English
Utrecht’s Leidsche Rijn
The landscape is changing on Utrecht’s western perimeter. Construction companies, residents and the Municipality are all giving shape to a new and as yet uncompleted city district; they are at work on Utrecht’s Leidsche Rijn – the largest housing and industrial development in the Netherlands.
Living in Leidsche Rijn
30.000 houses will have been built in this new district of Utrecht by 2025, when the region will house some 80.000 residents. Most of the Langerak, Parkwijk and Veldhuizen neighbourhoods are already occupied, and the De Wetering and Papendorp business estate are in full operation. The development of Leidsche Rijn is not based on a previously-designed plan; instead the district is being designed and constructed neighbourhood by neighbourhood, an approach which enables the urban planners and architects to accommodate new developments.
The large scale of Leidsche Rijn offers them special opportunities – opportunities rendered visible in the great diversity in the architecture and the types of housing. Consequently each neighbourhood within the district possesses an individual identity, and its own particular ambience. Moreover Leidsche Rijn has a particularly rich history, and the archaeological remains from its past are carefully incorporated in the development of this district.
Office accommodation
The central location of Leidsche Rijn is also attractive to businesses. Some 700,000 m2 of office accommodation will be provided in four new business estates, and about 40,000 people will ultimately find employment in the region.
A lively centre
It will still take a while, but in a few years’ time, Leidsche Rijn, will have a proper centre. This new centre is, of course, primarily for the residents of Leidsche Rijn. However, it will have so much to offer that it will attract visitors from all over Utrecht and its environs. Read more about Leidsche Rijn Centre>>
Infrastructure
The construction of Leidsche Rijn also involves the construction of an infrastructure. The plans provide for the relocation and partial covering of the A2 motorway. Three new bridges to be constructed over the Amsterdam-Rijn canal will link Leidsche Rijn to Utrecht’s city centre. Additional access will be provided by two new railway stations, the future Randstadspoor railway line servicing the Randstad conurbation, new cycle-tracks, and a high-speed bus service.
The ultimate network will not be completed for some years to come; however accessibility is one of the Municipality’s spearheads, and consequently the local authorities are making a great deal of effort to provide for these facilities.
Environment
Leidsche Rijn is being built in accordance with the principles of sustainable construction, and large investments have been made in environmental protection and energy management – such as a rainwater collection system.
The low-energy street lighting and the low-energy demand of the houses will result in savings for both the Municipality and the residents. Moreover large areas of Leidsche Rijn are connected to the city’s district heating system, thereby achieving a reduction in the demand for expensive fuels and a decrease in the level of emissions of carbon dioxide.
Public parks
A great deal of attention is devoted to nature and public parks and gardens in the district. The neighbourhoods’ designs will incorporate a large amount of vegetation.
The Leidsche Rijn Park, a park with an area of no less than 300 hectares planned for the centre of the district, will be one of the Netherlands’ largest city parks. The larger and smaller parks and gardens are linked to each other by connecting zones; this will enable plants and animals to spread throughout the entire district.
More information?
When you are interested in receiving more information, you can visit our information centre. The information centre has a model of the entire area under development. The centre can provide you with comprehensive information about all the plans and their current status, the housing on offer, the facilities, opportunities available for business accommodation, and the infrastructural projects. Tours around the district can also be arranged by appointment.
Leidsche Rijn Information Centre
Verlengde Vleutenseweg 32,
3541 BG Utrecht, the Netherlands
Tel. no. +31 (0)30 286 3850
Opening hours
Monday 13.00 – 17.00 uur
Tuesday-Friday 09.00 – 17.00 uur
Saturday 10.00 – 14.00 uur
Opening hours from 1 July untill 31 August:
Monday closed
Tuesday-Friday 09.00 – 13.00 uur
Saterday 10.00 – 14.00 uur
