New Delft Water Walk
Water is also stored in and under the Van Leeuwenhoek Park. This park will be 600 meters long, covering an area of approximately 2.5 ha. It is built directly atop the railway tunnel and runs north-south, from the bus station till the end of the railway tunnel. The first section of the park is complete. The second section awaits completion in 2025 of “de Hooghe Delft,” a 41-meter-high building with offices and the Lumen cinema. From 2028, you can walk around in the third section of the park, south of the Irene Boulevard. The park is / will be multifunctional, offering opportunities for sitting, playing, enjoying a cup of coffee, and more.
The multi-functional Van Leeuwenhoek Park
The park’s abundant greenery is meant to lower ambient temperatures. The central path in the Park is multi-purpose, made for walking, skating, and other activities. The slopes along the central path provide a refreshing breeze on hot days. The park’s water fountain is estimated to lower the temperature around the bus station by approximately 2 to 5 °C. Delft University of Technology has installed instruments to monitor the impact of all these measures. The Van Leeuwenhoek Park has thus become one of TU Delft’s climate labs.
Water is also stored in / along this new park, under the higher greenery along its central path. However, as the Park is laid directly atop the railway tunnel, there is little space for water storage. Therefore, reservoirs are also built alongside the park to store rainwater, such as in a basement beneath the Houttuinen, next to the Westsingel Canal. In the event of severe drought, this water can be returned to the park using pumps.
Here, here and here you can read more on the Van Leeuwenhoek Park.
