headfirst Nominated for Coolest Dutch Brands 2026

headfirst has been nominated for Coolest Dutch Brands 2026, FONK magazine’s annual award for purpose-driven Dutch brands. Every year, FONK’s editors select twelve brands that combine strong design with a clear mission. We are the ninth nominee of this edition, and we’re proud to be on the list.

The nomination comes back to a question we’ve asked since day one: why do so few people in the Netherlands wear a helmet? According to Ipsos I&O research, only about 4% of regular cyclists do. Among e-bike riders, it’s around 18%.

Our answer has never been to tell people they should. Instead, we set out to make a helmet people actually want to wear: better looking, safer and more sustainable.

That starts with what’s inside. Our helmets use EPP foam, the same material used in Urban Arrow cargo bikes. Unlike traditional foam, it’s flexible and keeps protecting after a drop. Our patented SafeFit technology adjusts the helmet to your head, so it fits the way it should.

Next, the nominees go before a jury of more than 60 strategists and creatives from the Dutch marketing and communication industry. There’s a written round, a live semi-final and a final pitch, and the winner will be announced in May 2027.

For a brand built on making helmets something people want to wear, a place among the coolest Dutch brands feels like a step in the right direction. Read the full article by Marieke Lindhout on FONK.