Station area

With the arrival of the new Entree urban district, the station area on the north (city side) of the Nelson Mandela Bridge will also get a new look. The preliminary design for a plinth building with a station hall and bicycle parking will be ready in August 2022. There is also a preliminary design for a bicycle bridge from Afrikaweg to the station.

Why is the station area changing?

The new urban district of Entree will provide a better connection between the station and downtown. In Entree, the use of bicycles and public transportation are central to attracting more travelers. This includes an easily accessible public transport hub and an attractive access to the station. The entire ambition for the station is written down in a Station Vision. The City Council adopted that vision in May 2021. You can find the vision at the bottom of the documents.

Plinth building with station hall

Part of the ambition for the station area is to realize a plinth building on the north side (city side) of the Nelson Mandela Bridge. This is a two-story building with facilities on the first floor (the plinth) such as an open station hall, bicycle storage, parking garage, stores, restaurants and small businesses.

On the roof of the new plinth building you will soon be able to walk and bike in a park-like setting or, for example, wait for your train on the benches.

Bicycle storage and parking garage

The bicycle parking has room for 1,000 bicycles, with an option for future expansion to 2,000 bicycle spaces. The main entrance to the parking facility is on the new station crescent that will be constructed with greenery and water in front of the station. Or you can take the circular bicycle stairs to get into the bicycle parking facility from the roof.

The 210 car parking spaces from the existing private parking garage belonging to the Gatehouse will be returned to a new parking garage.

Bicycle bridge

Part of the plans for Entrance includes an attractive bicycle and walking connection between downtown and the Nelson Mandela Bridge. The route is planned via the new city street, Afrikaweg. You can then cycle coming from the center via Afrikaweg and Nelson Mandela Bridge to the Rokkeveen neighborhood. This can be done without using the elevator or escalator of the Nelson Mandela Bridge. A design has been made for a free lying bicycle bridge from the Afrikaweg to the roof of the plinth building. From the roof you cycle directly to the Nelson Mandela Bridge.

Comment and follow-up

Residents could respond to the designs for the plinth building and bicycle bridge through the municipality's participation platform Doemee until September 13, 2022: doemee.zoetermeer.nl | Station Zoetermeer. On August 30, there was a walk-in meeting about the station area. The preliminary design for a plinth building with a station hall and bicycle parking were on display. The design for a bicycle bridge connecting Afrikaweg and Nelson Mandela Bridge was also on display. The atmospheric report can be found with the documents.

All suggestions will be incorporated where possible into the final design, which is expected to be completed in early 2023. For the plinth building and the bicycle bridge, the City Council has reserved funds. Implementation is planned to begin in the summer of 2023.