1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Utrecht
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Vergroening Stadsbuitengracht
Short description of the intervention
The historical canal that was disconnected by a road in the 1970s is currently being restored by the municipality, creating a lively atmosphere allowing for water recreation, a boulevard and green spaces (ref. 1). A small element of this restoration is the addition of green elements by a citizen group, which entails improving ecological, aesthetic and historical quality of the canal by implementing eco-friendly riverbanks, green connecting zones and floating vegetation islands (ref. 3,9,11,12).
Address

Tolsteegsingel
1
Utrecht
Netherlands

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
The city outer canal between Bemuurde Weerd and Paardenveld (ref. 1)
Website of the intervention
http://www.singel030.nl
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2013
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2016
End date of the intervention
2019
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
The main goals were improving water quality, improving aesthetic and cultural/historical value and improving environmental quality within the canals of Utrecht (ref. 11)
Additional goals were:
Biodiversity: by providing habitat and breeding grounds for species and creating green corridors (ref. 4,10,12)
Improving local climate (temperature and air quality) (ref. 9)
Inclusive governance: the community group mobilizes volunteers for maintenance of the vegetation (ref. 3,12)
Quantitative targets
The target was to implement ecological river banks, mussel krates and vegetation islands on 10 locations along the canal (ref. 10)
Monitoring indicators defined
The state of the vegetation is monitored by citizens (ref. 12)
Appreciation/experiences by citizens are monitored by means of surveys (ref. 12)
Effects on water quality and biodiversity are monitored (ref. 12) but no quantitative measurement specified.
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Waste management
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Effective management
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Create new habitats
Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Means for conservation governance
Public engagement
Capacity building
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Public engagement
Implementation activities
Green corridors: connecting green zones between different parts along the canal (ref. 8)
Eco-friendly river banks with diverse vegetation, flower-rich embankments and exit points for animals (ref. 9,11,12)
Water plants and 'floating vegetation inslands' that improved water quality and provided habitat and breeding grounds (ref. 12)
Ecological art project by Birthe Leemeijer that was being created (ref. 12)
Mussel crates that are used as pilot measurement by Ecologisch Adviesbureau Waardenburg (research and consultancy bureau) that provided insight into the ecological value of mussels (ref. 10)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Parks and urban forests
Green corridors and green belts
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
What is the level of innovation / development of the NBS related to water management?
Low: Simple rain water collection intervention (rain garden, local seepage pit) or simple permeable areas
Vegetation Type
Shrubs
Trees
Flower beds
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Bicycle route, traffic pedestrian (ref. 4)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Flood regulation
Water purification / filtration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Private sector/Corporate/Company
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Restoration of the historical canals is initiated and being implemented by the muncipality of Utrecht. The green elements are initiated by citizens who formed the community group 'Initiatiefgroup Vergroening Singel' (Initiative Group Greening the Canal) (ref. 7,9,12). Their plan fitted into one of the 'wijkwaterplannen' (Neighborhood Water Plans) of the municipality of Utrecht and therefore the municipality and the Hoogheemraadschap Stichtse Rijnlanden (local water body) became involved and financially support the project (ref. 12). The design is performed by members of the community group, the municipality and the water body supported in implementing the plan and the targets are monitored by the community group (ref. 12). The community group is responsible for citizen volunteers that do maintenance activities for the green measurements [12]. The consultancy company 'Ecologisch Adviesbureau Waardenburg' is involved because they research the effect of the mussel crates on water quality and ecology (ref. 11).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
Land owners
No information found
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Citizens or community group
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Co-management/Joint management
Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Citizen monitoring and review
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The project was initiated as a response to the restoration of the historical canal of Utrecht which has been ongoing since 2010 and will be finished in 2020. During the 1970s, the canals was disconnected to improve mobility in the city, but the municipality of Utrecht is currently restoring and 'reconnecting' the canal taking into account water transport ability, green space, history, recreation and habitat for species (ref. 1, 2). However, citizens were unsatisfied with the steep concrete river banks that were created in 2012 as part of the restoration of the canal by the municipality which does not allow for vegetation and animals to enter or leave the water. Also, it did not fit the historical quality of a landscape park like the Zocherpark. This led to the formation of the Citizen Initiative Group and motivated them to take the initiative (ref. 14).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
The project was voluntarily initiated by citizens as they desired ecological improvement of the renovated historical canals (ref. 1-3,9-12)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
Wijkwaterplan Binnenstad Utrecht (Neighbourhood Water Plan of Central Utrecht) (ref. 12)
The restoration of the canal is one of the CU2030 projects, which is the overarching strategy for the constructions around the central station (ref. 2)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Water regulation strategy
Please specify other vegetation type
Application of ornamental shrubs, citizen plantings and bush plants (ref. 4), eye-catching solitary trees and contiguous planting groups (ref. 4), of lime trees and plane trees (ref. 4), floating vegetation island and floating leaf plants, flowery roadside, floating vegetation (ref. 5)
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Cost information not available online.
