Breda National Park City
Breda National Park City
In 2025, Breda became the first National Park City in the Netherlands and EU, and the fourth worldwide.
Breda National Park City is a grassroots movement of all the people in the city working on transforming Breda into a city within a natural park. Nature enthusiasts, gardeners, artists, entrepreneurs, vegetable growers, tree planters – in short, everyone who wishes to enhance urban biodiversity can participate.
Breda’s ambition is to become one of the most nature-rich cities in Europe by 2030, closely collaborating with the municipality of Breda, which shares the same goal within its urban planning policies. The first step towards this goal was the recognition of the city’s status as a National Park City.
National Park City status is formally recognised by the accrediting body, the National Park City Foundation, in conjunction with World Urban Parks and Salzburg Global.
Over more than a decade Breda has worked hard to champion urban rewilding, with an impressive 60 percent of the city made up of green spaces
The city is home to tiny forests, picturesque walking and biking trails, a thriving canal network and innovative community food growing programmes.
Flagship projects in the city include Green Quays – an initiative designed to bring more nature into its densely packed medieval city centre by revitalising the river Mark and transforming its quays into green spaces. All of the above has helped Breda rightfully earn its moniker as the ‘Pearl of the South’.
Breda aims to be a CO2 neutral city by 2044 and residents are supported to meet this goal with municipality subsidies for green roofs, green facades, rainwater facilities, paving removal, and garden greening, transforming their homes into sustainable, low-impact spaces.
Get in touch with the National Park City Foundation
Get In Touch
We’re here to guide cities through the process of becoming a National Park City. Contact us today to find out how to take the first step.
