Transforming cities by keeping ‘cool’ and ‘green’ together: the Dutch example of Groningen

Brussels – From hot and covered in concrete, surrounded by buildings and crisscrossed by heavy traffic, to the coolest square in town: that’s the goal of the Life Cool Square project in Groningen, the Netherlands, which aims to transform Damsterplein Square by holding together the creation of a green, livable environment with the need to adapt to climate change.

Damsterplein is on the roof of an underground parking lot in a central area of Groningen. In studying the effects of climate change, the municipality noted that the square is subject to high temperatures and at risk of flooding after heavy rainfall. In addition, its specific location further exacerbates the adverse climatic effects, making the place unattractive, unsafe, and busy with traffic. Central to the change is the Life Cool Square project – with an EU contribution of 1,031.596 euros – which will transform Damsterplein “into a climate-adaptive, resilient, flexible and multifunctional urban location.” The project team will pursue activities “to give the location and municipality of Groningen a ‘sponge city’ effect to prevent extreme drought and flooding,” explained the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency.

A ‘sponge city’ uses nature-based solutions such as absorbing and storing rainwater to mitigate the effects of climate change. “Life Cool Square will capture, store, and recycle rainwater by constructing ‘bioswales’ – landscaped channels designed to collect and filter rainwater. By replacing concrete surfaces with green areas and drought-resistant plants and trees, Damsterplein will be more likely to absorb excess rainfall and store water for use during dry weather. The plants and trees will also provide shade for the surrounding environment, which will help to reduce the effects of urban heat islands and improve the health of those living nearby,” the agency described.

Work is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2026, with the project yielding several results. The first is the contribution to the “sponge city” concept through the removal of at least 6 thousand m2 of paving, the disconnection of 2,700 m2 of roof surface from the sewer system, the separation of at least 643 m3 of water from the sewer system for practical reuse, and the planting indigenous urban greenery to absorb water and enhance biodiversity. Then, the fight against heat islands, installing at least 1,800 m2 of vegetation and 50 trees (450 m2 of tree crown surface), aiming to lower the physiologically equivalent average temperature (PET) by 4°C to 5°C during warm days, when greenery is fully mature, and reducing the asphalt temperature on hot days by 10°C. Finally, generating stakeholder and citizen awareness and involvement, a 50% increase in resident use of Damsterplein Square, and a 15% reduction in traffic speed while also cutting emissions of air pollutants (NOx, PM) and noise.

Residents will play an important role in the project and are being encouraged to participate, for example, by creating and maintaining gardens and green islands on the square. “The residents came up with this idea themselves. They asked if they could adopt green spaces and take care of them,” said project manager Hedwig de Boer. In addition, residents shared their ideas for making Damsterplein a cozy and pleasant neighborhood space with its special identity, such as installing more seating areas, more greenery, and areas for small events and activities. “Students from Hanze University Groningen are monitoring Life Cool Square to compare the current space with how it is used once the project is completed – providing valuable information about the effects of urban redesign for other projects in similar circumstances,” the agency specified.