Compact residential project on the Old Rhine

In the green, with the center of Leiden at your fingertips

De Veerplaats in Leiden will be a compact collection of homes on the banks of the Oude Rijn River. Via the stairs you descend to the water and enjoy the green surroundings, while all the amenities of Leiden are just around the corner. Construction company Niersman is building 12 townhouses, 4 water villas and 13 apartments there.

The banks of the Old Rhine used to be connected by a ferry. That connection is now reflected in the name of the project and in its design. In fact, the homes are connected by a common roof garden with the parking garage underneath. This garden is not only for the residents, but for anyone who wants it. Monumental stairs lead to and from this courtyard.

Shared and private garden

INBO Architects designed the houses, after which Niersman took care of the further detailing. She directs all subcontractors and is responsible for the entire construction. This will be high-quality and sustainable, with larch wood facades and Flagstones on the first floor, says Gert de Groot of Niersman. "Developer Catsheuvel won the competition for this plan, which had to fit on the lot. It came about in cooperation with the municipality of Leiden. The latter also furnishes the entire outdoor space at the property borders of the houses with seating areas and greenery."  

In addition to that outdoor space and the roof garden, all homes will have their own balcony or sitting area. So residents can enjoy a bit of privacy.

In addition to the use of materials, sustainability and energy efficiency are being considered in other ways. For example, district heating will be used and all homes will be connected to a heat network. PV panels will be installed on the roofs.

Buyer's choices

These are upper and middle segment homes for people around middle age. They also have some say in their future accommodation. For example, there are buyers' choices in terms of kitchens, interior layout, window frames, tiling and plumbing. This too is supervised by Niersman. By now, all the owner-occupied homes have been sold. The rental homes will go on the market at a later date, when the completion is approaching. This is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.