Approach to Hoensbroek Main Street and surrounding area

The municipality is working with residents and partners to improve the quality of life and safety in Hoofdstraat and the surrounding area. Special attention is being paid to Hoofdstraat-West. Partners include Woonpunt, the police, Buurtteams , and the National Program Heerlen North. Through this integrated collaboration, we want to make Hoofdstraat-West a pleasant residential street again. 

We keep track of the latest developments every month in the logbook.

Residents' consultation and Together in the Neighborhood Room

Since April 2024, there has been a residents' consultation group that meets several times a year. Sometimes with residents and the municipality, often also with partners such as Woonpunt, the police, and Buurtteams . Through this consultation, residents and the municipality remain in dialogue about issues relating to quality of life and safety. Residents can share their concerns and together we look for appropriate solutions and an effective approach.

We have opened a Samen in de Buurtkamer (Neighborhood Room) at Hoofdstraat 110. People can come here with questions, ideas, and comments. The police, enforcement officers, and Woonpunt are also regularly present to answer questions. You can just walk in, but you can also Make an appointment. For opening hours, please visit theSamen in de Buurt Kamer website.

Promotions

Since April 2024, we have been carrying out the following actions: 

  1. Increased supervision and measures to tackle drug-related nuisance

    The increased prioritization by the police and enforcement agencies has resulted in: 

    • penalty payments for dealers
    • locks on a house
    • inspection of rental properties
    • inspections at 46 companies and garage boxes
    • CCTV
    • alcohol ban
    • closure of the underpass of the complex 147 to 171k of Woonpunt
    • launch resident forces with Woonpunt

  2. No MetGGZ and less sheltered housing

    MetGGZ has not been granted a license for a new facility. The door is also closed for new sheltered housing facilities. We are taking another look at existing facilities by: 

    • Permit requirement for group housing for vulnerable groups.
    • Ongoing consultation with Op Mezelf and Aristacura about livability and signals.
    • research into possibilities for reducing sheltered housing.

  3. Reducing vulnerable groups

    There are now too many vulnerable households living in the neighborhood. This makes the neighborhood less stable and puts pressure on quality of life and amenities. As a first step, Woonpunt amended its allocation policy on May 1, 2025. The municipality also wants to be able to better regulate the influx of new residents by Requirements a number Requirements , such as income from work, no benefits, and no history of nuisance behavior. To this end, we are implementing the so-called Special Measures Act for Metropolitan Problems. Read more about this in the news item. The minister still has to approve the act. The municipality will then start implementation on January 1, 2026. We are also tightening the rules on renting out homes in order to gain more control over housing. These regulations can be found on the renting and letting page. The tightened rules are: 

    • purchase protection: homes with a WOZ value of €300,000 or less may not be rented out within four years of purchase.
    • prohibition of housing division and no new room rentals.
    • Landlord license: always required for renting to migrant workers in Hoofdstraat and the surrounding area in order to combat unreliable rental practices.
    • Introduction of the Special Measures for Metropolitan Issues Act (after approval by the minister) from January 1, 2026: to stop the influx of socioeconomically vulnerable residents from other cities.

  4. Towards a pleasant residential street

    We want a pleasant and attractive residential street. That is why we are going to tackle the vacancy rate and make the street more appealing again.

    • The Stratenaanpak Parkstad Limburg project is underway in Hoofdstraat-West. This project gives streets with vacant buildings intended for retail, hospitality, office, or commercial use a new future. We want to improve the quality of life in these areas by working with property owners to find suitable new functions. Our transformation coach will discuss this with owners and explore the possibilities together using an integrated approach. We are also making a subsidy scheme available to help increase the financial feasibility of such changes of use.
    • Hoofdstraat 396 has been purchased by Woonpunt: they are now preparing for demolition and new construction.
    • The application of the vacancy ordinance to homes from the beginning of 2026.
    • Greening of Hoofdstraat in collaboration between the municipality, Woonpunt, and residents.
    • Mural project on Harmoniestraat by Woonpunt.
    • Identifying and further developing opportunities and qualities in the street.

See the logbook for a complete overview of the actions. 

Any thoughts, questions, or comments? 

Let us know. The residents' evenings are valuable; we are focusing on the future. Not everything can be arranged quickly, but every step counts.