Norrsken Amsterdam’s CEO on the race to open new hub for impact startups

For almost two years, Norrsken Foundation, one of Europe's largest impact investors, has been quietly preparing a site in Amsterdam for its next startup working hub.

Announced in December, 'Norrsken Amsterdam' will house some 1000 tech entrepreneurs and investors at Van Gendt Hallen, a historic industrial building owned by Bugaboo founder Eduard Zanen.

Now, Norrsken Amsterdam has appointed its first CEO, Dutch entrepreneur Thijs van der Burgt, to lead the company as it aims to open its doors this summer.

"It's crazy right now I'll be honest," Van der Burgt tells Impact Loop over the phone. "One minute I'm in high-level strategic conversations, the next I'm discussing which kind of AC/DC power plugs we need. But that's the beauty of the startup phase."

A new start

Van der Burgt is best known as the founder of real estate software startup Office App, which was acquired in 2021 by US competitor HqO in a deal that valued the combined company at $500m.

After the acquisition, the founder spent three years working in Boston, US for HqO before deciding to pack up with his family and move back to the Netherlands.

"It was time to say goodbye, to do something else," he says. "I took some time off to really think about what I wanted to do with my life...I knew I wanted to spend my time on something that actually scales and is improving larger issues in our world."

Van der Burgt was first referred to the job at Norrsken Amsterdam by some of the new organisation's co-founders – some of which were old friends from the Dutch startup scene.

"They knew I was looking to invest in something but also take an operational role," he says.

Investor – and CEO

Norrsken Amsterdam was co-founded by 11 entrepreneurs, investors, and family offices. These included Zanen, Heleen Dura-van Oord, partner at Peak Capital, and De Hoge Dennen, the investment vehicle of the De Rijcke family.

After getting the call from the co-founders, Van der Burgt decided to invest some of his own capital and became the 12th founder. He also decided to take the job as CEO.

"It's a new industry for me...I'm kind of more a techie," he says. "But I know how to build a company, and I like that I'm doing something that can really to good for the planet."

Now, Van der Burgt will lead the organisation to fulfil its grand vision of building one of Europe's biggest hubs for impact.

Rush to the finish line

Currently, the Van Gendt Hallen is in the final stages of fit-out and will soon be ready for furniture and all the final touches.

Spread across three floors, the building will offer over 3,600 square metres dedicated to co-working, events and networking – far larger than Norrsken's Stockholm house, which hosts around 400 people.

The entire hall, which covers 25,000 square metres, will eventually house a sustainability-focused museum, a restaurant, and offices for larger companies working on entrepreneurship and climate solutions. The building is also planned to be carbon-neutral.

The first tenants

Van der Burgt says it has received over 500 requests already from startups, venture firms, and family offices looking to take up residence at the new hub.

"The idea is to find the right balance between different types of companies, but all must work towards building a better planet," he says. The plan is to incorporate early-stage impact startups, but also those that have yet to raise a funding round.

Van der Burgt says they have a careful selection process for each tenant, and that, for example, startups working in defence tech or weapons were not welcome.

"We actually had a request already about that, and it was a definite 'no'."