Noordweg 16 (Horizon) Oostvoorne

What are we going to do?

The municipality owns the property at Noordweg 16 in Oostvoorne. In the coming years, we will use this site to provide shelter for Ukrainian refugees. We also want to offer temporary housing here to our own residents, such as first-time homebuyers and those in urgent need of housing. For the longer term, we are exploring whether it is possible to build permanent housing on this site. That housing would then be intended for seniors.

Why are we doing this?

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian displaced persons have been temporarily housed in vacation resorts in our municipality. We purchased Noordweg 16 in 2024 to establish a long-term shelter facility that we control ourselves.

The purchase of this property also gives us the opportunity to help our own residents, such as first-time homebuyers and those in urgent need of housing. After all, there is a great need for housing among them as well, because it is not easy to find an affordable home quickly. We believe it is important to be able to offer them a temporary solution here.

In the longer term, we are exploring the possibility of building housing for seniors. We plan to use the site for that purpose once it is no longer needed to house Ukrainian refugees.

What does Noordweg 16 look like?

Noordweg 16 in Oostvoorne consists of four buildings surrounded by plenty of greenery and parking. The buildings had been vacant for several years.

For Ukrainian displaced persons, two existing buildings have been adapted for use as shelters and are now in use. The third building is currently vacant. The fourth building, the main building, has space for a few people seeking emergency shelter. We are exploring how we can provide temporary housing for first-time buyers at this location.

The municipality's purchase of Noordweg 16 will have no impact on the adjacent Gelinckschool. It will continue to be used as a school.

When does what happen?

The shelter for Ukrainian displaced persons on Noordweg began operations in July 2026. We cannot yet estimate how long this shelter will remain open. That depends in part on the course of the war and national decisions regarding the sheltering of Ukrainian displaced persons.

We expect to have a better understanding by the end of 2026 of the steps we need to take to make temporary housing available to first-time homebuyers.

Procedures and Rules

On February 9, 2026, an environmental permit was granted for the temporary housing of up to 79 Ukrainian displaced persons at the Noordweg 16 location in Oostvoorne. This permit is valid for a period of five years.

The permit application was submitted on May 6, 2025. Because this use did not fit within the applicable environmental plan, an application was filed for an off-plan environmental plan activity (BOPA). Subsequently, various studies were conducted in areas including safety, noise, soil, water, air quality, and ecology, and a spatial justification was prepared. The municipal executive used this information to weigh all interests and has determined that the uses at this location are compatible.

After the permit was granted, interested parties had six weeks to file an objection. The objection period has since expired.

How do we involve the neighborhood? Information about community meetings, newsletters, and updates.

We believe it is important to involve the local community in the developments at Noordweg 16. We keep local residents informed and engage with them on topics such as the layout of the property, safety, traffic, and parking. We also involve local residents in the development of long-term plans. We do this through the neighborhood consultation group, among other channels, as well as by inviting residents to meetings or informing them by mail about our progress.

The Klank Neighborhood Group

Since February 2026, a neighborhood advisory group made up of local residents has been active in relation to the developments at Noordweg 16. They serve as an advisory and consultative group that helps ensure the neighborhood remains a pleasant and safe place to live during the renovation and long-term development of Noordweg 16. The neighborhood advisory group gathers feedback, concerns, and ideas from the neighborhood and brings them to the attention of the city.
Below, we will share the minutes from the meetings we’ve held with the neighborhood advisory group as soon as they become available.

Report on the Noordweg Community Group Meeting, February 9, 2026

1. Welcome and Introduction 

The meeting began with a round of introductions. Participants explained why they wanted to actively contribute to this neighborhood consultation group. The main reasons were:
• To stay informed about what’s happening in the neighborhood.
• The opportunity to contribute ideas and share input. 
• Interest in the plans.
• Sharing concerns.
A representative from the Oostvoorne Village Council is present to help shape communication with the surrounding community. This involvement is appreciated by all those present.

2. Methodology and role of the community group

The neighborhood group consists of residents living near Noordweg 16. They form an advisory and consultative group that helps ensure that community life in the neighborhood remains pleasant and safe during the renovation and long-term development of Noordweg 16. 

