100 Trees – Growing Nature, Growing Communities

How can we make Buikslotermeerplein greener while also creating more space for people to meet and connect? This was the challenge taken on by The Regreeners, six students from the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab Amsterdam. Conversations with residents, visitors and stakeholders revealed a clear need for more greenery and inviting places to sit, meet others and spend more time in the square.

The result is 100 Trees: a movable Green Island that brings nature and social connection together. Modular planters filled with plants, flowers and small trees are combined with seating areas. The elements can be placed in different locations around Buikslotermeerplein and rearranged as needed. This flexibility is particularly important as the square will continue to develop and change in the coming years.

But 100 Trees is about more than making the square greener. Local residents can take part in planting and caring for the greenery and, for example, dedicate a plant to someone who is important to them. Step by step, this creates a place that is not only greener, but also connects people, stories and the community.

The concept was explored, tested and further developed together with local residents and various stakeholders. During the Evening Market on 28 May 2026, the students presented their prototypes and scale model and engaged in conversations with more than 150 visitors. The responses showed strong enthusiasm for more greenery and permanent green interventions at Buikslotermeerplein.

100 Trees demonstrates how a relatively small intervention can contribute to a larger ambition: creating a greener, more social and more attractive Heart of North.