Tree visible from every home: RIVM updates rules for public space

Every home in the Netherlands should have a play area for children within a few hundred meters and greenery within sight. These are some of the “rules of thumb” the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has established for the design of public spaces. Policy makers can use these rules to design spaces that make people feel more comfortable and encourage healthier behavior.

The health institute spoke of “soft values,” such as exercise, green spaces, and opportunities for socializing. These values contribute to an environment “that is perceived as pleasant and in which health risks are limited.” The RIVM investigated how these values can be translated into “hard” standards.

That investigation, which included consultations with experts and municipalities, resulted in this list of rules. To encourage exercise, the institute recommends a play area for children within 200 meters of every home. A minimum of one hectare of “exercise green space,” such as a lawn, must be available within 300 meters of every home. At least three types of sports facilities must be available within 1.5 kilometers of each home.

More greenery in the neighborhood also has health benefits. Residents of every home should be able to see nature from their homes. “This could be three trees,” the RIVM wrote, “But it can also be another green feature, such as a small grove, a green facade, or a garden.” A “network of greenery” also protects against heat stress.

To encourage people to socialize more, sidewalks should be wider so that people can more easily stop for a chat without getting in each other’s way. There should also be a place to sit every 125 meters, preferably in a shady spot and at the edge of a square, “so there’s something to see.” The RIVM also thinks artworks or other objects can spark conversations between strangers.

The RIVM developed these guidelines at the request of the Ministry of Public Health, the Dutch municipalities, the municipal health services (GGDs), and the provinces. The intention is to add more rules to this list for other topics.