OUR STORY
There's an option you didn't even know about
Why keep funding extractive companies when we can bypass them altogether?
Every day, most of us unknowingly support systems that damage nature, concentrate wealth and leave us with little control over the things we depend on.
Viable exists to build practical alternatives.
We've been building them quietly for years!
How Viable came to be.
1980s–1990s
Asking different questions
Growing up in a coastal town just north of Amsterdam, spending much time on the beach, in the sea and exploring the surrounding dunes. Nature wasn't somewhere to visit. It was simply part of everyday life. As Vincent grew older, one contradiction became impossible to ignore. People who genuinely cared about nature still depended on systems that damaged it. Everyday purchases often funded pollution, waste, habitat destruction, and short-term profit, even when consumers wanted something better. One question kept returning: Why is it so difficult to participate in society without causing harm?
Late 1990s–2001
From resisting to building
Experiences alongside environmental activists, artists, and other creative thinkers revealed an important lesson. Fighting harmful systems often created more resistance than progress. The real opportunity wasn't to fight existing systems but to build something else instead. Together with others, Vincent worked at Atelier Van Lieshout. led by internationally acclaimed artist Joep van Lieshout (one of the Netherlands' most influential contemporary artists). They built a large art piece called AVL Ville. AVL Ville was an immersive art installation that would later function as a self declared autonomous community for a full year. They had their own constitution, currency, flag, and way of governing themselves. Participants explored autonomy, self sufficiency and collective ownership. Although temporary, the project demonstrated that people could organise themselves differently. But system change should even be simpler. What if we could build an accessible parallel economy this way, not just a free state for a few. The idea of a digital currency backed by community owned nature emerged. The vision was simple but ambitious: create an economy where everyday spending helps restore nature instead of degrading it, while the people collectively own the systems they depend on.
2001 - 2004
Beyond the experiment
The AVL experiment proved that these different systems were possible (and fun). But it also exposed their biggest limitation:. Most people can’t simply move off-grid to a 'free state' or an experimental community. The challenge became making the same principles, shared ownership, regenerative living and economic participation, simple and accessible to everyone, wherever they lived. The idea of a digital currency backed by nature began to take more shape. Having our own currency would be the most powerful start to bypass existing systems. The vision was simple but ambitious: create an economy where value stays within communities, everyday spending helps restore nature, and people collectively own the systems they depend on. One that anyone could join, without changing how they live, only where the value goes.
2005-2017
Building experience
he vision for a better economy existed, but first came the responsibility of building a family and creating a stable personal foundation. Over the following years, Vincent built and ran a diverse range of businesses, from furniture making and film set construction to mobility services, beekeeping, kitesurfing and other entrepreneurial ventures. Each business succeeded in its own way, providing valuable experience and countless lessons in building organisations towards financial independence. Creating value and solving real-world problems. Throughout those years, the long-term vision never disappeared. The goal was to become independent first, gaining the freedom, experience and resources needed to eventually dedicate fully to building the systems that should exist.
2017
A turning point
After years of building businesses and supporting family, a bankruptcy of a major client brought an end to one chapter. A decision was made: to dedicate all available time and energy to building the alternatives that had existed only as ideas for so many years.
2018
Creating change from within
The first attempts to create change focused on financial institutions. Together with Milieudefensie, dialogue was started with major banks and investors that financed most of the palm oil plantations linked to rainforest destruction. Meetings were also held with municipalities that banked with these institutions, encouraging them to align their financial choices with their sustainability ambitions. These experiences confirmed that meaningful change was possible but also revealed how little knowledge and influence consumers had over the financial systems operating behind the scenes. At the same time, these experiences with environmental organisations and community initiatives exposed another challenge. Many relied heavily on donations, subsidies and grants, ánd much of their effort was directed towards resisting harmful systems. Although these organisations achieved important results, they didn't change the underlying economic structures that created the problems in the first place. Their impact depended on continuous funding and the dedication of a small number of individuals. A different approach was needed. The vision for a financially independent organisation became stronger. An organisation that is capable of creating better options. The focus shifted from "changing harmful systems" to: "building better ones"
2019 - 2020
Learning on a global scale
Before building this new type of organisation, it was important to gain more experience. An opportunity arose to become operations manager for the European branch of an international initiative dedicated to locating and safely removing dumped munitions and toxic chemicals from the ocean floor. Working in an international organisation provided valuable insights into organisational design, governance, project management and volunteer coordination. It also demonstrated another important lesson: even the most well-intentioned organisations become vulnerable when too much depends on a founder or any other individual. From the beginning, Viable is designed around community governance, shared ownership and long-term financial independence.
2020
Building the foundations
Viable Equity B.V. and Viable Equity Holding B.V. were established as the first legal and financial building blocks of the Viable ecosystem. Rather than relying on donations and subsidies, they were created to build sustainable, profitable businesses that generate the resources needed to fund Viable Community. The shares are available to the people helping to build the ecosystem, enabling them to do well by doing good.
2022
Viable Community born
With Matthieu and Gustavo joining the board, Viable Community was officially founded as a Dutch non-profit foundation. Together, they transformed a vision into a shared mission to build practical alternatives for a regenerative future. From day one, the organisation was designed around three core principles: independence from individual leadership, community governance, and long-term financial self-sustainability. These principles come together in an ecosystem of regenerative businesses, innovative financing, and community-led governance.
2022-2025
Building the ecosystem
With the legal entities in place, the real work began. Volunteers from around the world joined Viable, shaping the organisation, developing its governance, expanding its knowledge base, creating practical tools and building scalable systems. At the same time, work began on designing our first large-scale regenerative project: an agrivoltaic development in central Spain combining sustainable food production, renewable energy generation and countering desertification. Although the required grid connection could not be secured, the project became an invaluable blueprint for future developments and strengthened our understanding of what it takes to bring regenerative projects to life. Alongside this, new partnerships were formed, grant proposals were submitted, practical tools were developed and the Viable ecosystem continued to take shape. By the end of this period, Viable had evolved into more than an organisation. It's the foundation of an ecosystem where people can connect, collaborate, develop projects and collectively build a better economy.
2026 →
From building to doing
After years of quietly building the foundations, Viable entered its first operational phase. The focus shifted from designing the ecosystem to putting it into practice. The Viable Marketplace is ready to welcome its first buyers and sellers. The first regenerative commercial projects are moving towards implementation, beginning with smaller pilots while larger developments continue to mature. New partnerships are being established, funding proposals are progressing, and the first community members will soon be able to economically participate directly in the ecosystem. For the first time, people won't just be supporting the vision. They'll be able to use it. The story no longer belongs to its founder. It belongs to everyone who chooses to build the next chapter with us.
The story continues with you.
the Viable story is still being written. Join us as a volunteer, partner, or supporter.
Find your way in →