Judges ruling

On May 26, 2025, the city council decided to enable housing construction in the Noorderkwartier. The closure of the Noordereiland parking garage was part of this decision.

On December 30, 2025, the court considered a residents request to suspend the closure and demolition of the garage. The court ruled that no public law decision had been made regarding the closure as of January 5, 2026, under the General Administrative Law Act. Therefore, residents had no opportunity to formally object.

In todays ruling, the court stated that a traffic decision based on the Road Traffic Act should have been made.

Next steps

The municipality will, in consultation with its legal counsel, consider whether and how to implement the ruling and which decisions and steps are necessary before the parking garage can be closed. This process is expected to take several months.

The municipality wants to provide clarity to residents and entrepreneurs and estimates that the closure of the Noordereiland parking garage will not take place before summer 2026. A new closing date will be set once the necessary steps are clear and will then be communicated.

Parking and subscriptions

Existing subscription holders who previously parked in the Noordereiland parking garage can continue to use this garage alongside their chosen alternative location. Subscription holders who have already returned their access pass can request it again. They have already been informed about this.

Former subscription holders who have not chosen an alternative no longer have a parking subscription and therefore do not qualify for a subscription in the Noordereiland parking garage.
The additional parking spaces arranged as alternatives will remain available as much as possible on the previously communicated days and times.

Impact on housing construction

The ruling means that housing construction on Noordereiland will be delayed. This is an unexpected setback that leads to a revision of the planning. The municipalitys goal remains to start housing construction as soon as possible. The municipality is committed to minimizing the delay as much as possible.