Scraps of Greenery

The Municipality of Voorschoten is launching the 'Residual Green' project. Residual green spaces are small strips of public greenery directly adjacent to a garden or home. Through this project, the municipality aims to provide clarity regarding the use and ownership of municipal land and to achieve a situation where all residents pay the same amount per square metre. Residents who wish to make use of residual green spaces can purchase this land, or in some cases rent it, provided the land meets the established guidelines.

Use and rules for residual green spaces

Over the years, some residents have incorporated residual green spaces into their own gardens. This often happens unconsciously; the land had already been annexed into the garden at the time the property was purchased, or the property boundary shifted imperceptibly during garden maintenance. In addition, some residents entered into a usage agreement with the municipality in the past, paying a symbolic fee for the use of the land. Due to new legislation, the municipality is no longer permitted to provide land for use below cost price. Furthermore, it is undesirable for one resident to pay for municipal land while another pays little or nothing. With this project, the municipality aims to clarify the use and ownership of municipal land and standardise the rules for all residents.

How does it work?

If you make use of residual green spaces without owning this land, you will be personally informed about this project. You will receive a letter from the municipality requesting you to indicate whether you are interested in purchasing or renting the piece of land in use. Once you have indicated your interest, an internal assessment will be conducted to determine whether the land is eligible for sale, based on assessment criteria. These include future plans and developments, as well as the presence of cables and pipelines. If purchasing or renting the land is not possible or desirable, the municipality will request you to clear the land.

District-oriented approach

The 'Residual Green' project will be implemented per district. The municipality is currently busy preparing for this project. The exact start date and schedule are not yet known. Further information will be available on this page in due course. Naturally, those directly involved will be informed personally.

Who can purchase residual green spaces?

The municipality operates on the “yes, provided that” principle. This means that all homeowners can purchase small green spaces, provided that the land meets the rules established for this purpose and Requirements. These are included in the Land Policy Memorandum 217-20201 (which will still be in effect in 2024).