By winning the ‘Green Cities Europe Award’ tonight in Paris, Alkmaar has put itself on the map as a green municipality that serves as an inspiration for other cities. Alkmaar has added 30,000 m² of greenery to the city in three years, for example by greening small squares. “A very great honor.”
That is the opinion of alderman Ad Jongenelen, who received the prize in the French capital together with a delegation from Stadswerk072 (who manage the greenery in the municipality, ed.). Alkmaar represented the Netherlands in the election after being voted the ‘greenest city in the Netherlands’ in September.
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The jury is enthusiastic about the use of so-called ‘Pocket Parcs’: greening small squares in the municipality. This helps the city to change from gray to green in a short time. And also helps to withstand heat and heavy rainfall due to climate change.
In three years time, 30,000 m² have been greened and the aim is to expand this to 50,000 m² in seven years. Since 2020, the Arkplein and Daalmeerplein, among others, have been tackled. And this is currently happening with Urkplein and shopping street De Laat.
“Together with the people of Alkmaar, we continue to think about their living environment, while paying attention to biodiversity,” says the alderman. “It is great that this approach now also serves as an international example for other municipalities.”
Green Cities Europe Award is an initiative of the European Nurserystock Association (ENA) together with tree nursery organizations in thirteen European countries. With this, the countries emphasize the added value of greenery in the urban environment. In addition to the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Portugal, Poland, Italy, Ireland, Hungary, France, Greece, Denmark and Bulgaria are participating.
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