The Hague considers proposal for tallest residential towers amid local opposition
The Hague could become home to the two tallest residential towers in the Netherlands under new plans for the Bellevue site next to Den Haag Central Station, even as the project faces strong local opposition over height, livability, and infrastructure pressure, Omroep West reports.
The latest proposal envisions towers rising to 230 meters, surpassing Rotterdam’s 215-meter Zalmtoren, currently the tallest building in the country. The Hague also has an even taller project in earlier planning stages: the Hofpleintoren, which is expected to reach 285 meters.
The Bellevue plan has shifted repeatedly over time. Earlier designs for 180-meter towers were rejected after the municipal council ruled they were too high and reduced the limit to 160 meters. That decision was later reversed when a council majority approved 180 meters after developers warned that the restriction made the project unfeasible. Progress stalled again due to rising construction costs. The current proposal would exceed those earlier plans by roughly 50 meters.
Residents and local representatives say the scale is deeply concerning. “We were quite shocked. "We were especially shocked by the height,” Jeroen Oosterwal from the neighborhood organization Rondom het Plein told Omroep West.
He warned that the development would place significant pressure on local infrastructure. “There will suddenly be 1,800 homes; that’s two thousand people. They all have to move in and out of the building and will have bicycles, maybe cars, and waste. I expect extra pressure on this vulnerable part of the city center.” Oosterwal also added that essential services are already insufficient. “There is a lack of schools, general practitioners, and sports space. You can’t just place a football field in front of the door, but that is necessary for livability.”
Concerns about green space were also raised. Jacob Snijders, speaking on behalf of several residents’ organizations, said the promised environmental compensation must still be clarified. “If you add that many homes, then you must compensate for the green space in the area. Agreements have been made about that. I am curious where they will do that,” Snijders told Omroep West.
Residents also warned about wind and shadow effects. Oosterwal said conditions are already difficult. “If you cycle here now, you already get blown off your bike. That will only get worse. These enormous towers will also take sunlight away from homes,” he said.
Political parties in The Hague remain divided. The VVD opposes the proposed height. “If it were up to us, it would have been 165 meters, but as a municipal council, we agreed on 180 meters,” said councilor Rutger de Ridder. “With 165 meters, you get a thousand homes. Why do you need to take everything out of the barrel?”
D66 has not rejected the 230-meter plan but insists on more clarity. “We think it is important that decisions are made now. D66 councilor Shelley Kouwenhoven stated, "The plans have existed for years, and the towers could already have been built."
The VVD has requested a formal council debate on the matter. The architect, Powerhouse Company, did not respond to repeated requests for comment from Omroep West.
The Bellevue site is located near Bezuidenhoutseweg and Rijnstraat, close to The Hague Central Station, Koningin Julianaplein, the historic city center, and Haagse Bos. Officials describe it as a key part of the Central Innovation District, intended to address the city’s housing shortage.