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Business models
Risk reduction model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
The project can be considered a governance innovation becasue it is a pilot project by the municipality of Utrecht and the water body in order to see if a board of citizens is able to mobilize volunteers to maintain the green elements in the canal [3,11]
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is completely new without connections to previous initiative(s)
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
No connections to previous initiatives are mentioned and it is the first time in Utrecht that green elements along the canal are designed and managed by a citizen group. [3,9,10] Also the 'vegetation islands' and mussel crates are 'ecological innovations' by the consultancy company Bureau Waardenburg that experiments with these ecological innovations and monitors the effects on water quality and ecology [3]
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is not referred to as being transferred to new initiative(s)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Increased number of species present
Increased protection of threatened species
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Description of environmental benefits
- Increased green space area: more and varied greenery helps against flooding, retains it for dry periods, provides cooling, a cleaner environment and better living conditions for people, animals and plants (ref. 9)
- Biodiversity: by providing habitat and breeding grounds for species and creating green corridors (ref. 4,10,12)
- Utrechtse Singel becomes green pendulum The Initiative Group Greening Singel (a group of active and involved residents) has developed proposals at about 10 locations between the Tolsteegbrug and the Weerdbrug for greening the banks of the Singel (Stadsbuitengracht). Good for nature under and above water, better for water quality and positive for an attractive cityscape and healthy climate (ref. 11)
- Water quality and air quality are improved (ref. 3,4,9-12). To improve water quality and biodiversity, bank planting is applied, such as (submerged) water planting. Planting contributes to the quality of the bank. This means that greenery is added without disturbing the continuous bank line or important views (ref. 4)
- At the same time, a number of other things along the canal are done. Examples of this are a sustainable connection for plants and animals, creation of habitats for bats, various types of greenery and small scaffolding for leisure activities (ref. 8)

The project was expected to contribute to climate adaptability of Utrecht as it is expected to contribute to stormwater retention, reducing local temperature and decreasing the likelihood of flooding (ref. 3)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Please specify other socio-cultural impact
Improved aesthetics (ref. 12)
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Other
Description of social and cultural benefits
- The management and maintenance activities were done by volunteers (ref. 14). The initiative group included residents who are professionally involved with this topic or who have a relevant network (ref. 9)
-The Willemsplantsoen was designed for pedestrians. The walk through the green offers a variety of open spaces and closed spaces. Open spaces offer stylized views along the green and across the water (ref. 4)
- The initiative also created safe and comfortable crosswalks are created at the height of the canal bridges (ref. 4)
- Improved aesthetics: Aesthetic and cultural/historic values were improved, as this is surveyed among citizens (ref. 12)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Environmental quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Water management (SDG 6)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of 30 July 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Conduct a baseline survey before and after NBS implementation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Questionnaire surveys / online surveys
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
http://www.singel030.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/VS-Integrale-toelichting-Fas…
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Submission of monitoring data (citizen observation)
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Citizens are monitoring the state of the vegetation. [12]
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
As it is a three-year pilot project from 2016-2019, the impacts of the green elements on water quality and biodiversity were to be evaluated in 2019 (ref. 12).
