Kasteeltuin Zevenbergen (NL) – high-quality and climate-resilient

Name: Vandersanden
Address: 16 Stocks Bridge Way, Compass Point Business Park, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5JL, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1954268075

As part of the redevelopment of Zevenbergen’s historic centre, a new car park was created in the former castle gardens. The result is a beautiful green space with a high-quality appearance. Drainflow® water-permeable clay paving meant that no gutters or gullies were needed. All rainwater is retained locally.

Read more about Drainflow®

The centre of the West-Brabant town of Zevenbergen has undergone a radical transformation. The port, which was filled in during the 1970s, has been restored to its former glory. The canal houses along the wide street reflect the area’s historic character. Small pleasure boats can now once again moor in the centre of the town. The market square has also been restored to its original function.

This redevelopment removed 200 parking spaces from the town centre, but fortunately a new car park in the Kasteeltuin gardens opened nearby, right next to the historic core of the town. This was the first stage of Zevenbergen’s wider centre redevelopment plan.

The name Kasteeltuin, or castle gardens, gives away its historical significance – this is a site with a rich past. This was once the domain of the lords of Zevenbergen, a time now long gone. Until a few years ago, the site was home to a primary school and some unused land. Despite its location close to the historic centre of Zevenbergen, the area had become somewhat neglected.

But that has now changed. “It needed to be more than just a car park; it needed to be somewhere people actually wanted to spend time,” explains Voermans. The site now includes a serviced apartment building. Elderly residents can look out over the area and enjoy a walk through the gardens. To finance the project, the municipality of Moerdijk sold five plots directly adjacent to the site, which have been developed into apartments.

To create a car park where people actually want to spend time, the designers incorporated plenty of green space into the project. Sycamores that were removed to make way for the restored port were relocated to the site. “The fully mature trees immediately gave the site a new look,” says Voermans. To emphasise the history of Kasteeltuin, many references to the past have been incorporated. The undisputed eye-catcher is a steel replica of the former castle gate (Lobbekestoren): a steel plate with the silhouette of the gate cut into it. The same design is reflected in the paving. Voermans is extremely proud: “It’s real craftsmanship. Essentially, it’s one large puzzle.” The edging around the gate features a historical text, and benches have been placed alongside it.

The redesign of Kasteeltuin is all about quality, and the paving is no exception. The edging features a high-quality dark anthracite finish. The access paths between the adjacent back gardens and the site are made from 50 x 50 grass concrete slabs with a cobblestone appearance. “Not the cheapest material,” explains Voermans. “But that was never the intention. We wanted to achieve exactly the right look. The Drainflow® pavers allowed us to create a site without gutters and gullies,” explains Voermans. “This gives the paving a truly sleek appearance.”

Between the Drainflow® pavers are water-permeable felts: the Drainvast® drainage joint. These carpet-like felts are made from recycled materials and allow rainwater to pass through into the ground below. Unlike traditional joint fillers, the felts never become clogged. This special paving solution requires a high level of craftsmanship. The felts were installed individually by people who had experienced difficulties finding work in the labour market. “This allowed us to add a community element to the project,” explains Voermans.

Sustainability is central to Kasteeltuin. The five thousand square metres of fired clay pavers are water-permeable. Rainwater passes through the pavers via the felts and infiltrates into the ground. Below ground, the water is stored in three separate compartments filled with moraine gravel, beneath which there is a coarse layer of mixed aggregate. During heavy rainfall, excess water is retained by a valve before being released into a wadi next to the town hall.

“We are right on the edge of clay soil here, but that allows us to remove the water without pumping or draining. We store everything locally,” explains Voermans. The new LED lighting also contributes to the sustainable character of the site. At night, the lighting is dimmed to save energy and reduce light pollution. Charging points for electric vehicles support sustainable transport. Parking remains free of charge, as it was previously.

The Kasteeltuin site is now complete, with the remainder of the town centre redevelopment following afterwards. Water has been flowing through the canal again since 1 January 2019. The surrounding streets were completed the following autumn, bringing the centre redevelopment plan to completion. Thanks to this thorough transformation, Zevenbergen has been given a new lease of life while preserving its historic character.