Kerkrade wins the Battle for Limburg and takes second place in the Netherlands at the National Tile-Flipping Championship

Kerkrade put in a fantastic performance at the 2026 Dutch Tile-Flipping Championship. Our municipality finished in second place in the small municipalities category. We are in first place in the “Battle for Limburg.” 

In total, we’ve removed 115,237 tiles in Kerkrade this year, which works out to about 2.5 tiles per resident! All of these tiles have been and are being replaced with plants, shrubs, and trees.

During the National Tile-Flipping Championship, municipalities compete against each other to replace as many tiles as possible with greenery. This nationwide competition aims to raise awareness of the importance of climate adaptation. Reducing paved surfaces helps to better absorb rainwater, reduce heat stress, and enhance biodiversity.

A major contributor to the number of tiles removed was the TuinyZOO project, a collaboration with GaiaZOO and IVN Nature Education. During this project, residents were inspired and guided to green their living environments and transform them into places where plants, animals, and people feel at home. The project demonstrated that every front yard or facade garden, large or small, can contribute to a greener, climate-resilient municipality. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the participants, TuinyZOO made a valuable contribution to Kerkrade’s success at the National Tile-Flipping Championship.

Alderman Nicole Heijltjes (Sustainability): “Every tile that’s removed creates more space for greenery. That means better rainwater absorption and less heat on hot days. I’m proud that so many residents have worked toward this, and I look forward to continuing this effort together.”

Alderman Alexander Geers (Public Space): “We achieved this second-place finish together. It’s wonderful to see that so many residents and organizations have worked to make Kerkrade greener. In doing so, we’re not only making our city more beautiful, but also more pleasant and better prepared for the future.”

Although finishing in second place nationwide is a tremendous achievement, Kerkrade remains committed to bringing more green spaces to its neighborhoods in the coming years. 

Would you like to do your part to make Kerkrade greener in 2027? Keep an eye on our social media channels, where we’ll announce when registration for the National Tile-Flipping Championship opens again. Residents are also encouraged to continue greening their gardens and surroundings even outside of the National Tile-Flipping Championship.

For more information about the municipality of Kerkrade's participation in the Dutch Tile-Flipping Championship, visit www.kerkrade.nl/kerkrade-wipt-mee