The Zuidas joined forces to raise €108,000 for the homeless

115 employees from 24 businesses and organisations from the Zuidas business district spent last night sleeping outdoors at Zuidplein. The Sleep Out, organised by WTC Amsterdam and Sheltersuit Foundation, raised an impressive €108,000 to be exact, exceeding its original €75,000 target. The funds will go towards Sheltersuits and Shelterbags, providing protection from the cold, wind and rain for people without a safe place to call home.

A strong sense of togetherness

Employees from organisations including BNP Paribas, School for Moral Ambition, The Green Times, nlmtd, Project ENKI and Doedonnie took part to draw attention to the reality faced by people who have no choice but to sleep outside every night.

Femke Weller, General Manager at WTC Amsterdam comments on the night: “What moves me most after this night is the power of coming together. Sleeping side by side in the cold and damp to raise money for people who, unlike us, cannot return to a warm, safe home after just one night. That realisation is, and always will be, deeply confronting. At the same time, I am incredibly proud that so many people and businesses have come together to make a difference. It shows what we can achieve when compassion turns into action.”

Rogier Sterk, initiator from WTC Amsterdam adds: “The challenges we face today require more than the efforts of a single company or sector. Real change happens when people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and perspectives, come together around a shared purpose. That is exactly what the Sleep Out demonstrates. It brings together established businesses, start-ups and the talent of tomorrow. Raising €108,000 is a fantastic achievement, but perhaps even more important is what it represents: what becomes possible when a community combines its knowledge, networks and ambition. That is exactly what we stand for at WTC Amsterdam.”

The Zuidas Sleep Out went viral

The Sleep Out attracted widespread attention in the lead-up to the event. An Instagram appeal by Sheltersuit founder Bas Timmer received more than 10 million views in just a few days!

The €108,000 raised will go to Sheltersuit Foundation to fund the production and distribution of Sheltersuits and Shelterbags. The amount is enough to provide 359 Sheltersuits. Working with social care organisation HVO-Querido, these products will reach people experiencing homelessness who urgently need protection from harsh winter conditions.

The impact of the Sleep Out extends beyond the funds raised. The initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when businesses, social organisations and individuals come together around a shared cause.

For Sheltersuit Foundation, distributing protective products is about more than providing immediate relief. It can also open the door to further support. “Our products give support organisations a way to connect with people who have lost trust in institutions or fallen out of contact with social services. Providing a Sheltersuit or Shelterbag can be the beginning of a relationship built on trust, and a first step towards recovery. That is why we distribute our products exclusively through support organisations. Our mission is People Helping People. And that is something we can only achieve together,” says Bart Nijsink, Fundraiser at Sheltersuit Foundation.