Which street is the sweetest in Zoetermeer?
Lief en Leed Zoetermeer started in 2020 with the election of the Liefste Straat. There are now some 200 Lief- en Leed streets. On Friday, November 15, residents chose the Sweetest Street of Zoetermeer 2024. With Love and Sadness, you as a resident can ensure that there is more attention for each other in your street, that joys and sorrows are shared and that nobody is left out.
The four nominated streets this year are Rabbit Meadow (Seghwaert), Shawzijde/Sheridanzijde (De Leyens), Dijkwater (Meerzicht) and Palestrinarode (Buytenwegh). For the winners there are cheques of € 150, € 250 and € 500.
First place goes to Palestrinarode, second to Rabbit Meadow, third to Shawzijde/Sheridanzijde and fourth to Dijkwater. The Dearest Street this year is Palestrinarode because pacesetters here engage all neighbors from young to old in activities, provide neighborly help and look out for each other. There is also a Love and Sorrow group app in which 80% of the street participates. All of this was accomplished in 1 year. "How beautiful it is to see so many neighbors making their street and neighborhood and thus a piece of Zoetermeer more beautiful," said Alderman Véronique Frinking. "And the fact that we are already at 200 Love and Sorrow Streets is fantastic. This is what it's all about. Looking out for each other, with a small gesture you can already make a difference."
Other streets
At the No. 2 Rabbit Meadow, gangmakers are committed to connecting neighbors from different backgrounds and lifestyles with many different activities in the street. At the Shaw side/Sheridan side, gangmakers create a cozy atmosphere in the street, loves and sorrows are shared and neighborly help is provided. When the children are free from school, a table is set up outside to do crafts and chat together. Finally, at Dijkwater -the only apartment among the nominees-, residents dedicate themselves to improving social cohesion by acting as mediators and looking out for (elderly) neighbors.
