Apeldoorn unveils revamped De Zoemer playground with community at heart
Residents of Apeldoorn-Zuid now have a vibrant new playground, De Zoemer, designed with input from locals. This green, social hub offers safe play spaces, community activities, and a focus on health, directly benefiting families and neighbors in the area.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Apeldoorn-Zuid, Gelderland |
| Opening Date | March 1, 2026 |
| Key Features | Ice rink, braderie, discovery garden, recycled materials, outdoor play |
| Partners | Jantje Beton, Zuid Doet Samen, Stimenz, IVN Nature Education, JOGG |
| Program | Gezonde Buurten (Healthy Neighborhoods) |
| Initiated By | Residents, volunteers, and the municipality (2025) |
| Alderman Involved | Danny Huizer |
| Director of Jantje Beton | Mascha van Werven |
The municipality of Apeldoorn plays a key role in fostering community-driven projects like De Zoemer, aligning with broader goals to enhance livability, sustainability, and social cohesion in neighborhoods. Through programs like Gezonde Buurten, the local government supports initiatives that promote health, green spaces, and resident engagement.
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Playground De Zoemer in Apeldoorn-Zuid officially opened
Playground De Zoemer in Apeldoorn-Zuid was officially opened on Sunday, March 1st. With an ice rink, a cozy braderie, music, and activities for young and old, the playground was filled with enthusiastic neighborhood residents. Happy faces, playing children, and proud volunteers colored the afternoon. Alderman Danny Huizer, together with Mascha van Werven, director of Jantje Beton, volunteers, and children, performed the official opening.
The renovation of De Zoemer is a special project. In 2025, residents, volunteers, and the municipality started making plans together. Many ideas were considered: from playground equipment to making the environment greener.
Volunteers help with activities, maintaining the garden, and involving new people. Local organizations such as Zuid Doet Samen and Stimenz also contribute their part. Thanks to all this effort, De Zoemer is now a place where children can play safely and where neighbors can meet each other.
A healthy and green neighborhood
The playground is part of the Gezonde Buurten program. This program aims to make neighborhoods greener, healthier, and more sociable. De Zoemer shows how this works: there is much attention for nature, play, and coming together. Children are challenged to move outdoors, and neighbors can easily meet each other. The new discovery garden, recycled materials, and lessons on green maintenance give the place a sustainable and educational character. Here, not only the greenery grows, but also the connection between neighbors.
Challenging and accessible outdoor play
For this project, the municipality worked together with Jantje Beton, an organization that advocates for more and better outdoor play throughout the Netherlands. Jantje Beton helps design playgrounds that children truly enjoy. Through this collaboration, De Zoemer is not only fun but also challenging and accessible to as many children as possible. Together with other partners, such as IVN Nature Education and JOGG (Youth on Healthy Weight), Jantje Beton ensures that the playground meets the needs of the neighborhood and contributes to a healthy living environment.
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