On Thursday 19 December 2024, Apeldoorn City Council decided to purchase the Hertzberger buildings and the surrounding area. This purchase gives us control over the future of the iconic office building, designed by the world-renowned architect Herman Hertzberger, as well as over the further development of the surrounding area. On this page, you will find all the information about this plan clearly summarised.
After years of standing empty and falling into disrepair, we have taken this decision. This area on Prins Willem Alexanderlaan comprises the original office building, ‘De Rots’, the surrounding land and the adjacent Pakhoedtorens.
Over the years, the so-called Hertzberger Park changed hands several times and various plans were drawn up for its redevelopment. However, these were never put into practice, causing the area to fall further into disrepair. To gain greater control over the future of this iconic building and the use of the site, we established a right of first refusal in May 2023. This purchase enables us to chart our own course and work towards a new use for the Hertzberger building and the site.
“We’re going to set to work to make it look lovely again, so that the people of Apeldoorn can be proud of it once more.”
De Rots is the focal point of the area and is a listed building. We want the area to develop into a vibrant place, with De Rots taking on a role that is in keeping with the times. The exact details will be further developed over the coming months. For the residential programme, we are doing this in collaboration with Explorius Vastgoedontwikkeling.
On 4 September 2025, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) nominated fifteen new sites for designation as national monuments. These include the former headquarters of Centraal Beheer. The designation process is carried out in consultation with the local council and will take a few more months. In Apeldoorn, the RCE will only begin this process once the local council has finalised the process regarding the scenarios. See news item The Netherlands’ most recent listed buildings.
On 6 November, the municipal council took a decision on the future of the Hertzberger building. The council opted for scenario 1A: ‘Green, Grand Capital of the Veluwe and City of Safety’. This scenario will be further developed into a business case over the coming year and resubmitted to the municipal council at the end of 2026. Should the scenario ultimately prove unfeasible, demolition will remain a possible option.
Explorius is developing the rest of the area, in collaboration with the local council, with a focus on housing. The local council is demolishing the Pakhoed Towers, preparing the site for development and landscaping the public spaces. Explorius will then purchase the site, once it is ready for development, for housing. De Rots will remain the property of the local council.
Apeldoorn’s population is set to grow to at least 180,000 in the coming years. As a result, new residential and commercial areas are being developed, with construction going hand in hand with greening initiatives. This will be particularly evident in the city centre and the areas around the canal and the railway line. Over the coming years, the city centre will undergo significant development to become an attractive, welcoming and vibrant city centre where people enjoy shopping, working, living and spending time. The city is becoming greener and buildings are being repurposed to provide greater variety and a more diverse range of facilities. Vacancy rates are being reduced and the shopping area is becoming more compact. More homes are being built and there will be more space for cyclists and pedestrians. At the same time, it will remain easy to reach the city centre by car or public transport. With this purchase, Hertzberger Park will become part of that development.
Do you have any questions for the local council regarding developments concerning Hertzberger?
Email: binnenstad@apeldoorn.nl.
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