‘s-Hertogenbosch is a water city. The Bossche Stadsdelta is the place where the Dommel, Aa, Binnendieze and Zuid-Willemsvaart flow together in the Dieze, a ‘confluence’ as the French call it. Due to climate change, it is raining harder and more often. As a result, the Dieze is increasingly becoming a bottleneck in the regional water system through which a lot of water has to pass. The development of the Bossche Stadsdelta will solve this problem and increase water safety in the city and the region. It also offers the chance to create a healthy urban environment where people can live with the rising and reclining water.

“I am proud of the plan that is now on the table and pleased with the involvement of residents and professionals. This plan beautifully captures the potential of the area. We want to turn the Bossche Stadsdelta into an attractive and lively area that adds a new quality to ‘s-Hertogenbosch..” 

Mike van der Geld, Aldermen

WeLoveTheCity has long been involved in the Bossche Stadsdelta. In our plan for the new railway bridges, we already took into account the increasing importance of water in the city. And we go further.

In the area between the historic inner city and the railway bridges, there is room for a mixed urban area with 1,300 homes and 45,000 m2 of work & culture around a new water square that connects the 17th century citadel with the industrial heritage. The dynamics of the water inspire the programming and design of buildings and public space. ‘s-Hertogenbosch wants to show that a beautiful ancient city can also be young at heart. This calls for a new philosophy: permanent change, the Bossche Stadsdelta as a place where young life does not congeal but remains in motion. Just like water.

WeLoveTheCity has untangled the maze of infrastructure around Amstel Station. Pedestrians walk across the green and car-free station square to the historic station building by architect H.G.J. Schelling (1939). Cyclists park in the underground parking lot with 3,300 spots. If you arrive at the new bus and tram station, transferring to the metro and train is a piece of cake. And the car? That’s second best. The amount of asphalt has been roughly halved.

“The station shines again as it hasn’t in years. The building, a national monument dating from 1939, is visible again. No matter which way you come from, it’s clear what this place is all about.”

— Marc Kruyswijk, 12 juni 2019 in newspaper Parool

The space that became available was also used to build Amstel Tower, a 100-meter-high eye-catcher with 192 medium-price starter apartments and a hotel. Across the Julianalaan there are two urban blocks including 252 medium-price family apartments, a supermarket, restaurants and a creative incubator with ateliers. The city blocks ‘harvest’ more than 800 m3 of rainwater which is used for watering the roof gardens. The gardens reduce the urban heat stress in the area by an average of 2 degrees Celsius.

The office building on the Prins Bernhardplein is still an ugly obstacle. It has been agreed with the owner to demolish it. It will be replaced by two urban blocks with living, working and other services. As a result, the station square on the east side of the Amstel Station will be ready for the future.

And now it is the turn of the west side of the station. A second station hall and an underground bicycle storage facility with 4,500 spaces will be built here. This offers opportunities to redesign the fragmented public space into a pleasant pedestrian area with an open view towards the Amstel River. Real estate owners also see opportunities. In the coming years they will realize a mixed program here, including 1,300 to 2,100 new homes, of which 80% will be in the social and medium-price segment.

The redevelopment along the Amstel River is done with the “adaptive city block,” a new architectural typology. The adaptive city block forms the base of five new towers that are 78 to 136 meters high. It offers the possibility to integrate parts of the existing ‘brutalist’ offices from 1970 into the new building. It has a high plinth with public facilities that provides a sense of belonging and brings the public space to life. And last but not least, the adaptive city block generates its own sustainable energy. Efficient use of space, smart reuse, green and car-free and self-sufficient in the middle of Amsterdam: can it get any more sustainable!?!

The municipality of Almelo has adopted the Almelo Central Development Vision and established the Municipalities Preferential Rights Act (WVG). This marks a significant step for the city. Almelo not only wants to come up with plans but also to execute them. In fact, the municipality has already purchased the courthouse next to the station to kickstart the process!

The development vision has been created in collaboration with residents, entrepreneurs, developers, and social partners. It forms the foundation for the construction of 1,000 new homes, high-tech facilities, and cultural spaces around a renewed station.

