For the master plan, Bygg Architecture & Design has further developed the vision from November 2023. In close collaboration with the municipality and stakeholders from the city.

Councilor Rik Thijs: “Establishing the master plan is an important step for the future of one of the most important squares in our city. Together with the planned residential buildings around the square, the master plan gives an impulse to our ambition to create a more recognizable, green, and attractive place in the city center.”

Green, Water, Gates, and Bridges

In the master plan, green, water, and events form the basis for the redesign of the City Hall Square and the public space around it. The aim is to let the Dommel flow around the City Hall Square via a branch. This Inner Dommel will have attractive green banks and will also serve as water storage. Furthermore, (to be greened) roofs of surrounding residential buildings will be connected via gates and bridges. This will create a publicly accessible Belvedere where you can walk at height around the square or relax on one of the green balconies.

Events and Traffic

The City Hall Square will remain the central place in the city center where people can meet for events, celebrations, or other activities. Major events such as Carnival, Kings Day, and a celebration of PSV will remain possible. The number of visitors for Kings Day and the celebration is expected to decrease by approximately 20% and 25%, respectively. The Belvedere can accommodate some of the visitors.

The master plan assumes a car-free area. The preference is for an underground connection from the City Hall Square parking garage to the future Citywall parking garage (new construction on the north side). This will eliminate the entrance from the parking garage at City Hall Square, and cars will no longer need to drive over the square to use the parking garage. The passage for cars will also be interrupted. This will create extra space for events, pedestrians, and small-scale activities, such as skating or other urban sports. The liberation monument will remain in its current location.

Planning

The realization of the master plan will take place in phases, parallel to the housing construction around the City Hall Square. Financial decision-making will also be gradual. Money has been reserved for the first phases in the Framework Memorandum 2026.

The plan is to start with the connection of the parking garages and the construction of a new entrance to the Wal. The redesign of Paradijslaan and Begijnenhof is also at the forefront of the planning. The realization of the gates, Belvedere, and Inner Dommel will (for now) be the final piece of the redesign.

For more information and the master plan, visit openeindhoven.nl/stadhuisplein.