Those who sprout tiles in Tilburg and replaces for plants or flowers, can have them collected for free by the Tegeltaxi. “We compete in a derby with Turnhout for whom the most tiles bang. Residents make facade gardens or set up their entire garden greener.”
About forty garden tiles that have to be picked up are neatly piled up along the road at the first address where driver Ton Robben stops. It jumps on the back of the crane truck and moves the tap through a number of black levers in the direction of the pile. “People can offer sailed tiles up to 15 square meters. Through the municipality we, green contractor Jvesch, get them for free.”
“With the released piece of land, residents make a facade garden or lay borders with plants,” he says, lowering the tiles in the tile of the Tegeltaxi. “Sometimes with such a large crane truck it is just navigating and stabbing a few times. Especially in the small streets in the city center.”
The tile taxi picks up 13,200 sidewalk tiles at around 190 addresses, and another round will follow in the fall. Tilburg will compete with Turnhout, a derby as part of the NK and VK (Flemish Championship) Tegelwips.
For the honor, says alderman Evelien Kostermans: “The aim is to replace as many tiles as possible with residents with grass, flower beds, trees and facade gardens so that the city remains a pleasant environment. Groen attracts more birds, butterflies and other insects. It ensures a cleaner air and the rainwater can pick up the water for a long time.”
Heat record
Groen also offers cooling during hot days. Kostermans remembers the heat record of 2018 all too well. “Tilburg was the hottest city in Europe for one day. Traditionally, Tilburg has been an industrial city and the city center is very petrified if you compare it with other Brabant places. Roofs, walls and tiles hold Hitte,” she explains.
“Groen gives shade. We need the help of residents to plant greenery. Because together with the companies they own two -thirds of Tilburg territory. Residents must indicate how many tiles have been widened at the NK tile fuss themselves. That is of course no obligation, but fun.”
Making border edges from sailed tiles
Ton is sitting behind the wheel again. The large crane truck attracts a lot of attention. One of the residents sticks her head out of the window: “Thanks for picking up,” she shouts. “Now I can construct a facade garden.”
Ton laughs and says: “I am happy with my work. I think sustainability is important. The sailed tiles go to Jvesch’s ground and residual substance bank in Tilburg. There they break the tiles into small gradations of concrete elements. They can, for example, be used as a foundation under a paving. You can also use the tiles yourself to make border edges or a table.”
Ton Toetert and Waves again before he drives towards the last addresses of this day to pick up tiles. “Last year Tilburg finished in 7th place of the large Dutch municipalities who participated, Breda in fourth place,” says Kostermans. “We go for as many tiles as possible.”
The next round of the tile taxi is in October. You can register for free from July via the municipality’s website.
Meadow
In addition to having the Tegeltaxi driving, the municipality is doing more to greening the city, says Alderman Evelien Kostermans of the municipality of Tilburg. For example, the Heuvelstraat, Nieuwlandstraat, Tuinstraat and Korte Heuvel get façade green in 2026, bins with green or trees. “The Koningsplein, between Piushaven and the center, will be a new city neighborhood with homes, a city meadow, flowers and trees. In addition, we have set up the 013 parks program with which we install extra green and cool spots, with the priority on the heat -sensitive area within the ring roads.”
Kostermans is also happy that entrepreneurs and schools are rolling up their sleeves. “For example, different schools plant bushes and trees on their school yards or make an outdoor room, which is more challenging for children.”