O.666

A living lab for circular economy, social and corporate responsibility

Formerly a fishing cooperative and fuel depot, today a circular hub: welcome to O.666 on Hendrik Baelskaai in Ostend. Since 2016, the non-profit organisation O.666, the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) and the City of Ostend have been creating a place for sustainable projects there.

With O.666, the initiators wink at the history of fishing. Each fishing boat has a serial number: the letter O followed by 3 digits. Only you won't find any fishermen in the building today, but you will find circular designers, artists and young people. That is because OVAM remediated the brownfield under one condition: only circular initiatives are allowed to use the buildings.

Renovation extends lifespan of existing façade

After OVAM remediated the soil, it refurbished the buildings together with the City of Ostend. They put the finishing touches to their circular project with a facade renovation. The façade was made of recycled materials: 500 Pretty Plastic tiles from recycled PVC waste and FOAMGLAS® T3+ slabs, which consist of 66% recycled glass. OVAM and the city of Ostend thereby saved 2759 kg of waste from landfill. And for the façade, they did not use glue or other pollutants, but F-anchors.

Making the city together

Today, O.666 is a circular hub for all citizens of Ostend. Those who want to learn more about circularity can also go there for teambuildings, brainstorms and thinking days. By further professionalising its offer, the city aims to involve as many Eastdeners as possible in the journey towards a sustainable and circular economy.