The former ADS fields along Madesteinweg are being transformed into De Groene Kamer (The Green Room): a nature reserve the size of four football fields where dunes, grasslands, flowers, and water converge. Alderman Robert Barker planted the first shrubs yesterday in the presence of residents and involved organisations: “This will be a green oasis. Soon you’ll be able to see and hear frogs and nightingales here.”
The Green Room covers nearly 28,000 m² and will transform into a diverse and biodiverse landscape in the coming months. The area will feature moist meadows, herb-rich grassland, scrubland edges, and a pond. The newly planted scrub forms an important ecological link: it connects forest and open fields, provides food and shelter for birds and small mammals, and strengthens the ecological corridor from Zee to Zweth. In this way, a building materials storage facility is transformed into nature. Alderman Barker: “It’s unique that a site used as a building storage facility will soon be nature!”
New name
The new name, De Groene Kamer (The Green Room), was conceived by a resident of The Hague after the municipality asked for suggestions. Bert Stoutmijer came up with the idea for ‘De Groene Kamer’ (The Green Room), thus becoming the creator of the new name for this nature reserve. Alderman Barker emphasizes the importance of this development for The Hague: “In a densely populated city like The Hague, public space can sometimes be a struggle. Besides housing, it’s also important to create space for greenery and nature. Nature provides cleaner air and demonstrably makes people happier. And nature is a habitat for animals.”
Cooperation
The municipality is carrying out the development of The Green Room in consultation with AVN, Dunea, the Province of South Holland, Zuid-Hollands Landschap, the Delfland Water Board, local football and hockey clubs, the Loosduinen Commission, and local residents. Therefore, many parties attended the opening. With The Green Room, The Hague gains a valuable nature reserve that enhances both biodiversity and the quality of life in the city.
Photo: Michel Mees/Municipality of The Hague