Mortar-Free Bricklaying Secures Fresh Capital to Transform Dutch Construction
Haarlem, Wednesday, 11 November 2026.
Drystack has raised €2 million to scale mortar-free brick facades that cut the environmental impact of traditional masonry by roughly two-thirds while enabling full material reuse.
Strategic Backing to Scale Circular Facades
On 6 November 2026, regional development agency ROM InWest and TBI Zebra stepped in as new strategic shareholders alongside existing investors to close a €2 million financing round for circular building pioneer Drystack [2][5]. Led by CEO and founder Dennis Deen, the Heerhugowaard-based enterprise is pioneering a transition away from disposable structural design [1][2]. The injection of growth capital will directly fund the technical enhancement of specialized machinery, optimize the startup’s production facility, and expand the team to accelerate project delivery across the Netherlands [1][2][3].
Eliminating Mortar to Unlock Facade Circularity
Every year, the Dutch construction sector utilizes approximately 450 million facade bricks, yet the overwhelming majority are bonded using wet mortar, rendering high-value reclamation virtually impossible once a structure reaches end-of-life [1][3]. Drystack circumvents this linear cycle with a patented dry-stacking click connection that entirely displaces wet mortar [1][2]. Rather than consigning materials to demolition waste, the system ensures exterior bricks can be disassembled and reclaimed at end-of-life for subsequent building projects, preserving residual asset value and keeping materials in continuous circulation [1][3].
Operational Gains and Environmental Performance
The operational case for dry-stacking extends into resource conservation and labor productivity. According to figures from the National Environmental Database (Nationale Milieudatabase), an assembled Drystack facade generates roughly one-third of the environmental footprint of conventional masonry [1][2]. From a logistics and assembly standpoint, the method speeds up on-site construction timelines by up to 25 percent and remains largely weather-independent, eliminating delays typical of wet-mortar laying [1][2].
Overcoming Industry Bottlenecks and Market Adoption
The technique also addresses persistent skilled-labor shortages, allowing site personnel to erect facade systems efficiently after only brief instruction [1][2]. While Drystack collaborates with established brick manufacturers such as De Rijswaard and Engels, its technical connection remains compatible with bricks from virtually any producer and can be mounted onto diverse backing structures [1]. Operating out of Heerhugowaard in the province of North Holland, the company is building an integrated ecosystem of masonry manufacturers, developers, and builders [1]. Having previously completed ROM InWest’s Acceleratieprogramma Toekomstbestendig Bouwen, Drystack is leveraging the network of TBI Zebra—the impact venture arm of TBI—to make circular brickwork the Dutch building standard [1][2].