Frequently Asked Questions About the Krimwijk Neighborhood

The Dutch government has decided to phase out the use of natural gas for heating buildings (such as homes) by 2050. This measure will help our country combat global warming and reduce_CO2 emissions. For this reason, Voorschoten is also working toward becoming a natural gas-free town, where we will cook and heat our homes using sustainable energy and heat sources.

If you’re a renter, it depends on your landlord’s plans. If you’re a homeowner, you can decide for yourself. There will come a time when natural gas is no longer supplied in your neighborhood. But that’s still a long way off. However, if you’d like to, you can switch to a heat pump, for example, provided your home is sufficiently insulated.

In 2021, the municipality developed a plan called the “Heat Transition Vision.” This plan examined which neighborhoods offered opportunities to get started. Based on this analysis, Bijdorp, Vlietwijk, and Krimwijk emerged as promising neighborhoods to begin with. The decision was made to start with Krimwijk because many homes there are already well-insulated and could therefore make the transition relatively quickly. Additionally, a resident-led initiative is already active in the older part of the neighborhood and has made significant progress.  

After finalizing the neighborhood implementation plan for the Krimwijk, we will move on to Vlietwijk and Bijdorp. It is not yet known when, or in what order, the other neighborhoods will be addressed.

Krimwijk was built primarily in two construction phases. The northwestern part (between Leidseweg and Krimkade) consists of older homes built around the time of the war. On the other side is a new development with homes built after 2005, which are therefore very well insulated. This makes the newer part of Krimwijk very well-suited for heating with an electric heat pump. In the older part, a district heating network could be considered, but a residents’ initiative is already working on individual solutions there.

We don’t know that yet. Together with residents, housing agencies, and all other partners, we’ll explore the best course of action. To that end, we’ll be engaging in dialogue with as many residents, business owners, and organizations as possible in 2023.

We believe it is important that everyone who wishes to do so has the opportunity to contribute ideas to the neighborhood implementation plan. That is why we have sent every resident of the Krimwijk a questionnaire that includes, among other things, a question about how you would like to contribute your ideas or participate in the discussion. This input will be used to determine what the process for developing the neighborhood implementation plan will look like.

Electric cooking is a good alternative to cooking with gas. The most common types of electric cooking are induction cooking, ceramic cooking, and the (old-fashioned) electric stovetop. Induction cooking is the most energy-efficient:

• The induction cooktop is the most energy-efficient: it uses 175 kWh per year.
• A ceramic cooktop uses 30 percent more energy: about 225 kWh per year.
• An "old-fashioned" electric cooktop with a coil as its heat source uses the most energy: about 260 kWh per year.

The type and brand of cooktop determine what kind of electrical connection you need. For smaller, basic cooktops, a single-phase connection may be sufficient. However, for a modern induction cooktop, you’ll likely need a three-phase connection. In that case, a high-current outlet must be installed in the kitchen to accommodate the cooktop’s five-pin plug. 

If you rent a home, it’s harder to make it more sustainable on your own. For example, you can’t just install insulation or solar panels on your own, but you can discuss this (and similar matters) with your landlord. It’s often possible to submit a request to your landlord to switch to electric cooking. Please contact your landlord to discuss this.

In addition, you can take small, easy-to-implement energy-saving steps on your own, such as installing radiator wrap, LED lighting, or a water-saving showerhead. For more information, visit the Step-by-Step Guide | Sustainable Construction Help Desk at .

For tenants, maintenance, sustainability improvements, and the transition to natural gas-free living will be carried out by the landlord. As a tenant, you do not need to take any action yourself. The housing authority or commercial/private landlord will discuss with tenants how to make the homes natural gas-free and explore alternatives for heating the home. In many cases, making the homes natural gas-free will coincide with a renovation or maintenance project. Once there are concrete plans to make a complex or neighborhood natural gas-free, the landlord will contact you. Of course, you can also contact your landlord directly if you want to know when your home (or complex) is scheduled for this transition.

If you live in a rental home, your landlord is responsible for making your home natural gas-free. The landlord will therefore cover the cost of the transition.

Housing associations must obtain the approval of at least 70 percent of tenants before they can renovate housing complexes. This also applies to making your home natural gas-free, as this is often combined with a renovation. If more than 70 percent of tenants approve the plan and you are among the 30 percent who oppose it, the housing association may still proceed with its plans in your home.

If commercial or private landlords decide to make your home natural gas-free, you are required to comply.

Krimwijk (new): Since the buildings are already (very) well insulated, an electric heat pump is a suitable solution. If your boiler needs to be replaced, you can switch to an electric heat pump. Be sure to use a low-temperature heating system, such as radiant floor heating or low-temperature radiators.

Krimwijk (old): Regardless of the heating solution you ultimately choose, insulating your home is always a good idea. The national government has established a standard for home insulation. This standard specifies when a home is sufficiently insulated to become natural gas-free. This standard is future-proof in the sense that if a home meets the standard, it will not need to be insulated again later, and major modifications to the radiators when switching to alternatives to natural gas will be avoided as much as possible. The standard also provides insight into the level of ventilation still required in the home. This allows homeowners and landlords to prepare their properties for the future, when natural gas-free heating will be the norm in the built environment. For insulation advice, please contact Duurzaam Bouwloket or De Groene Grachten for historic buildings.

In addition, there are other ways to make your home more sustainable, which apply to all homes in Voorschoten:

• You can switch to electric cooking;
• If you want to generate your own renewable energy, you can have solar panels or a solar water heater installed;
• You can take small steps to save energy, such as installing radiator wrap, LED lighting, and a water-saving showerhead.

This depends on your living situation, what you use gas for, and the measures you choose to take. If a major renovation is needed, it will likely require a greater investment. However, these investments are often offset by savings—such as those achieved by insulating your home. Proper insulation can help you save energy and, consequently, reduce costs. In addition, there are ways to generate your own energy, such as by installing solar panels.

The homeowner is responsible for covering the costs of switching to a sustainable option. If you are a tenant and want to switch, you must do so in consultation with your landlord. We understand that the changes to the home have financial implications, which is why we are in constant consultation with the national government regarding financial arrangements and subsidies.

We can’t answer that. The energy market has been so volatile lately that we simply don’t know. The affordability of energy bills and the energy transition play an important role in the Climate Agreement. A good thing to do is to generate your own electricity using solar panels.

There are various energy loans available. You can finance your investment in several ways. For example, through the National Heat Fund, a construction savings account, a Sustainable Monuments Loan, or a green loan from a bank.