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Website of greening canals
General description of initiative
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Summary of green elements along canal (1.07 MB) 1.07 MB
Elaborate desription of initiative (2.62 MB) 2.62 MB
List of references
1. Bouwput. (n.d.). Herstel singel. [online] Available at: http://www.bouwpututrecht.nl/herstelde-singel/ (Accessed 30 July 2020)
2. CU2030 Utretch. (n.d.). Singel. [online] Available at: https://cu2030.nl/page/singel (Accessed 30 July 2020)
3. Natuur en Milieufederatie. (n.d.). Vergroening Utrechtse singels. [online] Available at: https://www.nmu.nl/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwvIT5BRCqARIsAAwwD-SIEpcsFO8fti1bJl0C3hD7Qn2THPJchNLuOOYTA5LQusjZREXMG9UaArjGEALw_wcB (Accessed 30 July 2020)
4. Gemeente Utrecht. (2017). Catherijnesingel, Utrecht. Utrecht: Municipality of Utrecht. [pdf] Available at: https://cu2030.nl/images/2017-04/bijlage-2-notitie-catharijnesingel-zuid--ontwerp.pdf (Accessed 30 July 2020)
5. Van Dam, H., König, L., Van Kan, P., Hoekstra, P., & Nijssen, B. (2015). Vergroening Stadsbuitengracht fase 1. Utrecht: Initiatiefgroep Vergroening Singel. [pdf] Available at: https://cu2030.nl/images/2017-04/bijlage-5--vergroening-stadsbuitengracht-fase-1.pdf (Accessed 30 July 2020)
6. CU2030. (2017). Tussen droom en daad . [pdf] Available at: https://cu2030.nl/images/2015-04/tussendroomendaad.pdf (Accessed 30 July 2020)
7. CU2030. (2017). Catharijnesingel-Zuid Participatiegroep. Utrecht: CU2030. [pdf] Available at: http://cu2030.nl/images/2017-05/presentatie-16-mei-2017-def-zonder-beelden-web-lite.pdf (Accessed 30 July 2020)
8. Gemeente Utrecht. (2017). Herstel singels. [online] Available at: https://www.utrecht.nl/wonen-en-leven/bouwen/bouwprojecten/herstel-singels/ (Accessed 30 July 2020)
9. Kennisportaal Ruimtelijke Adaptatie. (2016). Vergroening stadsbuitengracht.[online] Available at: https://ruimtelijkeadaptatie.nl/voorbeelden/overzicht-projecten/@160533/vergroening/ (Accessed 30 July 2020)
10. Groen Moet Je Doen. (n.d.). Vergroening Singel. [online] Available at: http://gmjd.nl/langs-de-singels/ (Accessed 30 July 2020)
11. Van Dam, H. (n.d.) Utrechtse Singel wordt groene slinger. Utrecht: Initiatiefgroep Vergroening Singel (community group). [pdf] Available at:http://www.singel030.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/VS-samenvatting-Vergroening-Singel-20160510.pdf (Accessed 30 July 2020)
12. Van Dam, H., & König, L. (2016). Vergroening stadsbuitengracht – Fase 1-. Integrale toelichting bij omgevingsvergunning en watervergunning. [pdf] Available at: http://www.singel030.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/VS-Integrale-toelichting-Fase1-Vergroening-Stadsbuitengracht-20170201.pdf (Accessed 30 July 2020)
13. Deltacommissaris. (n.d.). Ruimtelijke adaptatie. [online] Available at: https://www.deltacommissaris.nl/deltaprogramma/gebieden-en-generieke-themas/ruimtelijke-adaptatie (Accessed 30 July 2020)
14. Singel 030. (n.d.). Vergroening Singel. [online] Available at: http://www.singel030.nl/vergroening-singel/ (Accessed 30 July 2020)
Comments and notes
Comments
The mussel crates and water plants is a pilot project by Bureau Waardenburg (ecological research and consultancy bureau) in order to research the impact of mussels and water plants on water quality and ecology (ref. 12)
Additional insights
No specific monitoring tool is indicated, but some indicators are monitored, which are the state of the vegetation and experiences by citizens and the effect of the mussel crates and water plants on vegetation islands on water quality and biodiversity (ref. 3, 11, 12)
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/vs-homepage-gwest-situatie-wittevrouwenbrug-20160502_339x254.jpg
Public Images
Floating Vegetation Island
Floating Vegetation Island
Photographer: Harmke van Dam, retrieved 09/11/2018
Eco-friendly Canal Bank
Eco-friendly Canal Bank
Photographer: Harmke van Dam, retrieved 09/11/2018
Animal Resting Board With Ladders
Animal Resting Board With Ladders
Photographer: Paul van Kan, retrieved 09/11/2018 from Harmke van Dam