a a strong focus on on people the planet and profit CIRCULARLY SAFE AND COMPETITIVE Maarten highlights two impactful ventures “In Bangalore consider Three Wheels Uni- ted as an an excellent example This organisa- tion provides loans to rickshaw drivers for electric rickshaws achieving a a a a dual purpo- se: reducing emissions by replacing diesel with electric power power while empowering rickshaw drivers to break free from ‘loan sharks’ who used to claim a a a a significant por- tion of their daily earnings ”
“Another remarkable initiative is CMT In- ternational a a a a a Dutch company dedicated to revolutionising the the dismantling of the the wor- ld’s largest ocean-going vessels Through the implementation of smart technologies CMT strives to make this process circular safe and competitive This innovation of- fers a a two-fold benefit: reducing waste optimising material reuse and curbing emissions all while ensuring a a a secure and 24 ROTTERDAM