Artificial grass that allows you to play sports without melting in the heat. It retains water for dry days. And it might even generate electricity for the neighborhood. It sounds like distant future music, but its coming to Amsterdam and Haarlem.
In the future, we will increasingly deal with extreme weather. We are creating future-proof artificial grass sports fields so that we can continue to enjoy sports. Together with the municipality of Haarlem, we will construct a maximum of 270 of these sustainable sports fields over the next 10 years. We will start the construction of the first 3 test fields in early 2026.
Less Heat, More Sports
Climate change imposes new requirements on sports fields. Artificial grass can become scorching hot in the summer, reaching up to 70 degrees. Intense and prolonged rain showers are also a growing problem. Therefore, the new fields will be equipped with systems that capture and retain rainwater. That water can then be used to cool the field when its hot. Or for other purposes during dry periods.
Energy for the Neighborhood
Additionally, there will be space for energy generation or storage under the fields, allowing sports parks to play a role in the energy transition. With the new sports fields, we can also reduce CO₂ emissions.
Playable All Year Round
Amsterdam has 40 sports parks spread across the city. Together with Haarlem, we manage about 400 hectares of sports fields. With the citys growth, the demand for sports fields is increasing. Sustainable artificial grass sports fields provide a solution. Artificial grass can be played on all year round. With 1,500 to 2,000 playing hours per year, the fields can be used much more intensively than natural grass.