We started the EnergieHub Zuidoost project together with TU Delft, the City of Amsterdam, Liander, Utrecht University, AMS Institute and Enertrans.

The mission? To achieve sustainability and combat grid congestion by sharing, storing and using energy smartly. Not waiting for the power grid to be expanded, but creating local solutions with our mega batteries.

Data as a coach - We developed tools that provide real-time insight into the capacity of the power grid. This allows supply and demand to be better matched.

Digital twin of Amsterdam-Zuidoost - TU Delft built a digital copy of ArenAPoort: buildings, energy infrastructure, charging stations, solar panels, heat pumps. In this virtual world, we test scenarios without risk.

Neighbourhood scan for energy opportunities - With Alliander's Energy Neighbourhood Scan, we mapped out all opportunities for collaboration. Who has too much energy? Who has too little?

This is more than a technical project – it is a blueprint for the whole of the Netherlands. We are proving that you can combine energy transition and economic growth without investing billions in new infrastructure. Amsterdam-Zuidoost will become the energy laboratory of the future.

Catering partners Hutten and Levy calculate the CO₂ emissions per dish and analyse the ratio between animal and plant-based proteins. This is because plant-based proteins (such as veggie burgers) have much lower CO₂ emissions than animal proteins (such as those found in beef or pork). We use these insights to make our menu more sustainable, step by step. The result? A significant reduction in our catering emissions, without compromising on taste.

Levy made a bold tactical switch. Beef is a major source of greenhouse gases, so we looked for alternatives.

Phase 1: The 50:50 signature burger - First, Levy introduced burgers made from half beef and half mushrooms. This hybrid version had better nutritional value: less saturated fat and salt, more fibre. Plus a CO₂ reduction of 13.5% per kilo.

Phase 2: The chicken burger transfer - Levy then switched to 100% chicken burgers. From 31.6 kg of CO₂ per kilo of beef burger to just 7 kg of CO₂ per kilo of chicken burger – a reduction of 78%!

More plant-based options, less food waste and more seasonal ingredients. We are proud that we are reducing the CO₂ per kg of product on our menu for the second year in a row, and that this goes hand in hand with tasty food. 

We continue to innovate. New plant-based alternatives, less food waste and seasonal menus are on the agenda. Because a delicious and increasingly sustainable menu is a goal we strive for every day.

The problem? Our grass team has various machines for maintaining our iconic pitch. From mowers to tractors and sand spreaders – and each machine runs largely on fossil fuels. While we dream of a fully electric fleet, we are repeatedly confronted with the harsh reality: the technology must not only be clean, but also perform perfectly under the immense pressure of top-level sport.

Our Facilities department and the turf team critically examine every opportunity to become more sustainable – from procurement to energy consumption, maintenance and waste. We continuously challenge suppliers to come up with solutions that meet our strict requirements.​​​​​​​

In the 2022/2023 season, we put it to the test with an electric tractor as a replacement for our fuel-powered version. The reality was confronting:

• Reliability: The electric tractor regularly broke down.
• Weight: Heavy batteries caused rutting on the pitch.
• Functionality: Connected machines did not work properly.
• Performance: Simply not at the level our pitch requires.

Conclusion? We were forced to return to fuel, but with biofuel as the best alternative within the current possibilities. For specialised equipment such as sand spreaders, there are simply no electric alternatives yet.

This transition is a marathon, not a sprint. We don’t yet have a date when our full fleet will be electric. But we continue to experiment and learn, machine by machine.

The ultimate goal? A fully electric fleet that delivers the same top performance as our current machines. Equipment that not only reduces our CO₂ emissions, but also maintains the quality standards that Ajax players and Dutch internationals rely on.

We are setting the bar high:

2030: 15% reduction in CO₂ emissions per visitor when travelling to the stadium. 

2040: 45% reduction in CO₂ emissions per visitor when travelling to the stadium.

We focus on the journey that each visitor makes from their point of departure in the Netherlands to our stadium. Unfortunately, we have little control over international travel.

During the Toppers concerts in 2025, we introduced the Toppers Express in collaboration with NS, Rocket and Livecrowd: a special party train from the ArenA to Eindhoven, with stops in 's-Hertogenbosch and Boxtel.

The idea: take the train to the ArenA and chill out on the party train on the way home. This makes travelling to the ArenA by train a lot more attractive! 

The score:

• 900 passengers over two days. 40% would otherwise have travelled by car.
• Positive feedback: quiet journey with a guaranteed seat.
• 500 fewer people at Bijlmer ArenA station during the peak rush after the concert.

This first trip has left us wanting more, and we also learned that:

• Communication is everything: we need to make the party train more visible and start communicating earlier – from the moment tickets go on sale. 
• Expansion opportunities: to other geographical regions as well. 
• Start early: Selling combination tickets and communicating the route more clearly increases the impact. 

Every kilometre from car to train, bus or bicycle is a gain for the environment. We encourage carpooling and are working with public transport partners to find better connections. Visitor mobility is our biggest challenge, but also a great opportunity. Through innovation and collaboration, we are turning the tide: from traffic congestion to traffic enjoyment.