Heerlen takes big step toward new housing policy

The Heerlen City Council unanimously approved the introduction of the Special Measures Metropolitan Problems Act (Wbmgp) during the council meeting on September 24. With this decision, an official application is submitted to the State
The Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) will decide within eight weeks of submission. With a positive decision, we expect to officially start implementing the new housing policy and its instruments from January 1, 2026.

Casper Gelderblom:
"We are very pleased that the Heerlen City Council unanimously supports this proposal. With the three housing pillars and the related Wbmgp, we can break the concentration of poverty in the most vulnerable neighborhoods and focus on retaining our working and studying residents. Together with all our partners we have achieved this, and after the beautiful result of the unanimous council decision, we will send the application to the State. In this way, we are energetically working on strong and stable neighborhoods and building, literally and figuratively, a growing, resilient city." 

The City Council gave several options to "rename" the official name of the Wbmgp to an appropriate name for our city and region. The official name of a law is determined by the state, but that does not stop us from putting a recognizable spin on it locally. In the spirit of our regional cooperation and with a nod to its content and purpose, we have already heard a new nickname buzzed about: the Park City Law. And frankly - that name doesn't feel out of place at all. Because it is precisely in Parkstad that we are putting our shoulders to the wheel together to build strong and stable neighborhoods, resilient communities and a future full of opportunities for all.''

The new housing policy rests on three powerful Heerlen housing pillars:

  • Invest in housing and facilities that strengthen communities.
  • Nurture residents who leave the city too often or have difficulty entering due to a lack of suitable housing.
  • Regulate the influx of poverty from outside the Park City region.