Arjen Maathuis, Alderman

The Almelo Central Development Vision is built around three core values: Intense, Diverse, and Boundless. The core value “Intense” represents a renewed station that, with the construction of the Nedersaksenlijn and the Zwolle-Twente-Münster line, will become an even more important hub in the rail network of Eastern Netherlands. It includes space for a kickstart with at least 1,000 homes and 15,000 to 25,000 square meters of offices, high-tech facilities, culture, and leisure. Additionally, there will be room for extra connections between the front and back of the railway, enhancing physical and social cohesion.

The core value “Diverse” represents a balanced mix of social, mid-priced, and market-rate housing, as well as a blend of living, working, and other functions that make city life worthwhile. This offers choice. For new employees of Almelo-based companies who seek vibrancy. For Almelo residents who want to live close to the station and the city center. And for current residents in the development areas of Westerdok, Achter de Molen, and Kerkelanden.

The core value “Boundless” represents the synergy between the city and the surrounding landscape that converge at the station. By greening the banks of the Almelose Aa, the Almelo-de Haandrik Canal, and the Almelo-Nordhorn Canal, the green-blue network is strengthened for residents who want to be in the city and yet enjoy the outdoors. It also benefits workers who want to take a nice walk during their break and tourists who begin their explorations here.

Affordable housing is a universal fundamental right. But why is it still a global problem? More and more working Dutch people cannot afford a house. And in China, there are more people living in slums than ever, and that after 35 years of continuous economic growth. It is therefore not surprising that emerging countries such as South Africa, Rwanda and Ghana are struggling with this challenge.

WeLoveTheCity sees two challenges. The first is political. Decision-makers in Europe, Asia and Africa see housing construction as something relatively simple and therefore pass it on to the market: “You solve that task”. The result: production for low and middle incomes hardly gets off the ground. The second challenge is about space. The battle for this most scarce resource in our growing cities is fierce, and affordable housing and nature often lose out.

Together with international partners, WeLoveTheCity has drawn up the Inclusive Densification 15-step Plan. The focus is on inspiring political decision-makers and identifying space (or ‘land’) that is overlooked by others. WeLoveTheCity has implemented the Inclusive Densification 15 Steps Plan in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (850,000 inhabitants) and in Dr. Beyers Naudé Municipality (85,000 inhabitants), as part of the Local Government Capacity Programme of VNG International.

Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities also wants to work with the Inclusive Densification 15 Step Plan. We are assisting them with hands on implementation in the six astonishingly fast growing cities of Musanze, Rubavu, Muhanga, Huye, Nyagatare and Rusizi.

The training increased the capacity of the local staff to design, implement urban upgrading projects as well as the possible financing models for participatory urban development projects.

Paskaliah Kachieng’a, VNG International

City dwellers crave for peace, space and nature, but unfortunately it cannot cost a penny. Many estates have therefore the water up to their neck. This also applies to De Hoorneboeg and Zonnestraal, two unique areas on the southern side of Hilversum. The income no longer covered the maintenance costs. WeLoveTheCity is working on the sustainable maintenance of these pearls. Their special history is our main source of inspiration.

De Hoorneboeg used to be a summer residence for wealthy Amsterdammers. They enjoyed hunting, philosophy, poetry, music, flowers & plants, garden architecture and visual arts. It is now a cultural estate for inspiration.

“Together with you, we would like to make the world a better place by connecting people with themselves, with others and with nature.”

Kristiaan Kamerling, foundation De Hoorneboeg

Zonnestraal is primarily known for Duiker’s sanatorium, a monument to the Nieuwe Bouwen movement. That’s a shame, because the estate is no less than 100 hectares in size and contains many more stories worth discovering. WeLoveTheCity is currently developing a new area concept for a sociable and vibrant nature estate that revolves around the health of body and mind.

The future of Zonnestraal will determine the future of the crucial, yet seriously fragmented transition zone between the dry lands of Het Gooi and the wet peat grasslands of the Vecht region. To accomplish this, WeLoveTheCity is working together with the Province of North Holland, the municipalities of Hilversum and Wijdemeren, the Goois Nature Reserve and the Amstel, Gooi and Vecht Water Board.

After Amsterdam, Enschede is home to the largest and most diverse range of educational and knowledge institutions. The city is also young in the sense of resilience, creativity and entrepreneurship. Here, more than anywhere else in the Netherlands, theoretical knowledge is converted into practical solutions. The harvest is overwhelming; more than 600 spin-off companies have their roots here. Moreover, the Council for Culture recently recommended allocating extra money to young and accessible art initiatives such as GOGBOT, Tetem and Theater Sonnevanck, the best score outside the capital.

