The Hague and the New European Bauhaus

Toespraak gehouden op de Vastgoedbeurs Expo Real in München op 8 oktober 2024

In Europe we are working on a major reconstruction of our cities. In 25 years’ time our cities must be sustainable, pleasant to live in and future resilient. To achieve that, a huge transformation is needed in the way we plan and use the city. At the end of 2020 the idea of the New European Bauhaus provided an inspiring catalyst for that.

That reconstruction also brings together several major challenges. These include energy supply, drinking water and the quality of surface and groundwaters, as well as rising temperatures in the city, together with more erratic weather conditions and flooding. Not to mention the space needed for people who want to move about. These challenges already existed, but not to the same extent as they do now. These are issues which not everyone sees as urgent, even though they are.

Urgency is certainly felt in the area of housing. Many European cities face a severe housing shortage. The housing that is available is, for many people, unaffordable. That is also the case in The Hague. The city is growing at an unprecedented rate. We expect to see a population increase of almost 20% in 25 years. That means 70,000 additional homes, together with facilities, sports centres and green public spaces. On top of which there has to be room for commercial activity because that level of growth also means an additional 100,000 jobs will be needed.

Altogether this is far more than just a technical challenge. The city lives, for residents and business owners it is their home, and it has a history going back centuries. We treasure that city. In it we find familiarity and identity. Major changes can therefore feel like a loss. We must not lose sight of these sentiments.

In this context, the New European Bauhaus offers us an interesting all-embracing concept for sustainable investment. The Hague is the city of Peace and Justice. In The Hague we are working to create a better world. The concept behind the New European Bauhaus is closely aligned with that. I could even say: in The Hague we are building a better world.

In our city we are working on a form of urban renewal where the pedestrian and, as you would you expect in Netherlands, the cyclist set the standard. Public transport opens up and connects the city and motorised traffic is reduced to a minimum.

The quality of public spaces – from squares and avenues, to canals and streets – forms the basis for our renewal planning. It also includes trees and parks, as well as safe cycle routes and unobstructed tramways. Plus, we are blessed with a magnificent coastline. This makes The Hague unique in the Netherlands, although building on the coast also has its challenges. These things we discuss with residents and business owners. We involve them in our dilemmas and decisions.

That idea of ‘creating the city together’ is not easy. Not everyone immediately recognises the need for change. The government task is to make sure that residents and business owners feel that the change benefits them.

I am also fully aware that more than 80% of the city of 2050 has already been built. Many of the existing buildings will still be standing then. Improved, modified or renovated, but still there. That understanding is also firmly embedded in the New European Bauhaus, the aim of treating what already exists with care and respect.  This is beneficial not only for our climate, but it enables residents to hold onto the memories and stories of the city from which they derive part of their identify.

The new construction we are adding to the city is sustainable. This is already laid down in our building regulations. But sustainable building also has to feel good and look good. The added value created by the urban renewal has to be both social and economic. We do this together with investors.

The largest investors in The Hague are the housing associations and the Central Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf). The first for affordable housing development for broad target groups. For example, teachers and service providers, as well as those needing help and support to get along in our society. The Rijksvastgoedbedrijf provides for good quality working spaces in offices to create a stable basis for the many tens of thousands of public sector employees working in our city.

For a large group of city dwellers it is becoming increasingly difficult in the Netherlands to find affordable rental accommodation.  However much we do our best. Building is costly and takes a long time. On top of which there is a shortage of skilled workers and building prices have skyrocketed. Therefore we have adopted new forms of collaboration in which investors have early input, are involved throughout and decide jointly with us. To gain time and money, and safeguard quality.

Thus the quality of residential environments and mixed uses is important. Clearly, the value of a building greatly depends on the quality of the public space. For that we need creative architects and developers, as well as imaginative final investors, working closely with the housing associations and us, as the local authority.

We want partners. Partners with whom we work closely to renew and consolidate old neighbourhoods, but also ensure that familiarity, facilities and greenery are not overlooked. Partners with whom we are developing the Central Innovation District (CID). The realisation of our long-term strategy to create a city centre for the future.

That strategy began at the end of the last century. With projects like the new city hall and central government offices. This laid the foundations for the Central Innovation District, a development which has doubled the volume of the inner city. A district that is well connected with the station area and which encompasses several million square metres of functional space.

We choose for careful transformations to create pedestrian routes, squares and green spaces. We choose for high density and high rise. But then done in a distinctive manner, always with a vibrant street level to create a socially-safe space. The new developments were carefully set into the historical city landscape, also restoring brutal past interventions.  

The development and construction of the CID and the transformation of the Binckhorst area close by, will take at least another 20 years. We need our partners for this, parties who care about the city. Who want to be part of the development of a city for the 21st century. With residents and business owners in open participation to bring about the supported development of a sustainable city for the future.

Meer over The New European Bauhaus lezen? Kijk op https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/index_en

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