Anyone cycling or walking through Overbetuwe increasingly sees it happening. The patch of ground around the tree being planted. A roundabout looking greener. A front yard with a young tree. These are not large, sweeping projects, but many small interventions. That is exactly where the strength lies, says alderman Rik van den Dam, responsible for greenery, climate adaptation, and biodiversity. “Three-quarters of the land in Overbetuwe is not owned by the municipality. If we want to green, we have to do it together. And that doesn’t have to be complicated at all.”
For Van den Dam, greening is more than policy. It also touches something personal. “I am genuinely worried about how our planet will look in 80 years. I have a three-year-old son. When I see how many fewer insects there are than before, I know something really needs to be done.” At the same time, he wants to keep the topic light and inviting. “I am about persuasion, not enforcement. Greening is not only necessary, it’s also fun. Being outside, planting trees, making nature more beautiful together. That connects.”
Everyone can participate
The municipality consciously chooses a low-threshold approach. No grand plans, but many small steps that add up. “If everyone replaces one square meter of tiles with greenery, together we have 20,000 extra square meters of green. Many small steps together make the difference.”
This idea is reflected in initiatives and actions such as removing tiles, free trees for front yards, green roof subsidies, and adopting greenery in the neighborhood. There are already about 80 places in Overbetuwe where residents have adopted greenery together with the municipality. Often it starts with one person. “You often see that one person takes the initiative and others join later. That’s exactly how it works.”
More trees and diverse greenery
The way of working has changed in recent years. Where greening used to consist of separate actions, the municipality now increasingly works with multi-year plans in which we tackle village by village. An important example is the approach from the Integral Quality Plan Public Space. In Herveld, this led to a village square with more trees and seating areas and to hundreds of trees planted by residents in front yards. In Driel, residents took care of a roundabout, including the greenery around it. In Elst, entrepreneurs themselves initiated greening the shopping street with facade gardens and facade greenery. “I find that so beautiful. Then it doesn’t come from us, but from society itself.”
More than just green
The effects of greening go beyond biodiversity. More greenery means less heat, more water retention, and a more pleasant living environment. “Under a tree it’s simply cooler than in a bare street. A tree in your front yard also reduces heat in the house.” But greening does more than that. “It’s also about meeting and ownership. A flower bed or tree suddenly becomes part of the neighborhood. That’s good for nature, but also for people.”
Also in the rural area, the municipality seeks cooperation. With farmers, work is done on field edges with flowers and a future-proof rural area. “Climate and agriculture are not opposites. Many farmers really want to think along. The contradictions are often much smaller than we think.”
Join in
In the coming years, the municipality wants to continue greening public spaces in the built-up areas of the villages. In 2026, Zetten is central, followed by Elst in 2027. But there is no need to wait. “As far as I’m concerned, everyone can sign up. Everyone has a flower bed in their neighborhood.”
Residents can adopt greenery alone or together with others. The municipality thinks along, visits to see what is possible, and makes clear agreements about maintenance. “We always start with ‘yes’. Let’s first see what is possible.”
You can start greening yourself by maintaining a piece of municipal greenery alone or with someone else. This is called green adoption. You can also apply for a subsidy for a green roof via: Subsidy purchase green roofs | Overbetuwe.
“Greening is not only necessary, it’s also fun”
“We always start with ‘yes’. Let’s first see what is possible.”
About this article series
What does the municipality of Overbetuwe actually do, and why? In this article series, the college of mayor and aldermen takes residents along in the choices and initiatives that contribute to a pleasant and future-proof municipality. Each time one theme is central, with concrete examples from practice. This article is about greening, together with residents and entrepreneurs.