'Green was the starting point in the transformation of a Vlaardingen district; other challenges followed later'

ARTICLE

MARKET & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Heleen Kommers, Tuesday 28 October 2025

109 sec

Out of a total of 5,550 m², more than 2,200 m² of green and water features will be added

The Keizerhof in the municipality of Vlaardingen is a typical 1990s neighborhood, dominated by cars and hard surfaces. There is little room for residents to move around, and greenery is almost absent. That is now changing. Wallaard Groen is responsible for the creation of all this new green space, and the project has now entered its second phase.

Wessel Peek, Wallaard Groen

When the housing corporation reported that blinds in the glass porches were warping due to sunlight, it was high time for the BOR (public space management) team to assess the situation on site. Roël de Leede, program manager for climate adaptation, green space, and livability at the municipality of Vlaardingen, recalls: "During earlier visits to the neighborhood, it was already clear that many public-space elements needed replacement, including impact-absorbing surfaces at playgrounds. We also had a variety of pavement types, giving the area a messy appearance. It was a blessing in disguise, because it allowed us to take an integrated approach to the renewal plans. Challenges became opportunities."

Out of a total of 5,550 m², more than 2,200 m² of green and water structures will be added

Green as the foundation

Residents were invited to take part in consultation meetings, where they could view impressions of the plans. De Leede explains: "We developed the plans together with residents during an initial community meeting in October 2023. Based on their ideas, we presented two variants."
Pieter de Koning, project manager for the municipality of Vlaardingen, adds that residents of Keizerhof were pleased that something was finally happening. "The neighborhood is somewhat tucked away and consists of around eighty percent care housing; the rest is private property. Using all the input, we got to work. This resulted in two designs, with more room for greenery, water storage, and play."
De Koning notes that most municipal projects usually arise from sewerage and paving assignments, which also receive the largest budgets. "At Keizerhof, however, greenery was the starting point — the other tasks followed. Out of a total of 5,550 m², more than 2,200 m² of green and water areas are being added. In addition, all parking spaces will be equipped with open grass concrete tiles. It will look completely different."

"Challenges became opportunities"

Substantial trees

Wallaard Groen plays a key role in this green transformation. Interestingly, Wallaard Groen, the landscaping division, is working closely with Wallaard Blauw, the construction branch, on this project. Work planner Wessel Peek and site manager Edwin van Andel explain that phase 2 is now underway. "Phase 1 began last May, during which the rain gardens and parking areas were installed. We were able to reuse many materials, and some were repurposed for other projects and facilities in Vlaardingen. Phase 2 started after the summer holidays. We're on schedule; it looks like we'll finish by the end of October, when all the perennials, shrubs, and trees will go into the ground. The trees we're planting are quite substantial — the largest have a trunk circumference of 25 to 30 centimeters. We'll be planting 26 of them, including some multi-stemmed varieties. We'll also be installing bird nesting boxes and hedgehog shelters."

Keizerhof in its original state

Keizerhof receives new planting beds

Pieter de Koning, Municipality of Vlaardingen
Roël de Leede, Municipality of Vlaardingen
Edwin van Andel, Wallaard Groen

This article was previously published on 27 October 2025 on the website of Stad + Groen.

Gemeente Vlaardingen

Wallaard Groenvoorziening

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