Hoog Soeren is a gem nestled in the woods of the Het Loo Crown Estate. With its listed buildings and historic burial mounds, it is a village landscape protected by the state. It is a small village with a character, identity and atmosphere all of its own. We would very much like to keep it that way.
Research and interviews with villagers show that Hoog Soeren is a great place to live. On average, they give their homes a rating of 8.9. And they feel a strong sense of attachment to their neighbourhood (9.1).
These positive figures are also reflected in the responses to questions about well-being. On average, physical health is rated 8.2, mental health 8.6 and happiness 8.4.
Relations with neighbours are usually good, or at least fine. Residents are very involved in their neighbourhood. They are generally keen to get involved.
At the same time, there are also issues that need addressing. For example, residents have few local amenities. They always have to travel a short distance to get to school, the doctor’s, shops and other places.
The traffic situation could also be improved. Tourists have discovered the village. This brings with it a buzz of activity, but also some nuisance. For example, motorbikes that sometimes roar through the village. Or people who park their cars incorrectly. This can lead to annoying or even dangerous situations.
Furthermore, there is actually no housing provision in the village for two groups: first-time buyers on the one hand, and older people who need care on the other.
In short, Hoog Soeren is a distinctive and attractive village, but one that also has some areas requiring attention. We have been working on these issues over recent years. Together with residents, we are working to ensure that Hoog Soeren remains a great place to live, both now and in the future. To this end, we have drawn up an action plan.
Between 2020 and 2030*, we will be focusing particularly on five areas. First and foremost, the social environment: how can we ensure that Hoog Soeren remains a pleasant community? We will also be focusing on preserving the village’s character and atmosphere. We’ll be tackling traffic issues. We’ll also be looking at spatial planning matters, such as the rules governing building alterations. And we’ll be exploring forms of sustainability that are suited to the village.
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Objective |
Action/Point for attention |
Who |
|
Preserving the volunteer fire service |
The Hoog Soeren Volunteer Fire Brigade plays a vital role in bringing the community together and ensuring its safety. There was once talk of closing the fire station. We have agreed that closing it is not an option. |
Local authority, fire service |
|
Preservation of the nationally protected village landscape |
We are in discussion with the Environmental Quality Committee regarding the preservation of the village’s character. For example, we have discussed how we can take the village’s character into account when carrying out renovations or new-build projects. Village residents sometimes have difficulties with the building regulations. They feel that building or renovating in the style of the existing property is often rejected, whilst plans that deviate significantly from this are, in fact, approved. This raises questions. We discuss such matters with the committee. |
Municipality, Environmental Quality Committee |
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Preserving sightlines in the village |
Villagers would like to preserve the existing views in the village, as well as the characteristic fields. Fortunately, it does not appear that anyone wants to change this. We will, however, be discussing this further with the Crown Estate. |
Municipality, Environmental Quality Committee, Crown Estate |
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Less disruption traffic |
Nuisance caused by speeding drivers and noisy motorbikes: it’s a major problem in Hoog Soeren. The council is not installing repeat speed limit signs in the 30 km/h zone, but road markings might be a possibility. For the time being, speed displays are set up along the road at regular intervals. We are discussing these and other traffic issues with the traffic engineer. In 2023, the council will also be installing speed bumps in Assel. |
Local authority, village council |
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A wider and better cycle path across the Asselse Heath |
The busy cycle path across the Asselse Heide is narrow and poorly maintained. The local development plan allows for a slight widening. However, any further expansion must be discussed with the provincial authorities. A traffic regulation has now been introduced allowing cyclists to ride on the carriageway as well. |
Local authority, village council |
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Illuminated bus stop on Amersfoortseweg – Kampsteeg |
There was no street lighting at the bus stop on Amersfoortseweg/Kampsteeg. This was inconvenient for passengers waiting there. What’s more, the bus driver would sometimes fail to spot them in the dark. Street lighting has now been installed. |
Municipality |
|
Objective |
Action/Point for attention |
Who |
|
Play area for children |
At the moment, there are no playgrounds for children in the village. A group of young people want to change that. They are working on a plan for a playground. |
Residents, local council |
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Fewer parking problems |
There are regular parking problems. That is why we are in discussion with hospitality business owners. They can direct motorists to available parking spaces. We are also looking into whether enforcement officers can carry out more frequent checks in the outlying areas. |
Municipality |
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Housing for first-time buyers and older people who need care |
A while ago, there was a plan to build small-scale housing for older people, so that those who need more care could still remain in the village. First-time buyers also need suitable housing. Housing construction had come to a standstill due to the crisis, but is now back on track. That is why we are now looking at new options. |
Local council, village council, private initiatives, Veluwonen |
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Community-led initiatives for sustainable energy |
Together, we’re exploring ways to make Hoog Soeren more sustainable: 1. Saving energy and generating it ourselves: Hoog Soeren is a nationally protected village landscape with listed properties. For this reason, a collective solar farm is not really feasible. We are going to look into whether solar panels can be installed on private plots and roofs. Together with the council’s Energy Point, we are organising an information session. This will cover topics such as energy saving, heat pumps and solar panels. The council can provide support in the form of grants for neighbourhood initiatives promoting sustainable energy. 2. Heating supply: with current technology, it is not yet possible to provide an effective, sustainable district heating system for the whole of Hoog Soeren. This may not be possible until after 2040. BBV and the local council are looking into the best approach in the meantime. |
Neighbourhood and Interest Association (BBV), municipal energy centre, residents |
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Hoog Soeren’s location on the heat risk map |
The local council has produced a ‘heat potential map’. This map shows the options for sustainable energy in specific districts and neighbourhoods. Hoog Soeren would like to be included on this map. |
Local authority, Energy Point |
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Objective |
Action/Point for attention |
Who |
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Improvements to the Amersfoortseweg – Kampsteeg junction |
At present, (large) lorries cannot drive straight from Amersfoortseweg onto Kampsteeg. The provincial authorities will rectify this during the major maintenance works. This will take some time: the maintenance is not scheduled to take place before 2027, at any rate. |
Local authority, Neighbourhood and Interest Group, province |
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