On the 12th March 2026, partners from across Europe gathered in Middelburg, Netherlands, for the Cool Neighbourhoods Mid-Term Conference — a key milestone in the project’s journey.
Image: Keynote presentation by Tim van Hattum
The event marked a critical transition point.
While early phases of the project focused on analysis, data collection and understanding urban heat challenges, the programme is now firmly moving into implementation.
In other words: Cool Neighbourhoods is moving from ‘Grey’ to ‘Green’ — and is now in the transition phase.
Image: Artist impression of the Emerging Green of Goes, Netherlands Green Hub Pilot.
Co-Creation at the Heart of Change
A central theme throughout the conference was the importance of co-creation. Cities are not just being redesigned — they are being reimagined with their communities.
Effective climate adaptation is not only technical — it is social.
From Knowledge to Implementation
Across the presentations, one message was clear: the solutions already exist — the priority now is to implement them effectively.
The conference showcased how cities and regions are beginning to translate research, data and community insights into real, visible urban change.
A Transition Phase: From Plans to Places
Cool Neighbourhoods is no longer just identifying problems. It is now actively demonstrating climate adaptation in practice, co-created urban interventions, and scalable solutions for European cities.
This phase could best be described as ‘Emerging Green’ — where change is visible, but still evolving.
Image: Co-Creation in action at an event in Middelburg, Netherlands.
From Local Pilots to European Impact
The conference also highlighted how project results are being positioned for capitalisation and transfer. This includes reusing knowledge, scaling solutions, and supporting other municipalities across Europe.
Image: Observation of the Ettelbruck, Luxemburg Green Hub Pilot Poster.
See the Transition in Action
A short video capturing the essence of the event is available here on the Cool Neighbourhoods website.
What Comes Next
This article serves as an entry point into a series of expert insights from the conference, forming a knowledge base for cities looking to move from Grey to Green. These articles shall follow!!