Assen on the Aa

The city of Assen was founded on an upper course of the Drentsche Aa system in the thirteenth century. It enjoys the enviable position of sharing a border for a large part of its length with the Drentsche Aa region, one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Netherlands. Our plan for the eastern outskirts of Assen interweaves the city with the countryside and brings the atmosphere and qualities of the Drentsche Aa region right into the centre of the city. The fragments of brooks and brook gulleys are linked to create a structure of new green/blue fingers. These fingers restructure the urban fabric, connect urban and rural recreational networks with one another, provide an ecological network in the city, and take on an important function as an urban water storage facility. We also envisage strengthening the landscape quality, giving estates significance, and enriching the area with particular spots, such as small-scale recreational functions.

Our vision for the entire eastern outskirts has been elaborated in a book of projects and ideas. This has involved intensive cooperation with the local population, interest groups and local businesses. They have joined in determining the ingredients of the design and will also contribute to its implementation. This project is a real coproduction between our firm and a large number of staff of the Assen local authority, various other local government organisations, interest groups and residents of Assen. They have given the vision its particular character and are responsible for a large number of project proposals and ideas.