Every year in the Netherlands, gray concrete strips are replaced by trees, gardens and vegetable plots as part of the national NK Tegelwippen competition. This year, 5.5 million tiles were removed – a new record.
Since 2020, has been held in the Netherlands the “NK Tegelwippen“, an annual competition that challenges residents to replace as many paving slabs in their gardens as possible with greenery.
Between March and October, municipalities compete with each other to turn “gray” backyards into green spaces, such as gardens, flowerbeds and vegetable gardens, in what is now considered a national sport.
Known as “tile whipping” (“tegelwippen”), this initiative was conceived by creative agency Frank Lee with the support of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to encourage the greening and reforestation of urban spaces, helping cities to adapt to climate change.
To take part, residents must remove the concrete floors in their backyards (which absorb heat), replace them with trees, flowers or vegetables and record the “before and after” on the official website with photographic evidence and thus contribute to their city’s score.
According to Euronews, local authorities transport the removed tiles free of charge, using “tile cabs” that also deliver plants.
Every slab that gives way to greenery contributes to a more climate-resilient country, according to research by the University of Leiden and the University of Amsterdam. Gardens also prove to be an oasis for insects, improve the mental health of residents, provide cooling in hot summers and help rainwater drain away better, which prevents flooding.
More irregular and intense rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, puts pressure on drainage systems, making it a growing challenge in the country.
“When tiles are replaced by grass, flower beds, trees and gardens, the Netherlands becomes more climate-resistant, more comfortable for insects and animals, cooler on hot days and much more beautiful,” writes competition organizer and creative agency Frank Lee on its website. “We want to go from gray to green. Because that also makes us happier.”
Although it is not allowed to remove flagstones from public space, those without a garden can ask the local authorities for permission to build a “front garden” – a strip of vegetation between the sidewalk and the front of the property.
According to the NK Tegelwippen website, 5.5 million paving slabs were removed in the Netherlands in 2024, reaching a new record. 199 municipalities participated in this edition, almost 60% of all Dutch municipalities.
The winners were the communities of Venlo, Vlaardingen and Halderberge, which lifted the highest number of slabs per inhabitant and received the “golden shovel”. The municipality of Venlo also won the coveted “golden tile” for the highest number of tiles removed in total – 414,395.
The competition also awards “winner of the month” titles to individual participants for particularly commendable efforts.
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