The JH Diemerstraat in Groningen is a residential street for the third year in a row this week: a car-free street during the summer holidays. The living street is an initiative of the municipality of Groningen to bring local residents into contact with each other.
In the middle of the street, where cars normally chug past, there are garden tables with chairs you brought yourself. Cans painted by children dry in the sun. Flags decorate the street. A food truck provides the residents with Javanese food. From Wednesday morning to Sunday evening, young and old mingle here.
Fenna de Groot (51) walks out the front door. For the third year in a row, she and Marleen Kramer (42) and Mariska ter Veer (43) are transforming the street into a lively gathering. “This morning we started with a cup of coffee together. It is very cozy and it creates a nice connection in the street.”
Shoulders together
In 2021, the municipality of Groningen started a pilot for a residential street in Groningen South. All neighborhoods in Groningen can now apply for a subsidy through the municipality. “Such a living street starts with the organization. This is already important for local residents, because in this way they put their shoulders to the wheel together. A residential street offers the opportunity to meet each other. It is also nice for people who cannot go on holiday, for example,” says a municipal spokesman.
“This year we have had more applications than last year, but it does not always lead to a residential street. Organizing it is sometimes underestimated.” For example, at least three residents must be involved, a maximum of 30 kilometers per hour may be driven in the street, it must be organized between 1 July and 1 September and a majority of residents must support the initiative.
Signature action
The Diemerstraat was given the green light after the three mothers walked past all the front doors with a signature campaign. For the third time, the local residents enthusiastically agreed to the residential street. “I have been living here since 2007,” says de Groot. “A few years ago we had a neighborhood barbecue in the street. Then we found out that we didn’t know at all about each other who everyone is and what they do in daily life. Now we have a neighborhood app and we know each other very well. Young and old live together and more and more children are added.”
Residents don’t have to be bored this week, because with a children’s bingo, craft workshop, pub quiz, pancake lunch, American Dinner, panna cage and assault course, the program is quite full. “There are different activities for all ages. Some of the residents have to work this week, but they will then join us for dinner,” says de Groot.
Panna cage
“Now we can play football and run because there are no cars,” says Sem (10) enthusiastically. He can be found outside all week. He is most looking forward to the panna cage that will appear in the street on Friday. “Because football is my favorite sport,” he says beaming, he has already put on his football outfit. “I feel like bingo,” says Tess (10), drawing her pets on a tree trunk with a green marker. “She always wins everything,” adds her neighbor Sem.
‘You really get to know your neighbors better’
“Do you still need stuff for bingo?” Jolanda Hummel (55) approaches. She regularly goes out for a walk. “You really get to know your neighbors better through the living street and now have a chat. This was not the case before,” says Hummel, who has lived in the street for 20 years. “I don’t have children, so you have less contact with others in the street. Because of the living street, that is the case.”
If it is up to the three mothers, they will organize another living street next summer. “I assume so,” says Kramer. “And otherwise we will make the rest enthusiastic again,” adds de Groot with a laugh.