On May 5, we celebrated 80 years of freedom and innovation at the Utrecht Liberation Festival. Amidst the music, food trucks, and massive crowds, the festival grounds transformed into a vibrant testing ground for five innovators who were putting their prototypes to the test. From smart rinsing stations to circular wagons, visitors became testers, testers became conversational partners, and valuable insights were exchanged. Here’s a look at how the day unfolded:
June 20, 2025
Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht 2025: Five innovations tested on a sunny festival grounds
Rinse away: Rinse&Go
A cargo bike with a built-in rinsing station in the middle of the festival grounds drew a lot of attention. Rinse&Go allowed visitors to rinse their own cups, which saved up to 80% of water usage. As festival-goers rolled up their sleeves, they shared ideas on how the station could also be used at work, in schools, or at other festivals.
Comfort and support in your pocket: the Stamps App
At the “Wall of Love,” visitors wrote heartfelt messages to loved ones and placed stickers on their favorite app features. This helped founders Pien and Tess make their platform for emotional support more user-friendly. “The conversations were genuine and personal—exactly what we hope to achieve with Stamps,” said Tess.
A new bottle of wine, without waste
Green Wine Company took a different approach. They asked visitors which wine label caught their eye the most and why. With their deposit system, they want to encourage the reuse of bottles—good for the consumer and the planet. Visitors shared their opinions on sustainability, convenience, and design using smart tear-off cards.
Race across the grounds with the Bakezel
A circular wagon that actually holds up: that’s the Bakezel. Daphne and Stephan had visitors literally take a test ride on a course. Afterwards, testers gave feedback on the comfort, ease of use, and the rental concept. The conclusion? The demand is great, but there’s still work to be done on the design.
History under your feet: Roods
Using QR codes on the festival grounds, visitors discovered historical stories from the area—all directly on their phones. The Roods app was tested and adjusted on the spot based on user experiences. “A live test moment like this at a festival is invaluable,” said Paul. “It instantly shows what does and doesn’t work.”
Want to test at Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht next year? Learn about the possibilities here.
These tests were made possible with the support of Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht, Gemeente Utrecht, the ROM Utrecht Region, Hogeschool Utrecht, and Provincie Utrecht.