Kerkrade wobbles along

Kerkrade competes in Dutch tile-sweeping championships

Municipality of Kerkrade is participating in the Dutch Tile Twisting Championship! From March 21 to October 31, 2025, we will remove as many tiles as possible from our city and put greenery in their place. This could be flowers, trees or bushes. Will you help us?

Together with twelve other Limburg municipalities, we are taking action under the banner of the Province of Limburg. In this way, we hope to green our environment as much as possible. After all, a green city has many advantages. It provides relaxation, more places to meet, more playgrounds for children and it looks nice. In addition, it is also good for the climate. More greenery ensures that our city heats up less quickly in the summer and that water can be collected more easily during heavy rainfall. 

Join us: exchange your tiles for a plant package of your choice! 

We invite all Kerkrade residents to participate in the tile removal campaign. By removing tiles in your front yard or in front of your home, you are helping to make Kerkrade greener, cooler and cozier.

Taking part is easy: you can register online via the registration form Dutch Tile Twisting Championships 

When you sign up, you choose one of six plant packages that best suits your garden. Each package contributes to a greener city, with more space for plants, insects and animals. Learn more about the different plant packages below. 

Plant Packages

Tile out, plant in. Together we are making Kerkrade greener!

TuinyZOO package for sun and half-sun

This package has been put together in collaboration with IVN and GaiaZOO. It is a versatile package that boosts all the different
plants, animals and small critters that live together in an area ánd looks great in any garden.
This plant package with organic and native plants is ideal for a garden in the sun or semi-sun, so even if
your garden does not get sun all day.

Five garden animals in the spotlight: the hedgehog, dwarf bat, house sparrow, little fox (butterfly) and bee get extra attention with this package. The TuinyZOO package is specially formulated to help these animals with food, hiding places and nesting material. So you make your garden not only greener, but also more animal-friendly.

Choose your favorite animal and receive a matching gift! 

A little garden with the blooming flowers from the Tuiny ZOO package for sun and semi-sun. Embellished with illustrations of the animals attracted to the flowers. It also features the logos of IVN and Gaia ZOO.
This is what your garden can look like with the TuinyZOO package for sun and semi-sun! With each plant there is a letter indicating which species it is.

These plants are in the Tuiny ZOO for sun and semi-sun plant package

  1. Large Dandelion (flowering time July through September)
  2. Large Centaury (blooms July through September)
  3. Common Brunel (blooms May through September)
  4. Rough Sage (flowering time June through August)
  5. Roman Chamomile (flowering time May and June)
  6. Wild Marjoram (blooms July through September)
  7. Blood Storkbek (blooms May through August)
  8. Big Thyme (flowering time June through September)
  9. Daisy (blooms May through September)

TuinyZOO package for shade and half shade

This package was put together in cooperation with IVN and GaiaZOO. It is especially for gardens with shade or semi-shade - that is, for places where there is little or only a few hours of sunshine a day. The package of organic and native plants helps nature in your garden by providing food, hiding places and nesting material for small animals and insects.

This package also helps five special garden animals: hedgehog, dwarf bat, house sparrow, little fox (butterfly) and bee. Thanks to this package, they will find everything they need to live in your garden.

Choose your favorite animal and receive a matching gift!

A little garden with the blooming flowers from the Tuiny ZOO package for shade and semi-shade. Embellished with illustrations of the animals attracted by the flowers. It also features the logos of IVN and Gaia ZOO.
This is what your garden can look like with the TuinyZOO package for shade and semi-shade! With each plant there is a letter indicating which species it is.

These plants are in the TuinyZOO for shade and half shade plant package 

  1. Male fern (flowering time all year)
  2. March Pansy (flowering February through April)
  3. Yellow Deadnettle (flowering April through June)
  4. Acelei (flowering April through June)
  5. Wood anemone (blooms March through May)
  6. Shrub ivy (flowering September through November)
  7. Wild honeysuckle (blooms May through August)
  8. Woodland stonecrop (blooms May through July)
  9. Common Comfrey (blooms May through July)
  10. Creeping Zen green (flowering April through June)
  11. Lady's bedstraw (flowering time April and May)

Colorful package for sun and half-sun

An explosion of color: this package transforms your garden into a four-season paradise full of flowers. The plants in this package bloom in many different colors, from lavender blue and white to bright yellow and purple or pink.

They spread wonderful fragrances, are rich in nectar and attract plenty of bees, butterflies and other insects. There are also plants that are ground cover or provide nesting material for birds. In addition, many of these plants are hardy: they can withstand sun, drought and a beating.

This kit will turn your sunny garden into a happy flower party! 

A little garden with the blooming flowers from the colorful package for sun and semi-sun. Embellished with illustrations of the animals attracted to the flowers.
This is what your garden can look like with the colorful package for sun and semi-sun! With each plant there is a letter indicating which species it is.

These plants are in the Colorful package sun and semi-sun

  1. Sunflower (blooms July through September)
  2. Fire-Sunflower (blooms July through October)
  3. Aster (flowering time August through October)
  4. Stiff Yarrow (flowering June through October)
  5. Fatwort (blooms July through October)
  6. Rough Sage (flowering time June through August)
  7. Climbing rose (flowering June through October)
  8. Catnip (blooms May through September)
  9. Giant garlic (flowering time May and June)
  10. White Daffodil (blooms April and May)
  11. Hyacinth (flowering time March and April)
  12. Ivy (flowering time September through November)
  13. Torch plant (flowering time June through September)
  14. Lavender (flowering time June through August)

Colorful package for shade and half shade

A colorful package for gardens with less sunlight. The plants in this package bloom from spring to fall. It contains white, pink, yellow and purple flowers.

