Valkenswaard extends successful community project boosting neighborhood connections until 2029
Residents in Valkenswaard’s De Bogen neighborhood are feeling more connected than ever, thanks to the Woonleefcirkel project. With over 330 activities yearly and rising social cohesion scores, the initiative is set to continue for three more years, fostering support and well-being in the community.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Woonleefcirkel De Bogen |
| Location | De Bogen neighborhood, Valkenswaard, Noord-Brabant |
| Extension Period | Until March 1, 2029 |
| Activities per Year | Over 330 |
| Participants (Annual) | Nearly 2,850 |
| Connectedness Score Increase | From 5.5 to 7.0 in one year |
| Initiators | Municipality of Valkenswaard, Woningbelang, Valkenhof |
| Focus Areas | Social connections, prevention, informal support, healthcare alignment |
| Next Steps | Permanent meeting place, expanded volunteer initiatives, broader reach |
| Website | www.woonleefcirkel.nl |
The Municipality of Valkenswaard, alongside housing corporation Woningbelang and care organization Valkenhof, plays a pivotal role in fostering community well-being through initiatives like the Woonleefcirkel. Their collaboration aims to strengthen social cohesion, improve healthcare accessibility, and create sustainable neighborhood structures that support independent living.
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Successful pilot Woonleefcirkel De Bogen extended for three more years
The Municipality of Valkenswaard, Woningbelang and Valkenhof have decided to extend the successful Woonleefcirkel (WLC) De Bogen project until March 1, 2029.
Following a positive evaluation report and strong neighborhood involvement, it is clear that the WLC plays a key role in strengthening social connections, fostering encounters, and providing support. Since its launch in February 2024, the Woonleefcirkel has grown into an active community, with over 330 activities per year and nearly 2,850 participants. Residents, volunteers, and professionals have become increasingly connected.
Fieke van Deutekom, board member at Valkenhof, says: “We see every day how the Woonleefcirkel contributes to well-being, social interaction, and prevention. Formal and informal care are better aligned. That benefits residents and the future of our healthcare system.”
Residents feel more connected
Evaluations, surveys, and conversations show that the Woonleefcirkel has a clear, measurable impact on social cohesion in the neighborhood. For example, the score for perceived connectedness to the neighborhood rose from 5.5 to 7.0 in just one year. Residents also report:
- “Now that you know each other better, you’re more likely to ask for help.”
- “At first, it’s a bit tentative, and conversations are superficial, but now they go deeper, and you get to know each other better… That makes it easier to ask for help when you need it.”
- “There are more activities to meet each other. Some people have found each other and now interact more easily.”
Residents also note that contact and mutual trust have grown, partly due to the many new meeting opportunities and activities:
- “Thanks to the Woonleefcirkel, I’m much happier… All the things happening in the neighborhood give me reasons to go out again.”
- “For years, I’ve been asking for a coffee morning in the neighborhood… Thanks to the Woonleefcirkel, it was set up in no time. It gives my day some routine and keeps me connected to people.”
These statements highlight how residents feel increasingly at home in the neighborhood, help each other more easily, and feel supported by the community.
Bram Bots, alderman for the Municipality of Valkenswaard: “The Woonleefcirkel shows that a strong, caring neighborhood isn’t created on paper but in practice. Residents are taking more initiative, and we want to keep supporting that. Extending the project until 2029 is necessary to let this movement take root.”
What’s next?
Over the next two years, the Woonleefcirkel must evolve from a project into a sustainable collaborative structure where residents and professionals jointly take responsibility for a livable, supportive neighborhood. To achieve this, investments will be made in:
- A permanent meeting place for the neighborhood;
- A strong foundation of residents and professionals (‘the engine’);
- Expanding activities and volunteer initiatives;
- Further collaboration with healthcare and welfare professionals;
- Reaching more residents, including families and young people.
Maarten Meulepas, director and board member at Woningbelang: “A neighborhood where people know each other, help each other, and feel at home is a livable neighborhood. The Woonleefcirkel directly contributes to this. As a housing corporation, we’re happy to invest in this social foundation.”
About the Woonleefcirkel
The Woonleefcirkel is an initiative by the Municipality of Valkenswaard, Valkenhof, and Woningbelang, aimed at creating a caring, connected, and vibrant neighborhood around De Bogen. The Woonleefcirkel operates on the principle that health begins in the neighborhood, where people know each other, support one another, and can participate in activities in an accessible way. By combining social interaction, prevention, informal support, and collaboration between residents and professionals, the neighborhood becomes a place where people can live independently and comfortably for longer.
More information: www.woonleefcirkel.nl