Dan Raven-Ellison, original founder of the National Park City movement, summarises why Breda will make an exemplary National Park City.
A City with All the Right Ingredients
Breda has everything it takes to become a highly impactful National Park City. The city brings together a strong community of people, projects, and organisations all working to make it better for both people and nature. Initiatives range from re-naturing the River Mark in the city centre to nature-friendly food-growing cooperatives. One of the city’s ecologists is actively working to enhance the diversity of human gut biomes. Meanwhile, innovators are transforming derelict buildings into “nature factories” that boost urban biodiversity.
Experiencing Breda on Foot
During our visit, we explored Breda both with expert guides and independently on foot. Walking through the city, we experienced firsthand its strong culture of maintaining green, blue, and active travel spaces. These spaces connect seamlessly, making it easy for people to move through the city under their own steam. As we wandered, we discovered tiny urban forests, large-scale wildlife street art, and community-driven projects that replaced car parking spaces with mini-parks. Together, these elements show just how creatively and practically Breda integrates nature into its urban landscape.
Room to Grow
While there is much to celebrate, opportunities exist to involve even more people and expand initiatives that connect communities more deeply with nature. In fact, supporting that kind of growth is precisely what a National Park City should help communities achieve.
A Committed and Skilled Team
We have been highly impressed by Breda and its National Park City team. A highly skilled, enthusiastic, and committed group of people leads Breda’s National Park City journey. Together, they bring a deep understanding of the city, its people, and its nature. Furthermore, their ambitious plans to make Breda greener, healthier, wilder, and fairer are entirely achievable with the right support and resources. There is so much that current and future National Park City communities can learn from Breda — and we cannot wait for that to happen.
A Successful Peer Review
The Breda National Park City campaign submitted their portfolio on 8th November 2023 in support of their application to become the first National Park City in the Netherlands. Following this, an in-depth peer review took place, including an in-person visit from 20th to 23rd May 2024. The final peer review concluded on 10th April 2025.
As a result, the National Park City Foundation, in conjunction with Salzburg Global and World Urban Parks, is proud to award Breda the status of National Park City. We look forward to Breda playing a full and active role in the National Park City movement. Congratulations!
With Heartfelt Thanks
We extend our gratitude to the entire Breda National Park City team — especially Joost Barendrecht and Tom Rozendal. We also thank the many individuals, groups, and organisations who contributed, as well as the Municipality of Breda for the leadership it showed throughout the process.
We are especially grateful for the voluntary contributions, time, wisdom, and experience of our expert peer reviewers, the staff and Trustees of the National Park City Foundation, and the wider supporters of the National Park City movement.
