Sweco Belgium
Passage De Haan: from traffic artery to vibrant village centre
How do you transform a busy traffic artery into a place that is pleasant to live, meet and move in again? That question was central to the study process for the redesign of the passage through De Haan along the Nieuwe Rijksweg (N34y).
Commissioned by the Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV), together with the Department of Environment, the Province of West Flanders and the municipality of De Haan, Sweco carried out the design and technical research for this strategic location.
From traffic node to village core
The current passage is dominated by car traffic, with a complex and unclear intersection at Leopold Avenue and Stationsstraat. With the arrival of the F34 cycle highway along the coast, the need arose to fundamentally rethink not only mobility, but also the liveability and spatial quality of De Haan’s centre. Sweco examined how these various ambitions could be reconciled in one coherent design.
Design research and technical substantiation
During the study, Sweco developed several layout scenarios: with and without a tunnel, with short underpasses, and with a fully at-grade solution. These scenarios were assessed based on:
- traffic safety and flow,
- spatial quality and quality of stay,
- technical and geotechnical feasibility,
- costs and maintenance.
Sweco conducted soil and groundwater studies, among other things, and technically calculated various alternatives. This integrated approach made it possible to make well-founded choices, independent of preconceived solutions.
Participation as a design tool
An essential part of the process was the dialogue with residents, shopkeepers and local stakeholders. Through dialogue sessions and design workshops, local knowledge was actively incorporated into the design.
This participatory approach not only resulted in better plans, but also broad support. Step by step, a preferred solution emerged, focusing on a clear traffic structure, lower speeds in the centre and more space for social interaction.
The preliminary design: safer, greener and more human
The preliminary design presented today deliberately does not opt for a tunnel, but for a clear and balanced redesign. In this way, the passage evolves from a barrier into a connecting element within De Haan.
- a speed limit of 30 km/h in the core area,
- maintained accessibility with a clear traffic structure,
- integration of the F34 cycle highway,
- more space for greenery, squares and public life,
- a strengthened village heart where meeting once again takes centre stage.
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