Woonerf
May 10, 2024
How Canadians are bringing a Dutch idea to life
Woonerf is a Dutch word that roughly translates to “living street.” Historically, streets have served as bustling social hubs, but the boom of motorized traffic pushed people to the edges of these avenues. To restore community interaction and safety — creating spaces where people can meet, pedestrians and cyclists can move around freely and children can play safely — the woonerf concept emerged in the Netherlands in the late 1960s and gained traction worldwide.