Community Collaboration Shapes a Cooler, Greener Edelstenenbuurt, Middelburg, Netherlands
The second co-creation workshop for the Edelstenenbuurt pilot took place during May 2025 as part of the Cool Neighbourhoods project. The event saw a remarkable turnout of local residents, over 200, supported by strong collaboration between multiple municipal departments and community organisations. Their shared goal? To create a climate-adaptive, greener, and more liveable neighbourhood.
Greening the Neighbourhood Together
Edelstenenbuurt currently has limited green space and is highly paved. With increasing temperatures and urban heat stress, the goal is to make the area cooler and more pleasant—a place where people can comfortably spend time outdoors, meet neighbours, and find shade.
Municipal teams—including neighbourhood managers, the departments for liveability, communication, and city management—joined forces with partners like Woongoed, the local police, and Vizita to make this event a success.
Listening to Residents
Residents were invited to complete a survey to help assess liveability in the neighbourhood. These insights will inform the design of future interventions and will also be shared with relevant organisations. The survey responses highlighted that perceptions of heat vary widely—older adults and children are more sensitive to high temperatures, while cultural background also plays a role in how heat is experienced.
Interestingly, residents originally from Africa or the Middle East reported less sensitivity to heat compared to Northern Europeans. Nonetheless, all residents shared a strong appreciation for the ambition to make the area greener and more vibrant. There was also a clear call for more community-led activities, with many residents expressing a desire to get involved.
Ideas in Action
Landscape architects and Cool Neighbourhoods partner Except Integrated Sustainability were on site to collect residents’ suggestions and ideas for the redesign. Discussions focused on play areas, shaded rest spaces, and community meeting places. Meanwhile, the city’s sustainability desk shared information and practical tips, including a flyer titled “24 Tips for a Cooler Home and Greener Neighbourhood.”
Residents also had the chance to plant herbs or flowers in small pots—an engaging, hands-on activity and a first step toward bringing more greenery into homes and onto balconies. This simple gesture also served as a thank-you for residents’ valuable contributions.
The event coincided with a clean-up day, allowing residents to drop off waste and help tidy their surroundings, all while enjoying coffee and a healthy snack.
A Resounding Success
With high attendance and lively engagement, the event was a strong example of how co-creation and local collaboration can drive meaningful change in urban neighbourhoods. Together, residents and city partners are helping to turn Edelstenenbuurt From Grey to Green—making it not just cooler, but more connected, inclusive, and resilient.
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Image: Cool Neighbourhoods Project Leader Tiny
Maenhout supporting a local resident in greening strategies.