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Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz

The MIWB on Terschelling was founded over 150 years ago and offers a wide range of maritime programmes and courses.
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NHL Stenden Hogeschool

By moving your boundaries forward you will achieve more. Our campuses are located in the north of the Netherlands and we have a worldwide partner network. From Leeuwarden to South-Africa; the world at your feet.
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Thorbecke Academy

The Thorbecke Academy is the institute for study programmes and research in the fields of law, public administration, and safety and security.
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NHL Stenden Hotel Management School

Hotel Management School is the largest and most internationally orientated hotel school in Europe.
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Expert: Matthias Olthaar

Dr Matthias Olthaar researches future-proof economic models that, even in the face of today’s global challenges, can lead to a higher quality of life. He holds a PhD on the position of African farmers in global value chains. Alongside numerous research publications, he is also the author of several books, including his most recent work Alles van waarde (All That Is Valuable). 

Matthias is a sought-after speaker, columnist for Friesch Dagblad, and active member of several advisory and innovation boards, including Postgrowth Netherlands, the Innovation Council of the Vechtstromen Water Authority, and the programme committee of the Dutch Top Sector Logistics. 

Matthias Olthaar, Green Economics & Process Optimization
Matthias Olthaar

Professor of Green Economics & Process Optimization

Research areas: 

  • Post-growth economy

  • Broad prosperity

  • Circular economy

  • Multiple value creation 

matthias.olthaar@nhlstenden.com
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Lectoraat Green Logistics doet onderzoek naar circulaire bedrijfsmodel

Research Group: Green Economics & Process Optimization

The urgency of sustainability is growing, increasingly affecting every aspect of business. As the world and the economy change rapidly, companies must adapt in order to remain competitive. Matthias and his team study how organisations can successfully navigate this transition, building new models that balance economic, social and ecological value. 

More about the research

Podcast NHL Stenden Onderzoekt: Are we willing to make real changes for the climate?

Listen to the podcast!

Projects

  • Book: Alles van waarde - exploring how we might reimagine the economy so that people in all roles can contribute to shaping a fairer, more sustainable system. 

  • Book: Er is leven na de groei (There Is Life After Growth) - examining realistic policy measures for transitioning to a post-growth society. 

  • LINCIT (Linear to Circular Transition) - developed with Dr Dennis Vegter, this project supports companies in moving from linear supply chains to circular business ecosystems, including logistics and operations redesign. 

Publications 

  • Olthaar, M. (2025). Alles van waarde. Bot uitgevers. Matthias Olthaar – Alles van waarde – Bot Uitgevers (NL) 

  • Olthaar, M. (2025). Tourist Mobility: Transport as necessary evil. In: Sustainable value creation in hospitality: Guests on earth, 2nd ed, Cavagnaro, E. (ed). Goodfellow publishers 

  • Vegter, D., Van Hillegersberg, J. en Olthaar, M. (2023) Performance Measurement System for Circular Supply Chain Management. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 36, pp. 171-183 

  • Van Cappelleveen, G., Vegter, D., Olthaar, M. en Van Hillegersberg, J. (2023). The anatomy of a passport for the circular economy: a conceptual definition, vision, and structure literature review. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances, 17. 

  • Vegter, D., Van Cappelleveen, G., Olthaar, M. en Van Hillegersberg, J. (2022) Circulair prestatiemanagement in de logistiek. MOOC: 20 video’s. https://www.dinalog.nl/circulair-prestatiemanagement-in-de-logistiek/ 

  • Lous, B., Schenderling, P. and Olthaar, M.(2022) Debate, Policy and Action. Resources, Conservation, and Recycling Advances, 14. 

  • Schenderling, P.J. & M. Olthaar (2022). ‘Handelsliberalisering levert ontwikkelingslanden nog te weinig op’. In: ESB, september 2022 

  • Vegter, D., Van Hillegersberg, J. en Olthaar, M. (2021) Performance Measurement Systems for Circular Supply Chain Management: Current State of Development. Sustainability, 13 (21) 

  • Olthaar, M., Roetman, E., Vegter, D. en Fischer, A. (2020) De Zaak is Rond. Rapport 

  • Tuinstra, T., Wierikx, A., Olthaar, M. en Ravesteijn, P. (2020) Meetbaar maken van de bijdrage van logistiek aan de ontwikkeling van circulaire bedrijfsmodellen. Logistiek+ (9) 

  • Vegter, D., Van Hillegersberg, J. en Olthaar, M. (2020) Supply Chains in Circular Business Models: Processes and Performance Objectives. Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, 162 

The research group in the media 

  • Podcast: Green eccentrics (NL)
  • Podcast:  Life after growth, episode 36 (NL)
  • Opinion article Trouw: Marktplaats has two faces, including one that is not sustainable (NL)
  • Opinion article Nederlands Dagblad: ‘Ten million people work for products that end up in the Netherlands. But they themselves do not benefit from them’. (NL)
  • Artikel Science Guide: The anatomy of a passport for the circular economy: a conceptual definition, vision and structured literature review (ENG)
  • Radio 1: Money or your life (NL)
  • Opinion article NRC: We need to talk about the economy differently (NL)
  • Podcast ESG: How are we actually going to produce and consume less? (NL)
  • Radio 1: Is Tony Chocolonely really that sustainable?  (NL)