[ECO]What is Tile Whipping?

[Eco 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Netherlands improves climate resilience by removing impermeable surfaces with a creative “tile whipping” contest.

Since 2020, a unique competition has been sweeping across the Netherlands: Tegelwippen, or “tile whipping.” This contest challenges Dutch municipalities to remove as many paving stones and other impermeable surfaces as possible from their neighborhoods. The aim? To create more green spaces, promote biodiversity, and make Dutch cities and towns more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Climate resilience is a serious issue in a country where much of the land ***** below sea level. The frequency and intensity of rainfall have been increasing, which can overwhelm drainage systems and lead to flooding. To combat these challenges, municipalities have come together to participate in this eco-friendly competition, which has become a nationwide phenomenon over the past four years.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

is a simple yet effective concept. Residents and municipalities remove tiles, concrete, tarmac, and gravel from their gardens, streets, and other paved areas, replacing them with green spaces like trees, grass, flower beds, and vegetable gardens. These changes help to absorb rainwater, reduce heat, and improve the environment for both people and wildlife.

The competition began in 2020 as a friendly rivalry between the Netherlands’ largest cities, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. However, the idea quickly gained traction. By 2021, 81 municipalities had signed up to participate, and the numbers have only grown. In 2023, a record-breaking 173 municipalities across the country participated, each eager to make their surroundings greener and more sustainable.

The results of the Tile Whipping competition have been impressive. Over the past four years, more than 11 million tiles have been removed and replaced with nature. This mass removal of paving stones has transformed urban areas, allowing for better water absorption, more shade, and improved habitats for plants and animals.

Municipalities and residents are encouraged to submit before-and-after photos of their tile-whipping projects. Each month, the participant with the most impressive transformation is awarded the title of “Whipper of the Month” and receives a gardening package as a prize. This incentive has helped to fuel excitement around the competition, with many people taking pride in contributing to a greener, healthier environment.

In the 2023 edition of the competition, the municipality of Venlo in the province of Limburg was pronounced the winner. Venlo managed to remove an astounding 14,636 tiles, which equates to 144 tiles for every 1,000 residents. This achievement earned them the top spot in the Tegelwippen competition and recognition for their commitment to environmental sustainability.

The primary motivation behind Tile Whipping is to create climate-resilient neighborhoods. Due to climate change, heavy rainfalls are becoming more frequent in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is creating

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

by removing these impermeable tiled surfaces and replacing them with gardens, lawns, and trees.

The removed materials don’t go to waste. The materials collected during the competition are recycled as part of the sustainability initiative. They are reused as building materials that can be used for various purposes, including reinforcing the foundations of older homes that are starting to crumble.

As the impacts of climate change continue to grow, other countries could learn from the Netherlands’ approach. By replacing paved surfaces with green spaces, urban areas worldwide could better manage rainfall, reduce the risk of flooding, and create healthier environments for residents. The success of Tile Whipping shows that even small changes—like removing a few tiles from a garden—can have a big impact when everyone works together.

In the coming years, the Tile Whipping competition is expected to grow even further, with more municipalities and residents joining the effort to whip away tiles and embrace nature. It’s a simple but effective way to combat the effects of climate change, and it’s turning the Netherlands into a greener, more resilient country, one tile at a time.

The post

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

appeared first on

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up