During the last council meeting before the elections, the city council approved the development strategy and the outdoor space plan for Laakhaven’s Holland Spoor. This will enable the construction of 11,400 homes, tens of thousands of square meters of amenities, and a completely new city park. There will also be space for businesses, such as creative manufacturing companies, restaurants, shops, and offices.
Klaas Verschuure, Alderman for Urban Development: “Today, we’re laying the foundation for The Hague in fifteen years. This is fantastic news for everyone looking for a home in the city, and for their children and grandchildren. We’re doing this in a neighborhood that we’re renovating tremendously: currently gritty, soon to be abundant in greenery. Car-free and with good cycling and walking paths. A glimpse into The Hague of the future.”
The Hague is expected to grow by 100,000 new residents by 2050. Therefore, many new homes will need to be built within the existing city limits. The inner-city development Laakhavens Hollands Spoor, part of the Central Innovation District, is unique in the Netherlands on this scale. This development is particularly noteworthy because The Hague is already the most densely populated city in the Netherlands.
The plans represent a quarter of The Hague’s total housing production until 2040. Some projects, such as Waldourp Four, have already begun, and the zoning plan for EsscherGardens is finalized. To ensure the growth remains livable, the municipality is investing heavily in a sustainable neighborhood. Additional green spaces will be created for socializing and relaxing, for pedestrians and cyclists, and amenities will be provided in all residential buildings.
With the development strategy, the municipality is directing the pace and sequence of developments. To this end, solid agreements have been made with market players throughout the area. In the Laakhaven Centraal sub-area, surrounding the Megastores, the municipality is collaborating with COD, Amvest, Atenor, Ten Brinke, MyB, and The Hague-based development investor MS Vastgoed, among others. Together, they are making agreements on the number of affordable homes and facilitating the development of a new neighborhood shopping center with home furnishings stores, as well as ensuring sufficient quality amenities, such as dentists and doctors, in the area. The market players, together with the municipality and the national government, are also contributing to the development of the central city park.
The city council held a vigorous debate on the plans and submitted several motions and amendments, for example, regarding green spaces and healthcare facilities, and regarding the city council’s influence, even after the elections.
Text & Image: Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online