Grand Opening of Westpunt
On Monday, October 26, 2026, Bert Pol (Chair of the Friends of the Nature and Landscape Garden Foundation) and Alderman Margot Kraneveldt officially opened the Westpunt in Westerpark. After nearly seven years, the building—which had been destroyed by a major fire—is once again open to visitors. A wonderful reason for a festive opening.
The fire at that time destroyed not only the building but also an important gathering place for volunteers, organizations, and visitors to this beautiful area. With its reopening, Westerpark will once again have a place where volunteers, nature organizations, and visitors can come together, and where nature and environmental education will find a home.
Innovation and Circular Materials
Sustainability was a central focus during the design and construction phases. As a result, the Westpunt serves as a model of sustainable construction in Zoetermeer. It is a future-proof building that blends seamlessly with the green surroundings of Westerpark.
Councilwoman Margot Kraneveldt states: "We didn’t simply replace what was lost; instead, we chose a building that’s ready for the future—a sustainable structure that fits in with the unique natural surroundings. From reusable materials and straw in the walls to reclaimed tiles from the Stadshart. The Westpunt demonstrates that construction and sustainability can go hand in hand, thanks to the wonderful collaboration between the Friends of the Nature Garden and the municipality.”
A Place for Culture
Culture has also found a place here. The restored mosaic by René Albert Karrèr has found a new home in this building and beautifully connects the past with the future. The artwork, composed of broken ceramic tiles, pebbles, and natural stone, depicts yellow and white birds and a child with a kite. With the opening, a special place has been restored.
A warm welcome
Visitors are warmly welcome at the Westpunt in Westerpark (Turfpad 2), where they can enjoy not only the beautiful mosaic but also the unique natural surroundings. Every fourth Sunday of the month, one or two nature garden guides lead a free tour through the Zoetermeer Nature Garden.
The current field trip dates can be found on the website of the Friends of the Zoetermeer Nature Garden: www.vriendennatuurtuinzoetermeer.nl.
