Dutch hyperloop developer Hardt Hyperloop has filed for bankruptcy, halting efforts to develop ultra-fast tube-based transportation. The company, founded by former Delft University of Technology students, aimed to carry passengers and cargo at airline-like speeds through low-pressure tubes. A court in The Hague declared the company bankrupt this week. A trustee has been appointed and is assessing the company’s financial situation and possible restart options.
Founded in 2017, Hardt Hyperloop raised tens of millions of euros in public funding and private investment to develop the technology and build test infrastructure. Its most visible project was a 420-meter test facility at the European Hyperloop Center in Veendam, designed to demonstrate core technologies such as switching between tubes. The startup also attracted backing from investors linked to Booking.com co-founder Kees Koolen and collaborated with partners including Schiphol Group and Dutch Railways.
Several European startups continue the development of hyperloop technology, though Swisspod is the only one to take on the entire concept (pods and infrastructure). Spain’s Zeleros focuses on core components such as propulsion, levitation and capsule design, while Poland’s Nevomo is taking a pragmatic approach by focusing on magnetic-levitation transport systems for which low-pressure tubes are a long-term option. There are also hyperloop research initiatives in Delft, Munich and Toulouse.
