Last updated: June 2024
The Molenvlietpark is a large park in the Viletzoom area of The Hague which will serve as an ecological corridor and stormwater storage. Beside flowery grasslands, the park has several interconnected ponds serving as water storing facilities that can temporarily collect a large amount of water during heavy rainfall. The green and blue areas with diverse vegetation provide habitat for a large variety of species and a fish spawning ground supporting biodiversity (1,5,6,7). It will also include paths for cyclists and pedestrians. (1) The first phase of the park construction has been completed, while the second phase is planned to be executed in 2021-2022.
Source: https://www.denhaag.nl/nl/in-de-stad/natuur-en-milieu/groen-en-bomen/parken-bossen-en-duinen/molenvlietpark.htm
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Green corridors and green belts
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas
Project objectives
1. Improve the ecological function of the area that enhances biodiversity and serve as natural water storage (and thereby contributing to climate change resilience) (1)
2. Creation of habitat for various native species with the plantation of diverse vegetation and creation of fish spawning grounds. (1,7)
3. Improve the water quality and encourage the growth of aquatic plants with the help of a balanced fish stock
4. Construction of various water storage areas that can be flooded creating temporary wetlands in case of heavy rainfall (1,3,4,7)
Cultural-historical value: the park will be created around cultural-historical elements of the Vlietzone [1].
5. Provide new recreational opportunities to locals in the form of a cycling and walking path (1).
6. Aesthetic value: the park will be the 'green entrance' of The Hague as it will be built around the 'Rotterdamsebaan' which is a new highway entering the city which contrasts the 'Utrechtsebaan', which is the current 'grey entrance' [5]
5. Compensate for part of the extra asphalt that the construction of the Rotterdamsebaan entails (1)
6. Create an ecological corridor for better habitat connection (1)
Implementation activities
First phase of the construction included (completed):
- Supporting the formation of a grassland and reed land that will grow naturally (1,7)
- Construction of a water storing facility in the form of ponds that are interconnected (temporary wetlands) with embankments and dikes to ensure that the water remains in the water storage that can store water in case of heavy rainfall (1,7)
- Construction of a fish spawning ground to function as a fish nursery (1)
- Ecological and flower-rich river banks that provide habitat for species [7]
- Tree planting and copses (7)
The construction of the 2nd supply of water storage includes (to be executed in 2021-2022):
- Felling of trees and archaeological research
- Moving cables and pipes
- Building culvert under the Jan Thijssenweg
- Construction of the Jan Thijssenweg
- Replacing bank protection along the Vliet
- Construction of a bridge over the 2nd supply of water storage
- Redesign of the Molenslootpad
- Asphalting cycle path along Jan Thijssenweg (1)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
- Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Molenvlietpark is initiated by the municipality of The Hague and the Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland (regional water board) who signed an agreement on the water storage in the ecological zone. The Antea Group (company) was hired to translate the general vision of the municipality and water body into a development plan of the Molenvlietpark (7). The development plan was actively discussed in hearings with the 'begeleidingsgroep Vlietzone' (Guidance Group Vlietzone) which is a committee of the 'Vereniging Houdt Vlietland Groen' (Association Keep Vlietland Green, a civil society organization that consists of many direct stakeholders of the Vlietzone including NGOs, foundations, sport clubs and citizens) (7). The final design of the park was done by Bosch Slabbers, an architect bureau. (4) The Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland (Regional Water Board) is responsible for the construction of a storage area. The park is funded by the municipality of The Hague and the Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland (regional water board) (7).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The national 'Waterwet' obligates the regional water bodies to manage water. In this case, the Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland (Delfland Water Body) is responsible for water management of the area, including water quality and protecting the area from flooding and water scarcity (7).
Furthermore, the local 'Ecologische Verbindingszones' (Ecological Connecting Zones) 2009 which is a driver of the Molenvlietpark is based on the 'Ecologische Hoofdstructuur' (Ecological Main Structure) which is a national policy aimed at biodiversity by 'creating new nature' and maintaining existing nature. (7))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The 'Groen kleurt de stad' (Green colours the city) (2005-2015) as part of the municipal nature policy of The Hague in which the city's strategy regarding green spaces was specified (2,7). Recently, this policy has been replaced by the Agenda Groen voor de Stad (Agenda Green for the City) in 2016 in which the development of the Molenvlietpark is mentioned. (3).
This policy also includes the Stedelijke Groene Hoofdstructuur (Urban Green Main Structure), in which green areas are designated that should be maintained sustainably. The Molenvlietpark that will be built is part of this structure (2). Also, in the Ontwikkelingsvisie Ecologische Verbindingszones (Development Vision Ecological Connecting Zones) of 2009 the most important ecological connecting zones are specified, which fits the national Ecologische Hoofdstructuur (Ecological Main Structure). The development of the Molenvlietpark contributes to the local vision to achieve these goals. (7))
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Increased number of species present
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Molenvlietpark. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
2. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Bijlage 1: Actualisatie Stedelijke Groene Hoofdstructuur. Den Haag: Municipality of The Hague. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
3. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Agenda Groen voor de Stad 2016. Den Haag: Municipality of The Hague. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
4. Tschernizki, I. (2015). Toekomstplannen nieuw park randje Den Haag: Molenvlietpark. Website not available
5. Gemeente Den Haag. (2015). Ontwerp-bestemmingsplan Molenvlietpark e.o. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
6. Koks, L.J.G., Buijks, J., & Braad, M.L. Samenvattende Natuurtoetsing 2015. Almere: Antea Group. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
7. Artz, T., Van Kempen, L., & Winkel-Bootsma, M. (2015) Bestemmingsplan Molentvlietpark e.o. Toelichting. Almere: Antea Group. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
8. Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland. (2014). Toelichting plannen Rotterdamsebaan en Molenvlietpark. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
9. Vereniging Houdt Vlietrand Groen. (n.d.) Over Vereniging Houdt Vlietrand Groen. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
10. Unknown. (2015). Nieuw park in Den Haag bij toekomstige Rotterdamsebaan: het Molenvlietpark. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
2. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Bijlage 1: Actualisatie Stedelijke Groene Hoofdstructuur. Den Haag: Municipality of The Hague. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
3. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Agenda Groen voor de Stad 2016. Den Haag: Municipality of The Hague. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
4. Tschernizki, I. (2015). Toekomstplannen nieuw park randje Den Haag: Molenvlietpark. Website not available
5. Gemeente Den Haag. (2015). Ontwerp-bestemmingsplan Molenvlietpark e.o. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
6. Koks, L.J.G., Buijks, J., & Braad, M.L. Samenvattende Natuurtoetsing 2015. Almere: Antea Group. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
7. Artz, T., Van Kempen, L., & Winkel-Bootsma, M. (2015) Bestemmingsplan Molentvlietpark e.o. Toelichting. Almere: Antea Group. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
8. Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland. (2014). Toelichting plannen Rotterdamsebaan en Molenvlietpark. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
9. Vereniging Houdt Vlietrand Groen. (n.d.) Over Vereniging Houdt Vlietrand Groen. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link
10. Unknown. (2015). Nieuw park in Den Haag bij toekomstige Rotterdamsebaan: het Molenvlietpark. Accessed on November 5, 2020, Source link