Municipalities Draw Inspiration from Alkmaar's Green 'Pocketparcs' Strategy: 'Impressive Progress Is Being Made Here' |
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Guided tour by Stadswerk072 through greened areas leaves an impression
From paved, neglected, and unattractive to colorful and biodiverse—that's the transformation 30,000 m² of public space in the municipality of Alkmaar has undergone in just three years. And the end is nowhere in sight. At the request of many municipalities, Stadswerk072 recently organized a tour of the various projects. The editorial team of Stad + Groen joined in.
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"Look at the choice made to use this hardened solution here. Why?" It's a question Paul Weidema, senior project leader at Stadswerk072, finds himself asking aloud more than once during the day. This time at the first stop of the tour, Laan van Bath. Special photo prints, used at every site, offer a clear overview of both the original and current situations. "From the bike path to the house façades, this was all pavement," Weidema points out. "Completely unnecessary. The weeds show the paving was hardly used." According to the project leader, many areas in Alkmaar were not well planned in the past. "Plans from engineering firms can make sense on paper, but they often don't work in reality. Even in areas we've already tackled, my hands still itch sometimes."
 | | Special photo prints offer insight into the original and current situation. |
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Europe's Most Inspiring Green City
Places like Boeierstraat, the Frans Coenen Path, and various squares show the same pattern. It's no wonder the city of Alkmaar can now call itself the most inspiring city in Europe when it comes to greening urban spaces. It recently won the Green Cities Europe Award for adding 30,000 m² of greenery in just three years. This sustainable transformation has been paying off. Due to the increase in green public space, real estate values in Alkmaar have risen, according to Sytse Berends from De Groene Stad in a lecture before the tour. "All projects also make a positive contribution to biodiversity and climate resilience—think cooling, rainwater drainage—and create a healthier working and living environment." According to Berends, Alkmaar is a municipality that has achieved great success with a hands-on approach, without years of planning. "And they've done it without massive expenses," he noted.
 | | Paul Weidema gave a lecture on Alkmaar's quick wins. |
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The 'Pocketparcs' Strategy
This was echoed by Weidema, who also gave a lecture. In 2020, the Alkmaar city council unanimously adopted the policies "Opportunities for Greening" and "Opportunities for Biodiversity." The goal: to realize 50,000 m² of extra greenery in Alkmaar within seven years and to enhance biodiversity. In 2020, Weidema and his team greened 11,000 m², in 2021 12,000 m², and in 2022 9,000 m². This year, after just four months, the total already stands at 5,000 m². His approach is marked by the 'pocketparcs' strategy: through quick wins, his team rapidly transformed small squares from grey to green.
One example is Arkplein, where 1,400 m² of paving was replaced with greenery, insect hotels, and play equipment. The greenery consists of 45 trees in 11 different species, a tailored mix of herbs and flower bulbs, and a blend of shrubs and perennials. Robbert Uittenbogaard, director of JUB Holland, gave an explanation during the tour of the Bonte Berm concept used at Arkplein. "The trees and perennials were our starting point, and the bulbs are the finishing touch. We opted for pink tones in the bulbs, visible in the botanical tulips, anemones, and daffodils. Blooming times and heights are coordinated, resulting in a smooth, flowing whole."
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"The trees and perennials were our starting point, and the bulbs are the finishing touch."
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Biodiversity Means Less Mowing
According to Uittenbogaard, Stadswerk072's application of the JUB Holland concept achieves seven to eight months of blooming. "And that's very well received by Alkmaar residents. Biodiversity also means less mowing. Flower bulb mixtures bloom from spring through summer. Then the herbs and perennials take over. The result is a very colorful display. The large turnout at this event shows many municipalities see potential in Alkmaar's approach."
Kenneth Abercrombie, outdoor space team manager in Heemstede, nods in agreement. He was part of the group and impressed by the projects. "They're really making progress in greening the city. Heemstede is much smaller than Alkmaar, but I've seen solutions here we can certainly use—like semi-paving for pathways, different fertilization methods, and alternative tree species. We're already trying to green streets more during redesigns. Our residents are asking for this. Topics like biodiversity and climate adaptation are very much alive."
 | | Paul Weidema explains the innovations applied at Arkplein. |
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Diversity Through Nutrient Reduction Management
Kevin Bruin, ecologist at Stadswerk072, provided an example in Rekerhout city park of how he increases biodiversity through nutrient reduction management. By creating transitions from wet to dry, he's established natural zones that support a wide range of plants and animals. "By alternating nutrient-poor and nutrient-rich areas, we've increased diversity," he explained. "We're standing in a spot that supports 100 to 150 plant species, each attracting two to three insect species. Even within this small area of the city park, we can create a highly biodiverse space."
