What was the impact or result of this Brave Decision?
Today, the Spoorzone symbolizes a different Tilburg. Historic halls have been given new functions: places to work, learn, and meet. New pathways connect north and south, east and west – both literally and figuratively. Where production and seclusion once reigned, an open culture of collaboration, knowledge, and pride now flourishes. The LocHal, once a locomotive shed, is now the beating (public) heart of the city.
Who was the master mind of the Brave Decision?
The opening of the Spoorzone was the result of years of effort by successive city leaders. In 2010, the area was transferred to the municipality, but its activation was rooted in the strength of the local community. The gates opened, creating space for encounters, experimentation, and shared ownership.
Under Alderman Bas van der Pol, the development has entered a new phase. With the introduction of the Environmental Quality Memorandum, Tilburg is charting a course for a contemporary design and building culture – one that centers on collaboration, heritage, and future-oriented development. By honoring both past and future, and investing in high-quality spaces for everyone, the Spoorzone is a continuous process of city-making – living proof that Tilburg dares to share its future.
