A handcart that falls apart halfway across the festival grounds and then goes straight into the trash? The makers of the Bakezel found that to be anything but sustainable. That’s why they developed a robust, practical, and circular handcart that is perfect for festival use. The design is specially made for rough terrain, and the handcart is offered sustainably through a rental concept with one clear goal: to reduce waste at festivals.

During Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht, visitors could extensively test the Bakezel on a special course. With various obstacles, luggage, and varying speeds, the test simulated festival conditions as realistically as possible. Because visitors could try out both a standard handcart and the Bakezel, clear comparisons emerged immediately: what did they find ‘ouch’ (less pleasant) and what ‘wow’ (great)? Testers could also give their opinion on a rental concept and the rental price.

The Bakezel was well-received: festival-goers recognized the hassle of lugging gear and saw the handcart as a convenient solution. Renting was preferred, for €10–15 per person or €40–45 per cart. Extra features like a cooler compartment or a fold-out table made the concept even more attractive. The test confirmed the need, although the target audience was not fully representative. A follow-up test at another location is planned.

Made possible in part by: Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht, Gemeente Utrecht, ROM Utrecht Region, Hogeschool Utrecht, and Provincie Utrecht.