The Hague Invests €7 Million in Revitalizing Shopping Streets

The municipality of The Hague is investing €7 million in the shopping streets of the Schilderswijk and Transvaal areas. According to Alderman Nur Icar (Denk), the area has the potential to become a “third central district” of the city, alongside the city center and Scheveningen.

Nearly 50,000 residents live in the Schilderswijk and Transvaal, with an average income per resident about 40% below both the national and The Hague average. Fifteen percent of households in these neighborhoods receive unemployment or welfare benefits, nearly twice the citywide rate.

The city conducts surveys every four years to assess the functioning of its shopping streets, and those in Transvaal and Schilderswijk have consistently ranked low, as noted by Omroep West. Concerns include accessibility, parking availability, and a decline in retail offerings, with poorly organized businesses.

However, Alderman Icar, whose portfolio includes small and medium-sized enterprises, sees significant potential due to the dynamic and diverse nature of the neighborhoods. He highlights the Hague Market, Europe’s largest open-air market, as a melting pot of global products.

The €7 million investment will be used for storefront renovations, increased greenery, and improved pedestrian routes between the Hague Market and the shopping streets. Icar anticipates these improvements will attract more visitors from outside the neighborhoods and even the city.

Source: NOS

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