Participation and development for a high-quality green northern edge

The Noordrand, an important connecting area between the North Sea beach and the Green Heart, is on the eve of major changes. With an eye for nature, agriculture and recreation, a future-proof program has been worked on, in which cooperation between various parties and input from the community are central.

Heading for conservation and enhancement

The Noordrand (formerly Green Zone) forms the green backyard of the Randstad and is an area where many interests are involved. This unique area is part of the varied Dune, Horst & Meadow landscape, with vast meadows, lines of sight to the dunes and valuable ecological, cultural-historical and archaeological elements. The Programme for the Northern Edge aims to preserve and enhance the unique values of this special landscape. There will be an ecological connection between Lentevreugd and the Green Heart, nature-friendly banks will be constructed and meadow birds will get much more space.

Wishes, ideas and tasks from the community

After the structural vision 'Wassenaar 2025, Landgoed aan Zee' in 2017 included the need for an integral elaboration for the Noordrand, this led to the adoption of the Memorandum of Principles in March 2021. Following this, an intensive participation process began. During the Preliminary Design Programme more than 25 working workshops on various themes took place and in March 2024 a large residents' evening was held in the Warenar. The Draft Program was available for inspection from November 28, 2024 to January 9, 2025. 19 views led to adjustments in the Program and the City Council of Wassenaar has also expressed its wishes and objections to the Draft Program.

Joined forces for area development

After the summer, the final Program will be adopted by the college and published in accordance with the legal procedure. Then the area parties will be involved in the development of concrete measures, for which more than 8 million euros are available through the province. The cooperation partners, in addition to private individuals and entrepreneurs, also include the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf (RVB), the province of South Holland, the Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland, Dunea and various interest groups.

Joint ambitions

The municipality is taking the initiative to work with its partners on shared ambitions, such as vital agriculture, strengthening nature and recreation, and an improved living environment. Intended measures to realize this include moving companies on Oostdorperweg and Avalex to alternative locations, restoring the tank ditch, creating 90 hectares of nature, planting forest and raising the water level in some places.

A great result

An important principle in the Program is that farmers can continue to do business and have a future in the area. It is therefore particularly positive that the RVB has agreed with the three active farmers that they will take on the management of approximately 28 hectares of new nature on the former airbase. Recently, even the first grass has already been cut. The municipality sees this cooperation as a valuable outcome of the extensive participation process.

For more information, including the Draft Program and the Notice of Response to Views, visit project page North Edge.