's-Hertogenbosch introduces new rules for resident participation in city planning
's-Hertogenbosch is transforming how residents shape their neighborhoods. From playgrounds to housing policies, locals can now co-decide plans early on, ensuring better alignment with community needs. The new participation vision promises clearer communication and broader inclusion.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipality | 's-Hertogenbosch |
| New Policy | Participation vision for resident collaboration |
| Implementation Date | March 10, 2026 |
| Citizen Council Members | 80+ residents from all neighborhoods, selected by lottery |
| Focus Areas | Early involvement, open communication, real influence in decision-making |
| Contact | (073) 615 51 55, WhatsApp, email, or in-person |
The municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch is responsible for local governance, including urban planning, housing, and community policies. This new participation vision reflects its commitment to involving residents in shaping the city’s future, ensuring policies and projects align with public needs.
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New course set for collaborating with residents
Contributing ideas, participating, or even co-deciding: more and more residents want to actively contribute to plans for their neighborhood. Whether it's about a playground, new housing, or new policies. Together, we come up with better ideas. That's why the mayor and aldermen set out a fresh, ambitious course on Tuesday, March 10. The new participation vision outlines how we, as a municipality, collaborate with residents, organizations, and entrepreneurs. For the first time, we establish clear rules for early involvement and real influence. We also promise open and understandable communication, so everyone can participate. Including people we currently do not reach enough. The fact that the vision was established before the elections of March 18 shows how important participation is for the future of our municipality.
Alderman Pieter Paul Slikker: “When we genuinely invite residents to contribute their ideas early on, plans emerge that fit better with the city, villages, and neighborhoods. That is the power of togetherness. I am therefore extremely proud of our municipality for daring to choose this necessary innovation.”
Created together
What makes this vision unique is that it was created with the residents of 's-Hertogenbosch through a citizen council. A representative group of residents, chosen by lottery, from all neighborhoods and villages. In four meetings, more than 80 people actively worked together to provide advice to the city council. Together with ideas from our partners in the city and our municipal employees, this forms the basis for this vision.
Participant of the 2nd 's-Hertogenbosch citizen council: “Sometimes, the national government imposes something on a municipality. Then there is little to think about. But where it is possible, it is hopeful to know that here in 's-Hertogenbosch we can shape society together. The citizen council has shown that it can be done.”
From listening to connecting
The new course emphasizes that good collaboration begins with truly listening. Not only to what people say literally, but also to the concerns, experiences, and wishes behind it. Municipal employees receive concrete tools to conduct open conversations, connect different perspectives, and involve stakeholders early in thinking about opportunities and solutions.
Why this course is important
's-Hertogenbosch is changing, growing, and moving. More and more people want to contribute ideas about topics that affect their environment. This knowledge and involvement is a great source of value. With the new course, the municipality wants to better utilize this value. By working together, we want plans, projects, and policies to better align with the needs of the city, villages, and neighborhoods.
Moving forward together
The vision is part of a broader movement and will help organize the collaboration between residents and the municipality better, smarter, fairer, and more effectively. The vision includes various actions that we will work on together. Important steps that we will take with residents and partners in the coming years. This will not always go well immediately. This change requires courage and learning together. Even from mistakes. And the fun part is that we will do this together with residents, social organizations, and entrepreneurs.
Do you want to know more about the citizen council, the advice given, or about the participation vision? Then visit the Citizen Council page.
Have you become curious about the ways you can all participate in our municipality? Then go to the Think Together and Participate page.
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You can contact the municipality 's-Hertogenbosch in various ways.
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