WeLoveTheCity helps the municipality, housing corporations and developers in Enschede to score on the aspect of living. This is necessary: ‘Enschede is lagging behind as a residential city. The city must not only keep talent, but also attract and bring it back. This means not only focusing on recent graduates, but also on students who are starting their careers and older talent, with or without children, who are further along in their professional and residential path’ (BPD Research, 2019).

Just outside the Enschede Singelring that spans the inner city are Cromhoff and Twekkelerveld located, two areas with their own character that have the potential to keep, attract and bring back talent.

Cromhoff is a wild nature reserve in the middle of the city containing a number of abandoned industrial units.

“In the past, a developer would have said: ‘We’ll cut down the forest and build houses’. We deliberately chose not to, because of the groundwater that seeps to the surface here. And a forest, of course, also offers unique opportunities.”

Dennis Laing, Bouwfonds Property Development

What Twente is in the big picture, Cromhoff will become in a nutshell: a welcoming community around cultural history, nature and more balance in your life by thinking and acting differently. We do this on the basis of five development principles: (I) Heritage as a driving force, (II) Living with water and nature, (III) Embedding in the city, (IV) En-countering, dis-charging and re-charging and (V) Everyone on a bike.

Twekkelerveld is a former working-class neighbourhood situated between the city centre and the Knowledge Park. It is sometimes called a problem neighbourhood but nothing could be further from the truth. WeLoveTheCity has awarded 15 stars, which are social, economic and spatial highlights that are more than worth a visit.

The Twekkeler Stars form the basis for a hyper-varied living environment where students, recent graduates and starting entrepreneurs nestle among the original inhabitants from Twekkelerveld. The traditionally exuberant club life with its own carnival acts as a social binding agent to give newcomers in the neighbourhood a sense of belonging.

The purchase of the Roberineterrein in Rigtersbleek has freed up one of these Twekkeler stars for redevelopment. This historic treasure trove of the city’s textile history offers an opportunity to develop a mixed urban working and living environment. A place that revolves around entrepreneurship, innovation and education. The place where craftsmen and craftswomen want to live and develop against the backdrop of sturdy factories.

Just south lies Het Volkspark, the beautifully designed English landscape styled park that Hendrik Jan van Heek donated to the workers and their families of his factories. That the park was appreciated is shown by the turnover figures of the café. In the first eight months of 1874, thirty thousand litres of Beyers beer were tapped and visitors puffed away eight thousand cigars.

Now, 150 years after its existence, we set to work on making Het Volkspark a jewel of the city again, inspired by the original design but also looking ahead to the next 150 years.

WeLoveTheCity is also engaged in the development of tools for better cities. Smarticipate is a striking example of this. The idea is simple: a resident wants more trees in her street and enters this in the Smarticipate App. The resident automatically receives real-time feedback: “Your street is indeed very stony and planting trees is a good idea. However, there is one but: you have placed the trees exactly on a gas pipe…” The resident had never been aware of ‘invisible’ gas pipes but is not discouraged by them. She draws an alternative on the Smarticipate App which she then shares via social media. Her neighbours react enthusiastically, which stimulates her to share the tree proposal with the municipality via the app.

Smarticipate is part of the European innovation programme ‘ICT-enabled Open Government’ (INSO-1-2015) with Hamburg, Rome and London as pilots. In these cities, WeLoveTheCity acted as a bridge builder between ICT developers, municipal services and citizens. Our Smartathons attracted over 750 participants who were eager to help make Smarticipate relevant, user-friendly and democratic.

WeLoveTheCity perfectly bridged the gap between participation, ICT and urban planning, and together we were able to gather and connect the knowledge of citizens and experts. The cooperation has also led to better working methods within our team, because WeLoveTheCity has clearly shown what is important to citizens and what is not.

Joanna Hammond, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Democratic? The Smarticipate App is strictly speaking not an app but an open digital platform on which anyone can develop his or her own app (or ‘topic’). For this reason, WeLoveTheCity wrote the guide ‘Grab your potential: How to create a new app’. The DIYers in Hamburg chose to make a Tree App, those in Rome and London an Urban Gardening App and a 3D Transformation App. And you know what the best part is? Everything works! So keep on up and make your own app for a better city.

