Amsterdam’s Schoonschip: Europe’s Greenest Floating Community Proves a Fair Economy with Local Energy Works

Don’t we all want the same thing? A good life for ourselves and our children, now and in the future. A country where we can live in health, with clean air, nutritious food, and thriving nature. Every day, millions of people work toward that goal.

But our current economy stands in the way. Too many companies exploit people and nature in pursuit of short‑term profit, driven by shareholders who value quarterly results more than long‑term wellbeing. The consequence? Climate breakdown, burnout, unaffordable housing, and a democracy losing its influence.

We continue building. But we need politics to accelerate the change.

This is the first story in the video series “A Fair Economy Is Possible” — six reports in which BrightVibes and The Green Times document that a fair economy is not only necessary, but entirely feasible. This series is part of “The Sound of Progress — Election Time,” an initiative of think tank De Groene Afslag in collaboration with The Green Times, BrightVibes, and many others.

The Most Sustainable Floating Neighbourhood in Europe

On the waters of Amsterdam North lies Schoonschip. Not an ordinary neighborhood, but the most sustainable floating community in Europe — and a working proof that local energy is not a dream.

Forty‑six households jointly generate their own energy, feed it into and draw from the grid. Solar panels on the rooftops, a smart energy management system, and batteries that store surplus energy enable a gas‑free, fully electric neighborhood that uses only one‑eighth of the grid capacity required by other all‑electric districts.

“This is not futurism,” says one resident. “This works. Now. Here.”

The residents enjoy lower energy costs and full control over their energy supply. They decide where their electricity comes from, how it’s stored, how it’s distributed. It is a form of economic democracy seldom seen elsewhere in the Netherlands.

And yet Schoonschip remains an exception. Why can’t this happen everywhere?

Now It’s Time for Politics to Act

Advancing the Netherlands doesn’t have to be complicated. Not more regulations, but freedom to do the right thing — for sustainable initiatives, entrepreneurs, and businesses.

The Hague clings to a fossil, unfair, and extractive economy. While other issues have dominated the public conversation this year, polluting corporations continue with ease, and sustainable measures have been quietly shelved.

“Sustainability is not a coat of paint. It is the foundation on which the whole house stands,” says Hans Stegeman of Triodos Bank.

It’s time for a new voice. Time for action.

The Manifesto for a Fair Economy

Think tank De Groene Afslag — a growing collective of economists and thinkers working toward a fair economy — has answered the call for alternatives with the Manifesto for a Fair Economy.

The eight thinkers behind the manifesto:

• Babette Porcelijn — sustainable business & circular economy
• Derk Loorbach — transition research & systems change
• Joyeeta Gupta — climate justice & planetary boundaries
• Kees Klomp — cooperative economy & local strength
• Marleen Stikker — digital democracy & tech for people
• Michel Scholte — organic farming & regenerative systems
• Paul Schenderling — regenerative economy & nature restoration
• Winne van Woerden — donut economy & fair trade

Their message is clear: an economy that works for humanity and planet is not only possible — it is already happening. Across the Netherlands, pioneers build solutions. What is missing is political support to scale them.

The manifesto outlines ten concrete goals for a fair economy, from economic security to international justice. For this story about local energy, three goals are especially relevant.

Three Concrete Tasks for Politics

The manifesto spells out three clear calls to The Hague:

1. Strengthen democracy — give citizens more economic influence and decision-making power. Energy cooperatives like Schoonschip show that residents can govern their energy supply with better results than the current system.
2. Work together with the movement — join the constructive work of millions of Dutch citizens. From sustainable scale-ups to social initiatives — the movement toward a better world and future‑proof economy is already underway.
3. Make the systemic choices — dare to make decisions that genuinely change the system. Not cosmetic tweaks, but fundamental reforms that enable a fair economy.

What the Manifesto Says About Energy: Three Crucial Goals

Of the ten goals in the Manifesto for a Fair Economy, three apply directly to local energy initiatives like Schoonschip:

Goal 3: Strengthen local democracy and self-determination

Key choices about energy, food, and infrastructure should be made by those who live with them, not by remote bureaucrats or multinationals. Schoonschip is living proof: residents jointly govern their energy and benefit directly from the returns.

