Wassenaar Addresses Safety Concerns Among Women and LGBTIQ+ Individuals
The municipality of Wassenaar has drawn up an action plan to improve the safety of women and LGBTIQ+ individuals in public spaces. Residents rate overall safety in Wassenaar at an average of 7.1, but feel less safe in certain areas, especially in the evening and at night. The plan is based on a survey of residents and a safety inspection of the town. Starting July 1, 2026, residents will be able to report unsafe areas through a new reporting system.
Nationwide, there is a growing focus on the safety of women and LGBTIQ+ individuals. In Wassenaar as well, some residents report sometimes feeling unsafe in public spaces. Following a motion by GroenLinks, PvdA, and Lokaal Wassenaar!, the city council therefore asked the municipal executive in November 2025 to address this issue. This led to an action plan with concrete measures.
Survey and Safety Inspection
To gain a better understanding of how residents perceive safety, the municipality conducted a survey. In addition, the municipality organized a safety tour, during which residents, together with the mayor, law enforcement, the police, and the service organizations Zonta and Soroptimist, cycled past unsafe areas. During the inspection, similar issues emerged as those identified in the survey: unclear bike routes and groups of cyclists congregating on Langstraat and Luifelbaan; inconsistent lighting at the Berkhei parking lot; and dark bike paths with limited visibility along Katwijkseweg, Pallandbos, Weidepad, and the areas around Polanenpark and Duivenvoorde.
Want to report an unsafe location?
An important part of the action plan is a new reporting system. Starting July 1, 2026, residents will be able to report unsafe locations in public spaces via www.wassenaar.nl/melden . The municipality will use these reports, along with the results of the survey and the safety inspection, to determine which locations will be addressed first.
Mayor Leendert de Lange: “Whether you’re biking home late at night or taking a walk through the village during the day, everyone should be able to feel safe in Wassenaar. With this action plan, we’re taking concrete steps, such as the new reporting center and targeted improvements to public spaces. And here’s a call to action: look out for one another and help each other. Because safety is something we achieve together. Together with schools, community organizations, and the police, we’ll continue working toward a village where everyone feels at home and safe.”
