The artistic, cobbled Dutch town of Breda has officially been designated as the first National Park City within the European Union.
Designated by the National Park City Foundation in May, Breda has become part of a select group including London, Adelaide, and Chattanooga as one of four cities leading an international effort to transform urban landscapes into greener, healthier spaces with stronger connections to nature.
This new recognition acknowledges over ten years of effort put into restoring wetlands, making street environments greener, and involving residents in these initiatives.
This indicates a change in how urban areas throughout Europe reassess their connection with nature.
What exactly is a National Park City?
The National Park City initiative was introduced in the UK in 2019 with the aim of fostering a nature-connected, environmentally equitable environment. urban living .
Cities do not have to adhere to conventional national park standards. Rather, they should demonstrate an overarching dedication to environmental sustainability across the entire urban area. biodiversity as well as public availability of green spaces.
Breda's application drew the eye of the evaluators thanks to its robust environmental stewardship, as well as active community involvement. urban planning that puts nature at its center.
"I was completely captivated by my exploration of Breda and discovering all the initiatives aimed at making their city more verdant, wholesome, and biodiverse—from revitalizing a river running through the urban center to implementing creative community-led food production programs, small-scale school-managed forests, wildlife-friendly green spaces, and public artwork," explains Daniel Raven-Ellison, who founded the National Park City Foundation.
I am confident that individuals from various age groups and walks of life in Breda will find inspiration in transforming into a National Park City and will seek ways to contribute to its development and narrative.
Breda has become the fourth city to achieve National Park City status, alongside London , Adelaide, and most recently Chattanooga. Another nine cities are also currently working toward this goal as well.
How did Breda get the nickname she has today?
Breda has long prioritised nature-based solutions , ranging from converting quaysides into rich urban green spaces to substituting concrete tiles featuring lawns, floral areas, and trees.
Currently, 60 percent of Breda consists of green space from ancient woodlands such as the Mastbos – which is among the oldest in the Netherlands — to nature reserves, parks, and waterways. By 2030, local leaders aspire to make it one of the most biodiverse cities in Europe.
However, this status also indicates their approval from the residents.
The city has become a leader in green design, using nature-based solutions to improve liveability and manage climate risks. And residents have been active participants in that process, often greening their own streets, installing rooftop gardens and developing green schoolyards, according to Breda Stad in een Park, a grassroots movement that helped to lead the city’s efforts to become a National Park City.
“This title is a recognition for the many residents, entrepreneurs and organisations who are committed to greening Breda and an inspiration to continue doing so,” says Joost Barendrecht, chairman of Breda Stad in een Park.
“It’s an incentive to make more [people] enthusiastic about getting started with greenery. It doesn’t always have to be big. A [simple] garden is a nice contribution.”
Why this is significant for Europe’s urban areas
Throughout the European Union, cities are progressively moving in the same direction as Breda.
From car-free zones in Paris to flood-proofing efforts in Copenhagen Local leaders are addressing climate change and decreasing biodiversity through programs designed to transform urban areas into greener, more habitable spaces prepared for the future.
For instance, having access to green spaces considerably decreases heat-related health risks — a benefit that Breda now embodies and others do not European cities might seek to emulate.
"London and Breda stand as the initial National Park Cities in Europe, yet numerous places aspire and require becoming more verdant, healthier, wilder, cooler, and fairer," states Raven-Ellison.
National Park Cities are leading the path, building robust connections and sharing positivity, concepts, information, and vitality.