How Municipality Hengelo Gets Grip on Its Green: Data as Compass for a Livable City

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Cities are under pressure to become greener, healthier and more climate resilient

Urban areas are changing rapidly. Cities continue to grow, public space becomes more limited and climate pressure keeps increasing. Heat stress, water storage, biodiversity loss and livability are no longer future concerns. Municipalities are already dealing with them today.

At the same time, expectations continue to rise. Residents expect greener neighborhoods, healthier living environments and visible climate adaptation measures, while municipalities must make strategic decisions within limited space and budgets.

That creates a growing challenge: how do you make green policy measurable, defensible and future-proof?

For the Municipality of Hengelo, that question became increasingly important as urban development and population growth continued to place pressure on the city’s green balance. Instead of relying on assumptions, Hengelo chose a data-driven approach together with Duurzaamheidskaart.

Green is no longer decoration. It is becoming urban infrastructure.

Urban green increasingly plays a strategic role in climate adaptation and quality of life. Trees and green zones no longer only improve appearance. They influence heat reduction, biodiversity, water storage, air quality and the overall health of neighborhoods.

That means municipalities need more than general ambitions around sustainability. They need measurable spatial insight into where green is lacking, which neighborhoods are vulnerable and where investments create the greatest impact.

Hengelo developed a comprehensive green analysis to better understand:

• current green balance

• biodiversity and tree quality

• green availability per resident

• shade and heat stress

• climate adaptation opportunities

• future spatial developments

The municipality also examined how population growth, new construction projects and changing climate conditions could influence future green needs across the city. This transformed green policy from reactive maintenance into strategic urban planning.

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Data-driven green insight improves prioritization and decision-making

One of the biggest challenges for municipalities is determining where investments create the most value. Without spatial insight, green policy often remains fragmented. Decisions are based on assumptions, isolated projects or short-term priorities instead of measurable impact.

By combining spatial analyses with concrete indicators, Hengelo gained clearer insight into:

• neighborhoods with limited green access

• areas vulnerable to heat stress

• biodiversity distribution

• tree quality and age balance

• opportunities for water retention and cooling

• locations where green investments would have the greatest effect

That insight helped the municipality make decisions with greater confidence and substantiation. As a result, Hengelo achieved measurable improvements in multiple areas:

• improved resident perception of green spaces

• expansion of parks and green infrastructure

• additional tree planting initiatives

• increased biodiversity measures

• stronger integration of climate-adaptive solutions

More importantly, the municipality gained a clearer framework for long-term green development and investment prioritization.

Future-proof municipalities require continuous spatial insight

Climate adaptation and livability are not one-time projects. They require continuous monitoring, analysis and adjustment. For municipalities, this means green policy increasingly depends on:

• ongoing spatial measurements

• trend analysis

• resident participation

• climate adaptation scenarios

• transparent communication

• measurable KPIs and objectives

Hengelo’s approach shows how municipalities can use spatial insight not only to measure existing conditions, but also to anticipate future challenges earlier.

That includes:

• identifying vulnerable neighborhoods

• planning climate-resilient green structures

• improving water storage capacity

• strengthening biodiversity

• creating healthier public spaces

• prioritizing investments more strategically

As climate pressure continues to grow, municipalities that combine data, spatial analysis and long-term vision are better positioned to create resilient and livable cities.

Data-driven green policy creates stronger and more defensible urban decisions

Municipalities increasingly need measurable insight to support policy, investments and communication with residents and stakeholders. Duurzaamheidskaart helps municipalities make green quality, climate impact and spatial opportunities geographically visible through data-driven analyses and dashboards.

By connecting spatial data, green indicators and future scenarios, municipalities gain clearer insight into where intervention is needed and which decisions create the greatest long-term value.

That allows green policy to move beyond ambition alone. It becomes measurable, strategic and better substantiated. And precisely there, spatial insight becomes essential for building healthier, greener and future-proof cities.

👉 Discover how Green Insight helps municipalities improve livability and climate resilience through data-driven green policy