Hoeksche Waard residents urged to swap tiles for greenery in national championship
Residents of Hoeksche Waard can help combat heat and waterlogging by replacing tiles with greenery as part of the 2026 National Tile Removal Championship. The municipality offers free support, including a Tile Taxi and subsidies, to make participation easy and impactful for homes, schools, and businesses.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | National Tile Removal Championship 2026 |
| Municipality | Hoeksche Waard |
| Category | Medium-sized municipalities (50,000–100,000 residents) |
| Duration | March 19 – October 31, 2026 |
| Support Offered | Free Tile Taxi, Garden Rangers advice, rainwater management subsidy |
| Tile Taxi Collection Days | April 13, May 11, June 15, July 13, September 7, October 12 (Mondays) |
| Subsidy Coverage | Tile replacement, tree planting, rainwater disconnection, green roofs |
| Registration | NK Tegelwippen website |
The municipality of Hoeksche Waard plays a key role in promoting climate adaptation by encouraging sustainable urban development. Through initiatives like the National Tile Removal Championship, it supports residents and businesses in creating greener, more resilient environments to tackle heat and waterlogging.
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Hoeksche Waard participates in the 2026 National Tile Removal Championship
The Hoeksche Waard is once again taking part in the National Tile Removal Championship. From March 19 to October 31, residents, entrepreneurs, schools, and associations are being challenged to replace tiles with greenery. More greenery helps combat heat and waterlogging while providing more space for plants and animals. To make participation easier, the municipality is offering various options. For example, the free Tile Taxi will once again be driving through the Hoeksche Waard, the Garden Rangers will provide advice on creating a green garden, and there is a subsidy for smart rainwater management.
Removing thousands of tiles together
Last year, residents, schools, and entrepreneurs in the Hoeksche Waard replaced thousands of tiles with greenery. This success calls for more! The Hoeksche Waard is participating in the ‘medium-sized municipalities’ category (50,000–100,000 residents). A great opportunity to once again achieve a strong result together.
“More and more people are noticing that their garden, school playground, or business park becomes extremely hot in summer and retains too much water during heavy rainfall,” says Alderman Hein Verbiest (Climate Adaptation). “More greenery helps: it cools, absorbs water, and makes our environment more attractive. That’s why we are calling on residents, entrepreneurs, and organizations to participate in the National Tile Removal Championship. With the free Tile Taxi, the Garden Rangers, and our smart rainwater management subsidy, we are helping everyone who wants to get started. Together, we are making the Hoeksche Waard greener, cooler, and more future-proof.”
Why removing tiles is so important
Greenery provides cooling during hot days, helps absorb rainwater during heavy downpours, and offers space for birds, bees, and butterflies. By greening gardens, school playgrounds, and business parks, the Hoeksche Waard remains a pleasant place to live and work.
Join in too
- Remove tiles from your garden, front garden, school playground, or business park.
- Report the number of tiles removed via the NK Tegelwippen website.
- After registration, you can use the free Tile Taxi.
- Add before-and-after photos.
All removed tiles count towards the national tile score and the Hoeksche Waard’s total.
On these days, the Tile Taxi will collect tiles for free
This year, the Tile Taxi will be driving on the Mondays of April 13, May 11, June 15, July 13, September 7, and October 12. For all the rules and registration, visit the Tile Taxi webpage. After registering the tiles, the Tile Taxi will come by on the chosen day. Residents who do not wish to or cannot wait can also bring their tiles to the RAD recycling center for free during the National Tile Removal Championship. They can have an extra visit added to their environmental pass. This does not apply to businesses and organizations.
Garden Rangers: free help with greening
The Garden Rangers provide residents with personal advice on greening their gardens. For more information and registration, visit the Garden Rangers website.
Smart rainwater management subsidy
With this subsidy, residents, entrepreneurs, and organizations can receive financial support for:
- replacing tiles with greenery;
- planting trees;
- disconnecting rainwater downpipes;
- installing a rain barrel or other water storage;
- creating a green roof.
For all conditions and options, visit the smart rainwater management page.
More information
More information about the Tile Taxi, Garden Rangers, the subsidy, and participating in the National Tile Removal Championship is available on the NK Tegelwippen webpage.