Some species bloom early in the year, others just at the end of summer - so there is always something to do. There are ground-covering plants that nicely fill open spaces. Some plants spread a fine fragrance or are attractive to bees and other insects.

A great choice for anyone who wants to transform shaded areas into a colorful and vibrant garden!

A little garden with the blooming flowers from the colorful package for shade and semi-shade. Embellished with illustrations of the animals attracted to the flowers.
This is what your garden can look like with the colorful package for shade and semi-shade! With each plant there is a letter indicating which species it is.

These plants are in the Colorful package for shade and semi-shade

  1. Stork Bean (flowering time May and June)
  2. Aster (flowering time August through October)
  3. Spring hellebore (flowering February through April)
  4. White daffodil (flowering March and April)
  5. Dog stand (flowering time March and April)
  6. Musk rose (flowering time June through September)
  7. Lozengespirea (flowering June through August)
  8. Fur Yellow Deadnettle (flowering April through June)
  9. Autumn anemone (blooms August through October)
  10. Purple bellflower (flowering time May and June)
  11. Heart lily (blooms July through September)
  12. Woodland vine (flowering time June through October)
  13. Climbing rose (flowering June through October)
  14. Climbing rose (flowering June through October) 

Fragrance plants package

An attractive and fragrant package for gardeners who want their garden to shine. The plants in this pack bloom from spring to fall and bring color and fragrance to your garden. They attract bees, butterflies and other insects with their nectar and flowers. 

This mix contains strong plants with special properties - such as fragrant foliage, flowers that stand out, keep dogs at bay naturally, and stand up well to drought and heat. These flowers are suitable for any garden: shade and sun.

Perfect for those who love a fragrant garden with atmosphere!

A little garden with the blooming flowers from the Geuurplanten package. Embellished with illustrations of the animals attracted to the flowers.
This is what your garden can look like with the scented plant pack! With each plant there is a letter indicating which species it is.

These plants are included in the Fragrance Plants package

  1. Lavender (flowering time June through August)
  2. Common sage (flowering time May and June)
  3. Spurge (flowering April through June)
  4. Catnip (blooms May through September)
  5. Rose (flowering time June through October)
  6. Rose (flowering time June through October)
  7. Stork Bean (flowering time May and June)
     

Heat and Drought Resistant Package

This package is ideal for sunny gardens that face a lot of heat and drought during the summer. The plants are strong and more resistant to dry periods. They bloom from late spring to fall, bringing color and fragrance to the garden.

Think bright yellow, red, purple and orange flowers. Some plants attract bees and butterflies with nectar and fragrance; others offer seed for birds. There are also plants that remain beautiful in winter or stand out because of their unusual shape or leaves. These flowers are suitable for any garden: shade and sun.

A powerful package for anyone who wants to enjoy color and life in the garden, even during extended periods of heat!

A little garden with the blooming flowers from the heat and drought resistant package. Embellished with illustrations of the animals attracted to the flowers.
This is what your garden can look like with the heat and drought resistant package! Each plant has a letter next to it indicating which species it is.

These plants are in the Heat and Drought Resistant package

  1. Fire-Sunflower (blooms July through October)
  2. Sunflower (blooms July through September)
  3. Lavender (flowering time June through August)
  4. Fatwort (flowering time June through August)
  5. Rose (flowering time June through October)
  6. Rose (flowering time June through October)
  7. Fireweed (flowering time June through September)
  8. Climbing rose (flowering June through October)
  9. Torch plant (flowering time June through September)
  10. Wood sage (blooms May through August)
  11. Yarrow (blooms July through October)
  12. Cross thistle (flowering time July and August)
  13. Ivy (flowering time September through November) 

There are a few ground rules. You have to maintain the garden yourself. But don't worry, we put the agreements on paper together so that everything is clear. That way, we can make Kerkrade a little more beautiful and sustainable together.

This is how you participate

  1. Rock one or more tiles out of your front yard or in front of your residential facade
  2. Register online via our registration form Dutch Tile Twisting Championships
  3. View the plant packages and choose the (TuinyZOO) plant package that suits you and your garden
  4. Have your tiles picked up by the Tile Taxi at a set time.
  5. Enjoy more greenery, color and life in your garden or street!

Collaboration with IVN and GaiaZOO

In cooperation with IVN nature education and GaiaZOO zoo, you can choose from two special TuinyZOO plant packages this year. These packages of organic, native plants help five garden animals that live in Kerkrade: hedgehog, dwarf bat, bee, house sparrow and little fox (butterfly) and provide a little more vegetation. As a bonus, you will receive a gift matching your garden animal, fun and educational! For more information about TuinyZOO visit the website of Gaia Zoo.

The Tile Taxi

Have your old tiles picked up by the Tile Taxi. This is a free pick-up service at set times. You can offer up to 5 m³ of tiles from the front yard or in front of your home facade per home. We will immediately make sure your front garden looks neat and tidy by laying an edging around the new greenery.

Sustainable, easy and good for your neighborhood.

The planting days are September 13 and 27 and October 4 and 11, 2025. On these days, the Tile Taxi will come to pick up the tiles. 

What does the congregation do?

The municipality is also doing its part in the Dutch Tile Turning Championship. We are replacing as many tiles as possible with greenery in our projects in the city. Think for example of the planting of trees and (facade) vegetation in the city center and at the Rodaboulevard this year. When renewing streets and squares, we also focus on greenery. A good example of this is the redevelopment of the Old Hickeryplein. 

In cooperation with housing corporations HEEMwonen and Wonen Zuid, we also encourage residents of rental properties to green their front gardens or façade gardens. Together, we are creating a greener Kerkrade!

More information?

Want to know more? Then take a look at the national website Nederlands Kampioenschap Tegelwippen