The manifesto calls for greater autonomy for neighborhoods and villages over their energy supply. Not symbolically, but as a fundamental right to self‑determination.

Goal 6: Restore natural systems

A regenerative economy where CO₂ reduction and circular systems are central. Energy cooperatives prove this works: clean power, lower emissions, and residents in control.

Where traditional energy systems rely on fossil fuels that deplete nature, local renewable energy contributes to ecosystem restoration. The solar panels at Schoonschip produce no emissions; batteries ensure efficient usage; and the community’s circular design minimizes waste.

Goal 7: Economy within planetary boundaries (post-growth)

Post-growth doesn’t mean poverty, but a focus on well-being within Earth’s limits. Schoonschip families thrive with lower energy bills and a smaller ecological footprint. They show that a good life is possible without endless growth.

Schoonschip’s energy use is one‑eighth that of comparable all-electric districts — not because residents are limiting themselves, but because smart design and collective ownership lead to efficiency. That is the core of post-growth: more well-being with fewer resources.

Political Choices That Enable Local Energy

The manifesto proposes concrete political actions to accelerate local energy:

• Facilitate energy cooperatives — lower administrative burdens and remove legal obstacles so communities can more easily generate energy together
• Broad social ownership — energy infrastructure should not be controlled by large corporations extracting returns for shareholders, but by residents who directly benefit
• Promote circular practices — reward businesses and initiatives that prioritize reuse and nature restoration, rather than extractive models
• Local self-determination for communities — give neighborhoods and villages more autonomy over their energy systems, including the right to diverge from national norms when doing so locally yields better outcomes

“This Can Work Everywhere — If Politics Lets It”

Diederik Samson, former PvdA parliamentary leader and now active in the energy transition, explains:

“Initiatives like Schoonschip demonstrate that local energy works. But the laws and regulations are still written for a centralized energy system. We need more local self‑determination, financing for cooperatives, and a government that dares to choose affordable, clean energy.”

The challenge is not technical. It is political.

The Election: A Moment for Decisions

On October 29, 2025, the Dutch general elections will take place. This is the moment when parties must choose: will we continue clinging to an economy driven by infinite growth and fossil fuels? Or will we opt for an economy that operates within planetary limits?

Which politicians dare to speak for a fair economy in the talk show debates? Which parties make space for future‑oriented initiatives by countless entrepreneurs and engaged citizens?

The more voices we raise, the clearer it becomes where the Netherlands stands.

More Stories from the Series “A Fair Economy Is Possible”

This is the first of six reports documenting that a fair economy is not a utopia, but a realistic path ahead. In the coming weeks:

• 1. The most sustainable floating neighborhood in Europe generates its own energy — why can’t this model be everywhere? (this story)
• 2. The importance of Real vs. False Prices (with the CEO of Odin and Michel Scholte of True Price — coming soon)
• 3. This group of people developed their own owner‑occupied and rental homes (with Babette Porcelijn — coming soon)
• 4. Why our economy doesn’t work for ordinary people (with Hans Stegeman — coming soon)
• 5. In Arnhem’s Spijkerkwartier, DAZO shows the power of local collaboration (with Kees Klomp — coming soon)
• 6. It’s Possible: six examples of a working fair economy (coming soon)

Millions of Dutch People Are Leading the Way

Across society, change is already happening. From sustainable scale-ups to social initiatives — the movement toward a better world and a future‑proof economy is in full swing. The Netherlands can lead the way, if we muster the courage for real change. “What receives attention, grows.” The Hague, will you join?

Read, Share & Vote

Read and share the manifesto

Read the Manifesto for a Fair Economy and share this story on social media. The louder our voice, the clearer our message. Note: the manifesto is written in Dutch.

Watch all videos

Follow the full series on the channels of The Green Times and BrightVibes.

Vote on October 29

Choose parties that dare to champion a fair economy. Because, as Schoonschip proves: it’s possible. “The Sound of Progress — Election Time” is an initiative by think tank De Groene Afslag, in cooperation with The Green Times, BrightVibes and many others.