Demolition of Kamp van Zeist Complete: Buildings Become Nature

14 November 2025

Fourteen large buildings, asphalt roads, underground pipes, and parking lots have been sustainably demolished in just over a year at the former military site Kamp van Zeist. In the coming years, the Province of Utrecht and the Utrechts Landschap will redevelop the area under the name Hart van de Heuvelrug into a nature reserve with recreational opportunities. The twenty-nine hectare area on the edge of Soesterberg is expected to partially open by the end of 2026.

Sustainable Demolition

A total of fourteen buildings have been demolished after carefully removing and safely disposing of asbestos. The buildings were then leveled with the ground. All asphalt roads and concrete paving for parking lots were also removed. In line with the sustainable ambitions of our province, valuable materials were separated as much as possible. Wooden beams and bricks were prepared for reuse at new construction sites. For the next six months, piles of broken rubble will remain on site. The rubble will be sold for reuse elsewhere.

Nature at the Core

Nature will once again be at the core of this former military site. Open fields have emerged where large buildings once stood, giving nature ample space to develop. Together with the Utrechts Landschap, we have started further developing the nature reserve. Plants that do not naturally belong in the area, such as rhododendrons, are being removed. Soil remediation is also required in several locations.

The development of the nature reserve follows the approved design plan. Important focus points in this plan include preserving several cultural-historical elements and existing natural values. Walking paths will be created that connect to surrounding nature areas, such as the forests of Austerlitz to the south. Information boards explaining the military history will also be installed. The fencing around the area will remain during further development.

Bats

The area is important for bats. Because nesting sites were lost due to the demolition of buildings, bat boxes and a bat tower were built prior to demolition. Recent research shows that these boxes and tower are already being used by bats.