Role of local residents in the neighborhood consultation group: 

  • The group gathers feedback, concerns, and ideas from the local community. 
  • They bring these issues to the attention of the municipality during the meetings and, where possible, help brainstorm solutions. 
  • The community group is here to address all developments at the Noordweg 16 site, not just those related to the reception of Ukrainian refugees. The group will remain in place for as long as these developments continue. 
  • If you have any questions, please contact the program manager at nl.

The municipality's role in the community consultation group: 

  • The municipality keeps the neighborhood advisory group informed about progress and developments. 
  • The municipality shares meeting minutes with the participants and publishes them (in anonymized form) on the municipal website. 
  • At the next meeting, the municipality will provide feedback on the actions taken or any outstanding questions raised by the neighborhood consultation group.
    It is agreed that everyone will treat one another with respect during the neighborhood consultation group meetings.

3. Update on Noordweg 16 

During the renovation in 2025, an incident of vandalism occurred. This happened one week before the planned completion date, in early July 2025. Because this took place during the construction industry’s summer break and material delivery times were long, it caused a significant delay. The renovation has now progressed to the point where the location will be ready for the Ukrainian residents by late March/early April. A kick-off meeting or housewarming is being planned to welcome them.
In the development of Noordweg 16, the municipality is pursuing two tracks: Track 1 (renovation) and Track 2 (long-term development). 

Track 1: 

  • This includes a total of three existing pavilions (buildings) and the main building. 
  • Ukrainian displaced persons. Two pavilions have been renovated to accommodate up to 80 people in total, with completion scheduled for late March/early April 2026. The group to be accommodated consists mainly of women and children from Ukraine who are already residing in the municipality. 
  • Emergency cases. The main building has space for emergency cases, with 3 to 4 spots available. The Ad Hoc youth who are already there can remain in the main building. Questions from the community consultation group: What are the deadlines for this? And which group qualifies as an emergency case (definition)? The municipality will address these points at the next meeting. 
  • First-time homebuyers. A study on housing for first-time homebuyers in the third pavilion is currently underway. The third pavilion is currently boarded up (for safety reasons). The project manager from Woonbedrijf explains that Woonbedrijf has different (higher) standards for a residential building than those that apply to housing for displaced persons. Therefore, they must explore what is possible; demolition and new construction, for example, is an option currently being investigated. 

    Track 2: 

  • Seniors. The goal is to develop housing for seniors here in the long term. 
  • Track 2 will be addressed after Track 1 is completed.

The neighborhood group has raised questions about the official zoning designation for the site (community use or residential).
Answer: The parcel is currently not zoned for residential use, only for community use. As a result, it currently only allows for temporary residential use. 

The Klankbuurtgroep has raised questions regarding the accommodation of asylum seekers / the asylum seekers’ center (AZC) at the Noordweg 16 location.
Answer: Noordweg 16 has been allocated to the following target groups: Ukrainian displaced persons, first-time housing seekers, and those in urgent need of housing; and, in the long term, to the elderly. There are no plans to house asylum seekers here. The question of how and where the new municipal executive and the new city council Voorne aan Zee to accommodate asylum seekers in Voorne aan Zee in the future, including the approach to participation and communication, will be put to them.

The community group has asked the following question: Can residents of Voorne aan Zee be given Voorne aan Zee for future housing?
Answer: We are exploring options to give residents of Voorne aan Zee priority Voorne aan Zee the future. 

The social services counselor talks about the shelter and living conditions of the Ukrainians: 

  • There are approximately 400 childcare spots throughout the municipality, spread across six locations. 
  • Soon, Noordweg will be home mainly to families and single women. 
  • Residents receive a monthly allowance from the municipality of 315 euros. Most of them have jobs and earn a good salary. The children attend school. If they are unemployed, they are actively encouraged to look for work in order to increase their allowance. 
  • The municipality does not house displaced persons itself; this is handled by the HUB in Rotterdam. The HUB is a registration center for displaced persons from Ukraine. 
  • There is a strong focus on effective support and integration. 
  • Municipal staff are regularly present at the shelters.

