🌿 Dutch Green Disability Care Partnership officially launched
24 November 2025 marked the official launch of the Green Disability Care Partnership in The Netherlands during a gathering at residential care park Groot Schuylenburg of ’s Heeren Loo in Apeldoorn. Thirteen green frontrunners in disability care came together to celebrate the start of a three-year joint effort to deliver a major greening impulse for the sector.
During the meeting, the new Groene Gehandicaptenzorg website was launched, and partners discussed the shared actions and ambitions for the coming period.
National network of green frontrunners
The first-wave frontrunners (in no particular order) are: ASVZ, Amarant, ’s Heeren Loo, Cosis, De Klipper Zorg, Stichting Philadelphia Zorg, Trajectum LVB, Stichting Lentekind, Middin, DeSeizoenen B.V., Dichterbij, Vanboeijen, and Ipse de Bruggen. Together, they form a strong, nationwide network.
Five pillars for greening the sector
The partners are working together on the following five pillars:
🔹 More care in nature
At least 10% of treatments and day activities take place outdoors, with specific attention to people with complex or hard-to-understand behaviour and to Positive Health.
🔹 Nature for vitality
15% of staff actively work on their vitality through nature-based activities, with clients participating wherever possible.
🔹 Green connections with the neighbourhood
Care locations actively collaborate with surrounding neighbourhoods, for example through green projects and accessible walking routes.
🔹 A greener physical environment
Care sites become cooler, more biodiverse, climate-friendly and more pleasant places to live and work.
🔹 Knowledge sharing and research
Frontrunners exchange experiences, share best practices and stimulate sector-wide learning and research.
Looking ahead to 2028
By the end of 2028, the third year of the Partnership, the shared ambition is that:
🔹 The Green Disability Care Partnership is a well-established concept within the sector.
🔹 All frontrunners have completed an inspiration programme centred on the five pillars, leading to concrete action plans and tangible results: greater vitality for clients, staff and nature, and clear benefits experienced by local residents.
🔹 Three knowledge- and inspiration sessions are organised annually, creating a strong positive momentum within the participating organisations.
🔹 Support programmes – including financial support – help frontrunners further accelerate greening.
Visit to the care park
During a walk across residential care park Groot Schuylenburg, guided by members of the Clients’ Council, participants experienced how residents and staff already make extensive use of the green environment, supported by a new and highly attractive walking and exercise trail.
The afternoon concluded with in-depth conversations on key themes – and, of course, with cake to celebrate the festive start of Green Disability Care.
The Green Disability Care Partnership aligns with the ambitions of the Green Deal “Working Together for Sustainable Healthcare 3.0” and the Collective Nature-Inclusive.