Like many other municipalities, Leeuwarden has been working on sustainability, the energy transition, and specifically the heat transition for years. In 2019, the municipality published its first vision on sustainable heat in the form of the Warmth Guide: On the road to sustainable heat. It outlined a future with a district heating network as an open and flexible system, capable of meeting future demand and accessible to new suppliers and users. At that time, there was no legislation to enable this (the so-called Third Party Access), but with a potential amendment to the Heat Act on the horizon, Leeuwarden was already preparing.
In 2020, the broader Leeuwarden Energy Agenda followed, and in 2021 the Heat Transition Vision. Both documents emphasized the importance of collective heating solutions, such as geothermal energy. Thanks to its location along the proposed heat network, large parts of Leeuwarden were considered promising.
Still, the geothermal project faced challenges. The first drilling attempts were difficult and delivered disappointing results. Additional research was required, but before it could be carried out, the project was paused due to new national conditions, set out in a letter from Minister Jetten.
While the geo-consortium (the partnership running the geothermal project) pressed pause, the municipality of Leeuwarden chose acceleration. Research was launched to determine who could hold the public majority interest in the heat network. The conclusion: the municipality itself.
This decision went beyond simply participating. It also meant actively steering implementation. Based on this research, a set of conditions and guiding principles was drawn up, which now serve as the framework for future projects.
One of the first projects to start under this new approach is in Heechterp. Here, 24 apartment blocks are being replaced by new, sustainable housing. Together with housing association Elkien, the municipality sought a suitable partner for a collective heating system. That partner became Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma. In January 2024, an intent agreement was signed.
The plan:
Elkien’s large housing stock makes the project financially feasible. A joint heat company is being prepared, with the municipality and the builder each holding a 50% share. If profits are made, residents will benefit through lower tariffs.
Middelsee is also preparing for collective heat. Unlike in Heechterp, this project concerns only new construction, without the involvement of a housing association.
The project covers a mix of homes (apartments, terraced houses, semi-detached houses) and facilities such as a school and a supermarket. A feasibility study and technical assessment have already been completed, with positive results. Further development is now underway, including research into the best balance between public and private roles.
The geothermal project on the south side of the city is getting a new chance. The plan: extract sustainable heat from geothermal energy at a depth of 3 kilometers and deliver it to part of Leeuwarden via a district heating network.
After the pause, a restart was made possible in cooperation with energy company Ennatuurlijk. The municipality and Ennatuurlijk agreed to jointly operate the network as a public-private partnership. This collaboration has been recorded in an addendum to earlier agreements.
The next steps:
If municipal participation in a heat company proves necessary, this will be submitted to the city council.
The projects in Heechterp, Middelsee, and southern Leeuwarden show that the heat transition requires customization. Each district has its own scale, technology, and form of cooperation. The municipality takes its role seriously as both driver and stakeholder.
Although many projects are still in the exploratory phase, the direction is clear. With a flexible, neighborhood-based approach, Leeuwarden is working toward a sustainable, affordable, and future-proof heating system for all its residents.
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