4. What's going on in the neighborhood? 

During the meeting, a number of questions were asked about safety and nuisances: 

Who caused the damage? Answer: There was an incident of vandalism during the renovation, which is currently under police investigation. 

Is there additional surveillance? Answer: Site management and security personnel are on-site to monitor the area. 

A number of concerns have been raised regarding traffic safety: 

  • Road safety is a concern, especially due to heavy traffic and high speeds on Noordweg. 
  • Residents are concerned about the noise, especially from children playing. This has been an issue for some time, regardless of the arrival of Ukrainians. 
  • Residents say that ten years ago, there was a campaign to redesign Noordweg. At that time, road narrowings were installed and the entry times were adjusted. 
  • Residents say they submitted a request for a 30 km/h zone three years ago, but nothing has been done about it yet. 
  • The representative of the Village Council said he would take these concerns into account.

5. Additional agenda item: Kickoff meeting in late March / early April 

  • Possible dates: Saturday, March 28, or April 4. The group has decided on March 28 because April 4 falls during the Easter weekend, which might attract fewer local residents. 
  • Goal: To facilitate casual interaction and bring together local residents and Ukrainian residents. 
  • The kickoff meeting will take place outdoors on the grounds. (In case of bad weather, the main building will serve as an alternative venue if necessary.) 
  • Activities such as sharing snacks and drinks and games for children are proposed by the neighborhood group (e.g., a bouncy castle). 
  • Invitations to the kick-off meeting will be distributed in the immediate vicinity. The municipality will use the same distribution area for this as it does for the letters to residents.

6. For discussion: frequency of meetings

  •  Proposal to meet once every 1.5 to 2 months. 
  • The goal is to discuss feedback from the community and monitor developments.

7. Any other business and closing remarks 

The participants were asked what they thought of the first meeting. Their responses: 

  • The overall impression is positive, and there is appreciation for how the meeting was organized. 
  • The participants are pleased with the composition of the group and how the meeting went. 
  • At the same time, concerns remain about the long term and about plans that are not yet clear. 
  • We are also focusing on how to reach residents. Not everyone has received the resident letters recently. 
  • We are currently drafting an invitation letter for the 28th to be sent to local residents. We are using the same mailing list as for previous letters and will monitor (where possible) whether it is being delivered properly. 

    Next meeting

     Next meeting: A date has yet to be scheduled.

Neighborhood Meetings on Noordweg

We are involving residents living near Noordweg 16 in the developments in various ways. Below you will find information about the meetings and activities for local residents.

Open House on March 28, 2026

Local residents and the new residents of Noordweg 16 were invited to an open house on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The event focused on bringing together the future Ukrainian residents, their support staff, and the neighbors. A total of about 50 local residents and Ukrainians took advantage of this opportunity. With a tour, a bouncy castle for the children, and delicious Dutch and Ukrainian snacks, it was a successful first meeting.

Meeting April 10, 2025

On Thursday, April 10, 2025, a community meeting was held regarding plans for a sustainable shelter at Noordweg 16, intended for Ukrainian displaced persons, first-time seekers, and those in urgent need of housing. During an information fair, local residents were able to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss ideas with the parties involved. The report from this meeting provides an overview of the topics discussed, residents’ feedback, and the next steps in the process. You can read the report on the page “Report on the Noordweg Residents’ Meeting – Thursday, April 10, 2025.”

Meeting Oct. 3, 2024

On October 3, 2024, a neighborhood meeting was held, during which local residents discussed the plan to create a sustainable shelter for Ukrainians at Noordweg 16, as well as housing for first-time renters and those in urgent need of housing, with city employees and aldermen. A report was prepared on this neighborhood meeting. You can read the report on the“Summary of the Noordweg 16 Neighborhood Meeting” page.

Contact us

Do you have questions about the shelter for Ukrainian refugees at Noordweg 16 in Oostvoorne? You can email your questions to oekraine@voorneaanzee.nl . Would you prefer to contact us by phone? Please call 14 0181 and ask to speak with a staff member responsible for the Ukrainian refugee shelter.