Making time to write
June 5, 2025
Journalling has been on your mind for weeks, but you keep putting it off? You’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs feel the need to write, but don’t give it space.
Today we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dopper, a brand that has conquered the world with its mission to combat single-use plastic. Founded on October 10, 2009 by Merijn Everaarts, Dopper has since inspired millions of people to make sustainable choices and join the fight against plastic pollution. On behalf of Oceans Haarlem, we would like to congratulate the entire Dopper team on this great milestone!
Dopper started with a simple idea: a refillable bottle that encourages people to replace single-use plastic. In 2009, Merijn Everaarts, the man behind this inspiring brand, was confronted with shocking images of plastic waste in the oceans. This touched him deeply, and he realized that the solution lies in our own hands: reusable products. His vision was not just to bring a beautiful product to the market, but to start a movement.
Merijn worked in the events industry, but was drawn to sustainability and environmental activism. The idea for Dopper came when he asked himself: “Why do people buy bottled water when we have top-quality tap water in the Netherlands?” He wanted to design a bottle that was attractive enough to motivate people to change their habits. It had to be a design product that was more than just a bottle: a statement against plastic pollution.
However, the path to success was not without its challenges. Merijn openly talks about how hard it was to get the company off the ground. He initially aimed to sell 350,000 units, which has now grown to more than 2 million Doppers per year. But he also admits that this growth almost broke him at one point. “I was at a point where I was close to a burn-out,” he says. This was the moment he decided to restructure not only the company, but also himself. “It’s not just about turnover, it’s about making an impact,” says Merijn.
In addition to the well-known Dopper bottle, Dopper stands for much more as a company. It is a social enterprise with a clear mission: reducing plastic pollution and promoting clean drinking water worldwide. Merijn shares that Dopper has supported hundreds of projects and entered into partnerships with numerous organizations since its foundation, always with a focus on their mission.
After 15 years of pioneering, Merijn has learned a lot. An important lesson? You cannot change the world on your own. Collaboration is the key to success. “We have to work together to make a difference. You cannot act alone, it is a collective effort,” he emphasizes.
This is a philosophy that fits perfectly with the mission of Oceans Haarlem. Together with partners such as Dopper, we strive for a cleaner and healthier planet, in which the oceans are free of plastic waste.
As we look ahead to the next 15 years, we see many more opportunities to make an impact. The climate crisis and plastic pollution are problems that we can only solve by working together. Oceans Haarlem is proud to be part of this movement, side by side with Dopper. We look forward to setting up even more projects in the coming years, raising awareness and inspiring people to take action.
The story of Dopper and Merijn is an inspiration to us all. It reminds us that great change starts with a simple idea and a determined vision. At Oceans Haarlem, we are convinced that together with Dopper and other like-minded partners, we can make a huge difference. The past 15 years are just the beginning.
So, Dopper, thank you for your perseverance, innovation and dedication to a better world. On to the next 15 years of collective impact, in which we continue to strive for a future without plastic in our oceans. Together we can rise to this challenge, and together we will succeed!
Congratulations, Team Dopper, and here’s to many more years of sustainable success!
Journalling has been on your mind for weeks, but you keep putting it off? You’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs feel the need to write, but don’t give it space.
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