Bruin also pointed to the nearby boardwalk, where snake's head fritillaries, marsh marigolds, and orchids create a rich habitat. "Height differences of less than five centimeters already make a big difference, allowing for very diverse vegetation," he said. "That's what we aim for with nutrient reduction management."
 | | Kevin Bruin applies nutrient reduction management in Rekerhout city park. |
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Urkplein
"Walking through here, you'd never think you're in a city," said Weidema during the boardwalk portion of the tour. The final stop was Urkplein—the largest project to date. Here, nearly 2,750 m² has been greened. Where the square once looked neglected, it now features herbs, flower bulbs, berry-bearing plants, insect hotels, and 21 different tree species. Wood from diseased chestnut trees, removed due to bleeding canker, was used to make furniture and playground equipment.
To boost biodiversity, the Bonte Berm concept from JUB Holland was also used here. Additionally, perennials from the Urban Bee Garden concept by GreentoColour and JUB Holland were planted, wildflower mats from the Urban Meadows concept by Flower Your Space were laid in the swales, and the aquaParker climate-adaptive parking solution from Morssinkhof Infra was applied.
"Urkplein is a perfect example of what's possible with urban greenery," Weidema said. "Residents are very happy with the new design. They were also involved in the process and worked with housing corporation Woonwaard to green the shed façades using firethorn. This greenery is now adopted and maintained by the residents themselves. As with our other projects, we use pollinator corridors, natural banks, and phased mowing for low-maintenance care."
 | | Around the boardwalk, fritillaries, marsh marigolds, and orchids create a rich habitat. |
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The Secret
Weidema concluded the tour by answering questions about the secret behind Alkmaar's success. "At Stadswerk072, maintenance and projects are housed in the same team, so we have short lines of communication and can act quickly. Design, implementation, and maintenance are all done in-house. We also make good use of our green partners, and our team is tightly aligned. In a short time, we've been able to tackle many paved areas. I'm convinced that other municipalities with similar challenges can achieve the same results. Make plans, coordinate them, and put them into action—that's my advice. You also need to raise awareness among residents. In the coming years, we'll continue to green public spaces. The Laat-West area in Alkmaar's city center is high on our list. Like in other cities, center areas and business parks offer the most potential for improvement."
 | | Paul Weidema (center) receives the NL Site Label certificate from Lodewijk Hoekstra. Left: Mayor Anja Schouten. |
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Urkplein Opening
Mayor Anja Schouten and TV gardener Lodewijk Hoekstra officially opened the greened Urkplein on Friday, April 21. Hoekstra ended his speech by awarding Urkplein the NL Site Label certificate. During the opening, the mayor and Hoekstra unveiled the new plaque on the artwork "The Waving Hand" about the greening project. The partners involved in greening the square presented the innovations on a special Green Market.
Stadswerk072, together with Schouten, Hoekstra, and other attendees, also released thousands of earthworms to aerate the soil. On site, they improved growing conditions for several trees, installed the final herb mats around the pond, placed and filled the last insect hotel, and held a quiz about flower bulbs. Residents could also trade paving stones for a packet of flower seeds as part of the national "Tegelwippen" competition.
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 | | Partners involved in greening Urkplein shared insights at the special Green Market. |
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Green Cities Mix
To celebrate the Green Cities Europe Award, JUB Holland created a special Green Cities Mix. With fifteen species of bulbous plants, this mix offers nectar and pollen for beneficial insects from February to May. All bulbs in the mix are organically grown. "The mix has already been planted in Alkmaar, but is available to any city or village looking to work on biodiversity at an 'award-winning' level," says Robbert Uittenbogaard, director of JUB Holland.
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 | | Mayor Anja Schouten and Lodewijk Hoekstra unveil the new plaque about the greening near the artwork "The Waving Hand." |
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Register for the Green Cities Europe Award
The Green Cities Europe Award is an initiative of the European Nurserystock Association (ENA). Thirteen countries are working together in this program to highlight the added value of green spaces in urban environments. In addition to the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Portugal, Poland, Italy, Ireland, Hungary, France, Greece, Denmark, and Bulgaria are also participating. Registration for the 2023 European Green Cities Award is now open. Who will follow Alkmaar's example? You can register until June 30 at award.thegreencities.eu.
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This article was originally published on May 1, 2023, on the Stad + Groen website.
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