Partners Join Forces to Create a More Vibrant Landscape Between the North Sea Beach and the Green Heart

The Mient Groen project is creating a large new green space in South Holland, providing more room for nature and recreation. In the coming period, significant improvements will be made to the area between the North Sea beach and the Green Heart.  Eight parties signed the Mient Groen agreement today. The municipalities of Katwijk and Wassenaar, Hollandse Duinen National Park (NPHD), the Rijnland Water Board, Dunea, Staatsbosbeheer, the Central Government Real Estate Agency, and the province of South Holland have thereby agreed to collaborate on this area in the coming years.  

Green Link 

With the development of the new Valkenhorst residential neighborhood (Katwijk) and future developments in Wassenaar, more people will be moving into the area. This will also increase the need for green spaces, nature, and recreational opportunities close to home. At the same time, the area is adjacent to the sensitive natural habitat of the Meijendel & Berkheide Natura 2000 site.  

By developing nature, strengthening green corridors, and creating space for recreation and nature experiences, Mient Groen will serve as a buffer and connecting link between the dunes, the residential area, and the landscape leading toward the Green Heart.  

“A strong natural environment requires a strong surrounding landscape,” says Eveline Buter, director of Hollandse Duinen National Park. “By developing attractive areas around the dunes, we create more space for both nature and people.” 

From Collaboration to Implementation 

By signing the agreement, the partners commit to working together in the coming years to develop the area. By pooling their knowledge, personnel, and resources, they will turn plans into concrete projects for nature conservation, recreation, water management, landscape, and sustainable agriculture.   
Funding for the various projects comes from the South Holland Rural Area Program (ZH-PLG), supplemented by contributions from municipalities, site managers, and landowners. The first projects in Mient Groen are already ready for implementation, such as the creation of the “Tussenzone” on the site of the former Valkenburg airfield. The “Tussenzone” forms a strong link in the ecological corridor between the dunes and the Green Heart, featuring transitions from marshland to grassland, shrubland, and forest. 

Provincial Funding for Recreational Facilities 

Anne Koning, Provincial Executive Member for Public Housing, Recreation, Tourism, and Sports for Novex Zuidelijke Randstad and ZH-PLG Kust en Duinen, presented an additional check after the signing to Gerard Mostert ( Alderman ) of the municipality of Katwijk and Laurens van Doeveren ( Alderman ) of the municipality of Wassenaar.  

Provincial Executive Member Anne Koning: “Together, we’ll turn Mient Groen into a fantastic area. We’ll ensure that people can relax in and around nature close to home. At the same time, we’ll make sure that nature is better protected, water quality remains high, and the area becomes an even more enjoyable place for recreation.”

Alderman Gerard Mostert adds: “With Mient Groen, we’re creating space for nature and for people. For Katwijk, it’s important that the development of Valkenhorst goes hand in hand with a green and attractive environment. The provincial grant will allow us to work on this in a concrete way—for example, by developing walking, biking, and canoeing trails and by creating an urban sports facility. In this way, we’re not only making the area greener, but also more attractive and more accessible to residents and visitors.” 

Alderman Laurens van Doeveren: "Mient Groen beautifully illustrates what we can achieve when we work together across municipal boundaries. Together with Katwijk and our regional partners, we can enhance the landscape, make room for nature, and ensure that people can continue to enjoy walking, biking, and recreational activities here in the future. I’m glad we signed the agreement today. By doing so, we’re not only expressing our desire to collaborate, but we’re also laying an important foundation for working together. I’m proud of that.”

The provincial grant will also be used to create a walking trail with a lookout point at a former Avalex site—a former waste-processing facility—in Wassenaar. 

About Mient Groen

Mient Groen contributes to the development of the Hollandse Duinen National Park and the area-based approach in Duin, Horst, and Weide. This initiative focuses on the development of the area between the dunes, Valkenhorst, and the Green Heart. Government agencies, land managers, and other local partners are collaborating here on nature conservation, green-and-blue infrastructure, drinking water extraction, recreational facilities, and a future-proof living environment. 

More information: Mient Groen: Working Together to Build a Stronger Landscape Between the Dunes and the Green Heart - Hollandse Duinen National Park