Schoonrewoerd's Dorpsstraat wins Vijfheerenlanden's cleanest street award
Residents of Dorpsstraat in Schoonrewoerd celebrated their victory as the cleanest street in Vijfheerenlanden 2025. The award highlights community efforts to maintain a tidy environment, reducing municipal costs and fostering neighborhood bonds.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Winning Street | Dorpsstraat, Schoonrewoerd |
| Municipality | Vijfheerenlanden |
| Award Presented By | Alderman Jongenelen |
| Award Accepted By | Ad de Jong (on behalf of the street) |
| Duration of Title | One year (2025) |
| Campaign Duration | Spring 2025 – December 31, 2025 |
| Eco-Friendly Methods Used | Brushing, brush cutters, hot water, hot air, steam, and infrared |
| Reason for Higher Costs | Ban on chemical pesticides since 2016 |
The municipality of Vijfheerenlanden is responsible for maintaining public spaces and promoting community engagement through initiatives like the Cleanest Street competition. By encouraging residents to take ownership of their environment, the municipality aims to reduce management costs and enhance social cohesion.
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Street in Schoonrewoerd named cleanest street in Vijfheerenlanden
On April 1, the Dorpsstraat in Schoonrewoerd was named the Cleanest Street in Vijfheerenlanden 2025. Alderman Jongenelen presented the award Wednesday afternoon during a gathering at Eetcafé De Zwaan.
On behalf of the street, Ad de Jong accepted two plaques bearing the title “Cleanest Street 2025.” These plaques will be mounted at the beginning and end of the street. “The Dorpsstraat can proudly claim the title of cleanest street in Vijfheerenlanden for an entire year,” said Alderman Jongenelen.
Election encourages community involvement
In spring 2025, the municipality of Vijfheerenlanden launched the “Cleanest Street in Vijfheerenlanden 2025” competition. Residents were encouraged to work together to keep their streets clean, tidy, and free of weeds. The campaign ran until December 31, 2025.
With the election, the municipality aims to encourage residents to take responsibility for their immediate living environment. “This way, we can reduce management costs together,” said Jongenelen. “Additionally, maintaining the street together strengthens social connections in the neighborhood.” “The Dorpsstraat has made a significant effort over the past year to beautify and maintain the street,” Jongenelen added.
Rising management costs
Since 2016, Europe has banned the professional use of chemical pesticides, with exceptions for agriculture and horticulture. These chemicals were highly effective against weeds but had harmful environmental effects.
The municipality of Vijfheerenlanden has invested in recent years in alternative, eco-friendly methods such as brushing, brush cutters, and the use of hot water, hot air, steam, and infrared. These methods are better for the environment but less effective than chemical agents, resulting in significantly higher management costs.