Foundation in the making that is taking care of the livability of communities around VDL Nedcar

Flourishing grassland in the compensation area near VDL Nedcar, with the Sterrenbos on the left, the car factory in the middle, and displaced poplars, birches, and elms originating from the Sterrenbos on the right.

VDL Nedcar is establishing a foundation that, primarily through green compensation, will make a contribution to the livability in and around the residential areas in the immediate vicinity of the car factory in Born. This foundation will be called Stichting Groenfonds omgeving VDL Nedcar.

The establishment of this foundation with this social purpose stems from agreements made by VDL Nedcar in early 2022 with Stichting De Groene Sporenwolf (DGS), to address objections to VDL Nedcar's expansion plans. DGS, the municipalities of Echt-Susteren and Sittard-Geleen, and VDL Nedcar each appoint two board members who will sit on the foundation's board.

Composition of the founding board

On behalf of DGS, board members Raymond Schlössels and Dirkjan van der Hoven will serve on the new foundation. On behalf of Sittard-Geleen, this will be the aldermen for economic affairs and green and nature and landscape, respectively Yvonne Salvino-Meijer and Ivo Tillie. Echt-Susteren intends to delegate aldermen Peter Pustjens (nature, management and landscape) and Hub Meuwissen (redevelopment project Nieuwstadt/VDL Nedcar/A2). For VDL Nedcar, CFO Dennis te Boekhorst and project manager François Brand will serve on the foundation's board. The aim is to establish Stichting Groenfonds omgeving VDL Nedcar by 1 May 2023.

Projects

In addition to the compensation already made, VDL Nedcar will provide a sum of 1.8 million euros to the foundation. Which projects the foundation will undertake will be decided by the foundation's board after its establishment. In any case, it will involve projects focused on green development and improving the livability in and around the residential areas near VDL Nedcar. 

Good understanding

"We attach great importance to maintaining a good relationship with the residents in our area," says director John van Soerland of VDL Nedcar. "As is well known, the livability of the residential communities and the local ecology near our car factory are close to our hearts. It is natural for us to want to invest in them."

Nature Compensation

The new foundation forms the final piece of an extensive compensation programme, which includes: relocating trees, planting trees (three times the number of felled trees), 130 bat boxes, new badger setts, new herb-rich grassland, new fruit trees, new beehives, a socially, sustainably, and circularly renovated castle, new cycling and walking paths to enhance the recreational character of the area, and efforts to realise a pedestrian bridge over the provincial road (N297). Furthermore, VDL Nedcar is in discussions with regional education authorities to have pupils in practical woodworking education produce wooden street furniture destined for use in and around the Wolfrath recreation area.

'Beautiful results'

The ecologists who regularly monitor the compensation area speak of ‘good results’. In and around the Sterrenbos, dozens of bat boxes show signs of occupancy (droppings). The boxes at Wolfrath Castle are also in use, and bats have been observed in pole boxes within the compensation area. During an inspection, it was also confirmed that one of the badger setts is in use. Additionally, rare insect species have been found in the compensation area.