The city of Goes (NL) is taking a bold step forward in climate adaptation and urban regeneration with the transformation of the area around the Stadskantoor (City Office). What was once a paved, heat-stressed square is being reimagined into a green oasis, providing shade, biodiversity, and improved liveability for residents and visitors alike.
A Vision for a Cooler, Greener City Centre
The redesign focuses on turning a grey, underused public space into a welcoming and climate-resilient environment. Key elements of the plan include:
- Tree planting to provide shade, natural cooling, and improved air quality.
- Pergolas and seating areas where citizens can rest, meet, and enjoy the outdoors.
- A lush, biodiverse garden designed to attract pollinators, support urban ecology, and bring colour throughout the seasons.
- Climate-resilient landscaping capable of handling heavy rainfall and reducing heat stress during increasingly frequent summer heatwaves.
By combining functionality with aesthetics, Goes is showing how public spaces can be redesigned to serve people, nature, and the climate simultaneously.
Tackling Urban Heat Stress
Like many cities, Goes faces the challenge of rising summer temperatures and the urban heat island effect. By replacing asphalt and paving with trees and green infrastructure, the Stadskantoor transformation will cool the area, reduce heat stress, and enhance the comfort of nearby homes and offices.
This work is closely connected to the goals of the Cool Neighbourhoods project, which seeks to develop Neighbourhood Heat Stress Action Plans (NHSAPs) and test nature-based solutions across nine pilot areas in North-West Europe.
Community and Liveability at the Centre
The Goes pilot is not only about cooling the city, but also about improving social spaces. By creating more comfortable, attractive areas, the project encourages citizens to use public space for recreation, interaction, and relaxation. This focus on liveability and well-being is central to the Cool Neighbourhoods vision.
Inspiration for Other Cities
The Goes Stadskantoor pilot is part of the Cool Neighbourhoods “Grey to Green” transformation series, which highlights how municipalities can turn underused or heat-stressed spaces into thriving, climate-resilient areas.
Importantly, this example from Goes is designed to be replicable. Other towns and cities across the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) region can draw inspiration from this pilot and adapt similar solutions to their own urban contexts. Together, the nine Cool Neighbourhoods pilots are creating a menu of approaches that can be transferred and scaled across Europe.
A Step Towards the Future
With this bold transformation, the city of Goes demonstrates leadership in addressing climate challenges while prioritising community needs and ecological health. By working hand-in-hand with partners in Cool Neighbourhoods, Goes is paving the way for cooler, greener, and more liveable cities of the future.
📸 Stay tuned for updates in our Grey to Green series, where we’ll share photos, stories, and lessons learned from Goes and the other eight pilot sites.