Amendment decree Environmental plan municipality of Zoetermeer: first phase

What is an environmental plan?

Every municipality in the Netherlands makes one environmental plan. This plan contains all the rules for the physical environment: the space in which we live, work and live. Think for example of rules about building, digging and noise.

The environmental plan will gradually replace current zoning plans and other municipal regulations. Thus, everything will come together in one clear plan. By January 1, 2032 at the latest, this plan must be completely ready.

What is a change order?

The transition to the new environmental plan is done in several parts (phases). For each phase, the municipality makes an amendment decree. Such a decree states which rules will be transferred to the environmental plan.

What rules belong to the first stage?

The first amendment decision concerns the rural area of Zoetermeer (shown in green on the map).

City map showing rural areas according to phase 1

Per phase, rules will also be added that relate to all of Zoetermeer. These rules deal with a theme and/or come from a municipal ordinance. Examples are:

  • Rules from the General Local Ordinance Zoetermeer and the Odor Ordinance.
  • Rules on RandstadRail, underground cables and pipes, and water defenses.
  • Regulations from the State regarding local railroads.

A complete overview can be found under the heading "Overview of content amendment environmental plan: first phase.

Low policy transposition

The rules have been transposed policy-poor. This means that the content of the rules remains the same, but they have been made clearer. Duplicate rules have been merged and the texts have been cleaned up. Example: if a business or residence was allowed under the zoning plan, it remains so in the environmental plan.

Review the draft amendment and share your thoughts

On May 19, 2026, the board of mayor and aldermen the “Draft Amendment to the Zoetermeer Municipal Environmental Plan: Phase One.”

  • The plan will be available for public review from June 3 through July 14, 2026.
  • Anyone can provide feedback on the draft during this period.
  • The notice (see under Documents) tells you how to view the plan and how to respond.

Overview content amendment environmental plan: first phase

The content of the amending act includes 4 sections.

1. The amendment decision first phase deals with converting rules from the following zoning ordinances:

  • New Driemanspolder-Roeleveen 
  • Meerzicht-Westerpark (part Westerpark) 
  • New Three Man Polder 
  • Front Road 2017 (part west of Sun Mountain 8, Front Road 117/117a and Front Road 180) 
  • Buytenpark 
  • Meerpolder  
  • Northern Lakes Region 2015 
  • Extension of third runway SnowWorld 
  • Front road 163 
  • De Leyens and Noordhove (only Noordhoven pond and associated banks or public green space along Asia Road) 
  • The RandstadRail of the zoning plans Meerzicht - Westerpark, Buytenwegh 2007, De Leyens and Noordhove, Seghwaert 2006, Palenstein, Driemanspolder - Van Leeuwenhoeklaan, Stadscentrum Zuid (Cultural Axis), Dorpsstraat, Oosterheem/Zegwaartseweg-Noord, Oosterhage/Businesspark Oosterheem business park and Vervoersknoop Bleizo.

The above mentioned (parts of) zoning plans are in the green area on the map.

City map showing rural areas according to phase 1

2. This amending decree also deals with the conversion of rules from (all) Zoetermeer zoning plans and thus for the entire territory of Zoetermeer on the following topics:

  • area of archaeological interest 
  • car and bicycle parking and loading and unloading 
  • obstacles and restrictions areas around pipelines  
  • RandstadRail 
  • restriction area water barrier 
  • cultural-historical object
  • event site 
  • municipal protected townscape 
  • transitional construction and use law 
  • advertising use and construction 
  • retail stand 

3. This amendment to the environmental plan is also about transposing rules from:

  • the Omnibus Act dowry
  • the catch-all regulation of the Environment Act
  • regulations regarding the physical environment from other municipal regulations. These primarily include sections of the General Local Regulation (APV) concerning events, outdoor dining areas, advertising, paving, green spaces and water features in outdoor areas, and the placement of objects in or on public spaces. They also include, for example, the Policy Rule on Building and Maintaining Affordable Housing
  • guidelines issued by the national government, the MRDH, and the province 

4. The environmental permits granted in derogation of a zoning plan or the environmental plan, which are located in the green area indicated on the map, are incorporated in this amendment to the environmental plan.

Documents