More than 200 municipalities across the Netherlands competed during the 6th National Tile Removal Contest. In Haarlem, everyone could participate by removing tiles from their gardens.
From March 21 to October 31, a total of 65,219 tiles were removed, creating nearly 6,000 square meters of additional green space in our city. This earned us 13th place in the final ranking among large municipalities.
Zaanstad challenged us in the spring to a friendly competition. Zaanstad took 15th place, and together we replaced 123,704 tiles with green!
Green is important
Due to climate change, the weather in the Netherlands is becoming more extreme. Heavy rain showers and long periods of heat and drought follow one another. As a result, we increasingly face problems such as flooding and heat stress. With less paving and more trees and plants, we can counter these problems.
Alderman Robbert Berkhout: “The National Tile Removal Contest has concluded for this year, but replacing tiles with green remains important. Not only do we win competitions, but we also create a more pleasant living environment!”
Plant now
Would you like to make Haarlem a little greener? Now is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Because the soil is moist and still reasonably warm, plants can still take root before winter. By planting now, the greenery can bloom in spring.
For more tips on greening, visit the website Haarlem Duurzaam.
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