Willemstad Implementation Program

Through its “Vital Centers” program, the municipality of Moerdijk is actively investing in accessible, compact, and dynamic downtown areas that serve as inviting gathering places. One of these centers is the fortified town of Willemstad.

The impetus for the “Vital Center Willemstad” implementation program stems from the municipality’s policy budget; in it, the municipality expresses its desire for Willemstad to attract more tourists, for them to stay longer, visit more places, and spend more. In this regard, the municipality is seeking to attract high-value tourists. In addition, the municipality has expressed the ambition to transform Willemstad into an accessible and compact shopping district that serves as an inviting meeting place, with an attractive mix of retail, hospitality, and cultural and recreational offerings. In Willemstad, the emphasis is also on striking a balance between tourism and recreation on the one hand and the interests of residents on the other.

The municipality of Moerdijk has asked Bureau BUITEN to develop a broadly supported implementation plan, preceded by a brief, concise vision for the center of Willemstad. In doing so, it is important to examine how the quality of Willemstad’s downtown experience can be improved for residents and visitors.

In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, opportunities for improvement in Willemstad have been identified so that they can be capitalized on collectively. The end result is this implementation program, which includes concrete projects and/or actions that can be carried out in the short or long term.

Objectives

The implementation program therefore serves the following purposes:

• Improving the business climate;
• Improving the living environment;
• Improving accessibility;
• To enhance the quality of the stay for tourists and recreational visitors, thereby increasing the length of stay and spending. In this way, we are focusing on value-added tourism.