Municipal yard
Wassenaar faces a major housing challenge. Without new homes, first-time buyers, young people, and seniors who wish to live (or continue living) in Wassenaar cannot find a place to live. They are often stuck in the housing market. That is why, in 2021, the city council designated the municipal yard as a site for new housing development. The goal is to create a diverse neighborhood here that is accessible to various groups of Wassenaar residents. On this page, you can read more about the current status of the site and the planning process, as well as what the next steps are.
Soil remediation
Before any concrete plans for housing construction could be made, the condition of the soil was first assessed. The soil at the municipal yard is contaminated in a number of places due to the site’s former use. Because the contamination is deep in the ground and the soil is currently covered, the contamination does not affect the health of people working or staying at the yard. Nor does the contamination affect the health of nearby residents.
The municipality and the Environmental Agency have jointly decided that remediation is not yet necessary. This will only need to be done once construction actually begins. The remediation will therefore be carried out as part of the construction preparations so that the soil will eventually meet all requirements for habitation. This is expected to take place in 2028, after the municipal yard has been relocated to a new site.
Working on a plan for the homes
To determine how new homes can be accommodated at the municipal yard, the city has been working hard in recent years to develop an urban planning framework. This is a broad outline that sets out the general vision for the area. It is not yet a concrete construction plan, but rather a framework within which further details will be worked out.
Within the urban planning framework, the site has been divided into two phases that will be developed independently of one another. Phase 1 concerns the current site of the municipal depot, where owner-occupied homes will be built. This phase will be developed by a private developer yet to be selected. Phase 2 concerns the adjacent municipal office, which will also be redeveloped in the future. This phase will feature public housing and mid-range rental units. These will be built by local housing authorities.
The plan calls for 100 to 120 new homes at this location. The breakdown of housing types is based on the agreement set forth in the coalition agreement: 30% social housing, 40% mid-range housing, and 30% higher-priced housing. This will create a diverse residential environment that is accessible to various groups of Wassenaard residents.
Information Evening
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the municipality organized an information evening on the redevelopment and remediation of the municipal yard. Attendance was high, clearly demonstrating the level of interest in this project. During the meeting, the urban planning framework for the future housing development was explained in detail. Residents gained insight into the plans, the guiding principles, and the next steps in the process.
Where do we stand now?
The residents’ meeting on January 8 made it clear that residents still have a significant number of questions and concerns. Partly for this reason, the city council decided in February 2026 to allow more time for the planning process. Discussion of the urban planning framework has been postponed until 2027. In the meantime, efforts are being made to establish a more extensive public participation process so that residents can contribute ideas on how the urban planning framework can be revised. More information on how and when you can participate will follow.
Environment app
You can also find this information in the environment app for this project. You can also view the urban development framework via the environment app. You can download the app by scanning the QR code.