In the Hague neighborhood De Gaarden, deputy Anne Koning officially kicked off a new sports, play, and meeting place on Friday, October 17. This new activity square encourages residents of De Gaarden to get active together and serves as a means to improve livability and safety in the neighborhood. From the grant opening for a movement-friendly living environment, the province of South Holland allocated €49,848 to the Municipality of The Hague for the activity square, which is still waiting for a nice name.
NPLV Area
De Gaarden is located in The Hague Southwest, a so-called NPLV area where livability and safety are under pressure. Together with residents, efforts are being made to improve education, create more jobs, build new homes, and establish a pleasant and safe living environment. The National Program for Livability and Safety (NPLV) collaborates with six ministries, nineteen municipalities, residents, and partners such as housing corporations and the GGD. The province also contributes where possible. Through the opening of a movement-friendly living environment, the province of South Holland provided funding for the construction of the activity square because it contributes to an inclusive living environment that facilitates, encourages, and challenges people to move, play, sports, and meet in publicly accessible outdoor spaces. Anne Koning: “What a nice place this already is! All children should be able to play safely outside, so I hope you will go outside and have a lot of fun together during the holidays.”
Healthy Design and Place Testing
In the coming years, a lot will change in The Hague Southwest. A lot of new construction, the renovation of thousands of new homes, and attention to livability and safety because a healthy living environment requires more than just good homes. Think of a safe public space, opportunities for play and movement, attractive greenery, and places to meet. In De Gaarden, areas have been redesigned together with residents to better meet the needs of users. This was done according to the principles of Healthy Design, where health is the starting point from the beginning. Through place testing, the neighborhood is now gradually improved with temporary interventions, direct feedback, and collaboration between residents and neighborhood professionals. And what works may remain permanently, as long as it aligns with the future vision and core values of the place.
Catchy Name
A start has now been made on the realization of the new sports, play, and meeting place: new markings on the sports field, followed by the installation of soccer goals and a basketball pole, and improving the skate facilities. At a later stage, the play area will be expanded and supplemented with swings and a more challenging climbing frame to make the play area more attractive for older children. The only thing missing now is a catchy name. Everyone is welcome to contribute ideas. Under the board unveiled by deputy Anne Koning, there hangs a blank board that patiently awaits all suggestions.
Also Apply for Funding?
Do you want to help people move more outdoors, and do you want to adapt the environment for that? For example, by creating a sports field? Then you can still apply for the subsidy Movement-friendly living environment South Holland 2025 until October 31, 2025.
More Information
If you want to know more about place testing together with residents, come to the Festival Healthy Mind (opens in new window) on November 13, 2025, in The Hague and attend the breakout session.