Everyone knows: if you pass the old silos by the sluice, you are really in Deventer. Here, WeLoveTheCity introduced The Flemish Approach with space for self and co-builders who want to realise their dream in a part of the city that is never finished. Building for own occupancy, just like in 1920 when the harbour was dug up. From 3 to 300 developers. Welcome to Deventer Harbour Quarter!

Deventer can be regarded as a pioneer: area development based on reuse, without a predefined final picture or time schedule.”

To good use – Golden Pyramid 2015 National Prize for inspiring commissioning

The self and co-builders keep themselves and each other on track by following five simple agreements:

Heritage as a source of inspiration
We start by renovating and reusing the old silos, factories and sheds.

Discovery of the harbour
We do not complain about the commercial shipping that continues to dock in both arms of the port.

Working in the city
We consider work to be more important than housing and take into account the price entrepreneurs can afford to pay.

Desired living
We only build unique and ‘custom made’ houses that are not yet available in Deventer.

Room for ideas
We always create space for unorthodox events with an artistic and non-profit edge.

WeLoveTheCity is often asked what we are proud of in the Havenkwartier, what is our icon? Then we tell the story of Jose and Anjo, two doers who have made the 60-metre-high Grey Silo their home. Where professional developers gave up prematurely, they persevered. Is ‘making your own city’ a utopia? Just ring their doorbell and let them convince you.

WeLoveTheCity ordered 100 empty ‘Paasboxes’. Residents of Paasbos in Nijkerk drew, taped and wrote their wishes and ideas for the new heart of their neighbourhood on them. We were running out of boxes! The harvest of such an approach? The people loved getting to know each other while doing it. Moreover, they shared no fewer than 148 ideas with each other and with us. When, back in Rotterdam, we compiled these, the plan was actually quite ready and feasible too. Only the wish to have Disneyland here was a little too ambitious for us.

The heart of Paasbos revolves around an urban play park with a children’s farm, climbing forest and ‘beach on the stream’. The park will include an indoor-outdoor sports centre. We are also building 150 Pippi Longstocking homes for young and old and a local shop with a chatter’s corner.

WeLoveTheCity often receives such requests: a large and multicoloured social question that has to land on a small piece of land in the middle of a crowded neighbourhood. Thanks to the enthusiasm of residents and entrepreneurs, this almost always succeeds. Take a look at the Village Campus Oosseld, Doetinchem, the House of Droo, Duiven or Lumen, Enschede. Small projects, big impact.

Droo-Zuid derives its appeal from the distinctive mix of residents, the accessible facilities for young and old, the comfortable homes and the relaxed atmosphere.

Tjerk van Duinen Stedenbouw 10/2011 ,Creating a beautiful neighbourhood together’

Amsterdam West holds a special place in our hearts. It began with Mercatorplaza on the A10 West ring road. Together with local residents, we achieved the impossible: a spectacular swimming pool on the site where housing was planned. With thanks to Olympic swimming champion Erica Terpstra, who helped us to achieve this!

Subsequently, together with Luc Vrolijks (Urhahn Urban Design) and Guido Wallagh (De Lijn/INBO), we made the workbook Future vision Parkstad: More Park + More City. An outline strategy that, to this day, guides the renewal of 45,000 homes in the Western Garden Cities.

The renewal of the Kolenkit neighbourhood had the highest priority. In 2003, it was the poorest neighbourhood in the Netherlands. Renewal is often at the expense of existing residents, also called ‘gentrification’. Not so in the Kolenkitbuurt, where residents were given a neighbourhood guarantee. If their house was about to be demolished, residents would get an affordable and sustainable alternative within walking distance. And the housing corporations, municipality and WeLoveTheCity have kept their word. The last residents with a neighbourhood guarantee moved into their new homes in 2018.

“Before, this was a ghetto, a terrible word, but it was applicable. Now the houses are nice and there is a much better mix of people. Everyone enjoys living here.”

Ruud van Buren, chairman of the residents’ platform Kolenkitbuurt in Parool newspaper (2019)

More than 600 homes have been renovated, 1,000 demolished and 1,850 new homes built. The original urban development structure by Cornelis van Eesteren (1935) lends itself perfectly to a gradual ‘block by block’ approach. This has the advantage that not only the spatial but also the social network remains intact. The architecture builds a bridge between ‘my home’ and ‘our street’. The ‘encroachment’, the transitional area between private and public, challenges residents to reclaim public space from the anonymity of the big city. This succeeds, the Kolenkitters feel safe and are proud to receive guests.