Houton is a planned suburb of Utrecht. Originally a small
village of about 3000 in inhabitants, the population of Houton experienced
rapid growth in the 60s and 70s and is now home to close to 50,000 people. According
to Andre Botermans, a current planner for the town, the new design began with
the greenbelts. This is reminiscent of Garden Cities movement in the UK around the turn of the century. Garden Cities were designed for populations of 50,000 or below, and
offered city dwellers the option to move to a greener, healthier urban environment
and an escape from the scourge of the inner cities at the time. Houton struck
me as a descendant of this concept.
Residences are limited in number, and built in proximity to
schools and parks. We observed many small parks and play areas as we rode
through the town. Inside the ring road, which encircles the newer and older parts
of Houton, cars are guests, and we encountered very few motor vehicles in the
center of town, and this was palpable during our time in Houton. Bicycle and
pedestrian facilities were plentiful, well-maintained and, of course, very
connected. The general atmosphere in Houton was one of a small residential
suburb, but one that would allow far greater community interaction from the
human-speed means of traversing the landscape.
My small group enjoyed the self-led tour of Houton, and did
not have trouble navigating the area. Wayfinding in Houton is easy to follow,
as is the case in the Netherlands in general. A color coded bike map further
enhanced riders’ ability to get from A to B as a visitor to the community.
#1 Houton’s Main train station and city heart
As is the case with many central train stations in Holland,
Houton’s main station features plentiful bike parking. Houton’s parking is
located under the platforms, where bikes are protected from the elements. A small bike repair/rental shop can be found on
the parking level. As was noticeable in other municipalities we visited, Houton’s
city hall is right next to the train station, and features a bright and
welcoming foyer which offers a welcoming and open atmosphere for the residents
of Houton. The train provides critical connections to Utrecht and the rest of
Holland.
#2 Houton green belt
On the north side of town, the green belt provides a
convenient east-west connection for residents. The bike facility through the
green belt was pleasant and enjoyable to ride. Midday traffic was light, but we
noticed a wide range of riders on the paths, from young kids with parents to
older couples out to enjoy the day in an active fashion.
#3 Five wall and bicycle infrastructure
We noticed several pieces of art along the five-wall structure
in the south side of town. It was nice how the green area provided a location for
more parkland in this location. This intersection felt like it had a few spurs
leading in multiple directions, but as usual the comprehensive wayfinding made
it easy to negotiate.
#4 Bike crossing under the ring road
There is so much green here that you almost don’t notice you
are riding under a busy automobile thoroughfare. Again, Dutch road engineering provides
a seamless travel experience for both motorized and non-motorized traffic.
#6 Roundabout on two levels
This roundabout is incredible, and it demonstrates the level
of commitment the Dutch have to keeping the modes of traffic separated whenever
possible. Presumably there wasn’t space here to construct a fully protected
roundabout on the single level, so this is the next best thing. Note the
additional wayfinding to help those who might be unsure which direction the
roundabout exits will take them in.
#7 Castellum city heart
The main square in the newer part of Houton, called Castellum,
had a different feel to the original city heart by city hall. There is also a
train station here, but the buildings are a little taller, and there is more motorized
traffic in this area. Overall it felt a little less lived in than other parts
of the community.
#8 Houton facility area
Locating a variety of sports facilities just outside the
ring road is an innovative approach to encouraging active family recreational
choices. Families with multiple kids have the ability to participate in
different sports simultaneously due to the proximity of the facilities to each
other, which negates the need to use a car to travel quickly from one thing to
the next ferrying multiple kids around, for starters.
#9 Houton old village
Despite the innovative nature of Houton as a whole, the old
village section appealed to me the most in terms of atmosphere. The traditional
Dutch village vibe was especially noticeable in contrast to the more modern
parts of Houton. The stand-alone path leading to the village was nice to ride
on, and the village square created a natural gathering spot for a few ‘transportation
tourists’ seeking an end of ride ice cream.
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