Green Wedges Arnhem-Nijmegen-Foodvalley

The concept of the green wedges can be understood as a ‘green finger’ extending into the city from the surrounding landscape. These green wedges connect large natural areas with the urban environment and often extend deep into the city. At the same time, they keep cities separate and prevent built-up areas from becoming a single, contiguous whole. This creates a clear contrast between city and landscape, with both retaining their own distinct qualities.
Each green wedge is part of a larger system, yet at the same time has its own character. This is because the subsoil, the water system and the existing landscape differ from one location to another. Some green wedges are situated on sandy soils, others in the riverine area or in peatland. These differences determine how a green wedge is designed and which functions take centre stage, such as nature development, water storage, agriculture or recreation. This results not in a standard solution, but in a family of ‘scheggen’, each with its own identity.

Within the wedges, a so-called green-blue framework is employed: a coherent network of water, nature and landscape elements covering approximately 35% of the area. This framework forms the basis for biodiversity, climate adaptation and recreation. The remaining space is largely used as productive landscape, such as for agriculture. This combination creates a multifunctional area in which different objectives come together, rather than competing with one another.
The green wedges are not only important for nature and the landscape, but also for the city itself. They provide space for recreation close to home, such as walking and cycling, and ensure cooling and water retention in a changing climate. Furthermore, they make the landscape visible and accessible to residents once again. Instead of a hard boundary between city and countryside, a gradual transition emerges, in which people can experience the landscape on a daily basis.
Ultimately, the green wedges offer a way to organise growth differently: not by separating the city and the landscape, but by consciously interweaving them. They give direction to urbanisation, enhance the quality of the landscape and ensure a future-proof region in which there is room for both people and nature.