The experiment at the square Silleplein in The Hague started the 22th of May and it will last until the end of July. During the first two weeks of July, the households lining on the square and the streets around can vote to choose the future design of the square. They can vote to keep one side of the square car-free as during the experiment or to keep both sides of the square with traffic as it was the situation before the experiment.
The Silleplein will be redesigned. The working group for the squares of Bezuidenhout and the municipality of The Hague have actively involved residents in the process of redevelopment of the street and the public space. At the Silleplein, residents could not agree on the future layout of the square. A heavily discussed issue was the traffic and the way it should be driven in the square in the new situation. Should the traffic ride on both sides of the square as it the existing situation? or only on one side of the square, creating a larger square with space for more green, play and sit? The municipality proposed to do an experiment so that everyone could experience what happens if the square is car-free on one side. We made the plans for the temporary square together with the residents and guided the process. The 22th of May the street was closed and it will reopen again at the end of July. In the meantime, residents can vote about the traffic situation for the final design. They can choose to have cars and bikes driving on both sides of the square or at one side. Activities also take place during the experiment period, such as at the national playing outdoor day, in which we also interviewed residents about their experience with the experiment.
Are you curious about the experiment with the square, just pass by the Sillestraat in The Hague and experience it personally. You can also visit the exhibition about Ontmoeten (encountering) in Pulchri (The Hague) where we explain the process.
