Environmental Vision

What will Kerkrade look like in 2050? 

Kerkrade is working on the environment vision, a future vision of the municipality that provides a look ahead to 2050. Kerkrade municipality considers it important to do this together with residents, entrepreneurs and organizations. We want to involve everyone as much as possible in the development of the town.

The bridge over the Hamweg and the Outerring. In the foreground a footpath, in the background fields and windmills.

What is an environmental vision?

The environmental vision describes the future of our municipality. What should the municipality look like in 2050? All municipal policies on the living environment are included in it. It covers various topics such as housing, traffic, nature, water, construction and economy. The quality of life, safety and health in the city are also important.

The environmental vision replaces the current Kerkrade Structural Vision adopted in 2011. The omgevingswet requires municipalities to develop an environmental vision.

When will the environmental vision be completed?

The environmental vision will be completed in the second half of 2025. At the end of 2025, the vision will be presented to the City Council for adoption.

Contact

Do you have questions, ideas or want to say something about Kerkrade's environmental vision? If so, please contact us at omgevingswet

Working together on the environmental vision

We think it is important that our residents, entrepreneurs and partners think and participate in the environmental vision. We would like to hear what you are proud of. What you find important and what you would like to see different. During the creation of the environmental vision, we will invite residents, entrepreneurs and partners to do so. This will happen in different ways.

  1. Completed: area safari in the city

    During the area safari, street conversations were held in all three neighborhoods (North, East and West). The street conversations took place in the spring of 2023.

  2. Completed: Postcard and online questionnaire

    All residents of the city received a postcard from the municipality. With it, we invited everyone to share wishes, ideas and images of the future with us through the digital platform Municipality Tracker. 

  3. Completed: future dive

    Under the guidance of a number of experts, meetings were organized on the future of the city. In these meetings, we talked to different target groups (e.g., housing associations, welfare organizations, young people, seniors) about the choices and issues of the future.

  4. Completed: exhibition of futures

    With the results from the questionnaire, the area safari and the future dive, the future images of Kerkrade were drawn up. These future images were presented through a public exhibition in town during the Festival 't Kirchroa va Morje.

  5. Completed: scope and detail memorandum.

    At the same time, the mer procedure for the environmental vision is underway. An environmental impact report is being prepared for this. This report examines all kinds of effects on the environment in our municipality. In this way we discover what effects certain choices have on the residential and living environment and on the environment. This helps to determine which choices we must make for the future. A Scope and Detail Memorandum is the first step. This explains what will be studied in the environmental impact assessment. You can read the reactions of stakeholders to this memorandum in the Memorandum of Views and Opinions.

  6. Currently in progress: draft environmental vision

    Many residents and chain partners contributed ideas and input on the environmental vision. We received many ideas and suggestions through an online poll, various city conversations, area safaris in the three neighborhoods and the future dive with chain partners. With this information, we set to work. The result is the draft environmental vision: the elaboration of future plans for Kerkrade. 

    Viewing the draft environmental vision

    All Kerkrade residents may express their opinions on the draft environmental vision.

    You can read the document from Friday, June 6, 2025 through Thursday, July 17, 2025. You can do so digitally or at the City Office.

    You can find a digital version of the environmental vision on the Environment Desk:

    A paper version of the environmental vision is at the information center on the first floor of the City Office, Markt 33, 6461 EC. You can make a Make an appointment an appointment via 14 045 to come see the document. 

    Responding to the draft environmental vision

    Would you like to respond to the draft environmental vision? You can do so by submitting an opinion. An opinion is a formal reaction that a resident or organization can submit to a decision or plan of the municipality. This can be done in different ways: 

    • Via email to gemeentehuis@kerkrade.nl, with the subject line "Draft Kerkrade 2050 Environmental Vision.
    • By letter to the City Council, postbus 600, 6460 AP Kerkrade;
    • For an oral view, please Make an appointment at 14 045

    You can respond until July 17, 2025.

  7. Still to do: Final environmental vision

    The municipality will weigh all received views in the decision-making process. These views will be published in a memorandum of reply, which will also show whether or not your views have led to an adjustment of the draft environmental vision. You cannot object to or appeal against an environmental vision. The definitive environmental vision will be presented to the city council for adoption in the fourth quarter of 2025.