Key Takeaways
- The 2024 Healthy City Index has ranked Apeldoorn, Netherlands as the healthiest city in Europe.
- Combining low crime rates, social cohesion and sustainable infrastructure, the city is a great place to live.
- Obviously green spaces support not only ecological well being, but also psychological well being.
- It came as the city overtook Maastricht, two years running the top spot.
- The Netherlands remains a health conscious living country within Europe.
Introduction
It’s not about not having disease, but being able to be well, socially and environmentally. Top of the 2024 Healthy City Index: Apeldoorn the Netherlands, blending safety, green infrastructure, and social harmony. It’s a beacon for cities across Europe.
Apeldoorn’s Path to Recognition
It is no surprise that Apeldoorn has been steadily rising through the Arcadis Healthy City Index. In 2020 it was ranked fifth, which improved to third in 2022 and now ranks first in 2024. This biannual study grades cities on the crime rates, road safety, and the health of the community.
However, in the ‘healthy community’ category Apeldoorn particularly excelled. A well functioning society thus has low levels of anxiety and high social cohesion, shown by its being an ‘It’. Apeldoorn has succeeded where so many urban centres are struggling with post pandemic stress in terms of fostering resilience of its residents.
Green Infrastructure role.
One of Apeldoorn’s specialities is the green spaces, namely the parks, gardens and natural reserve. But these areas not only beautify the city but greatly lower stress levels. Eke Schins, Arcadis researcher, emphasised that these natural spaces play a crucial role in contracting the adverse effects of the pandemic on people’s mental health.
During COVID-19, cities around the globe became increasingly more tense socially, but Apeldoorn made a commitment to integrating nature into urban life, offering its citizens a sanctuary. Apart from being a design choice, greenery is a tool for public well being.
Safety and Social Cohesion
Another pillar of Apeldoorn’s success is low crime rates. Its socially built strong fabric of mutual trust and active community involvement made the city to feel safe and belonging. Local initiatives help to create the welcoming atmosphere and to rally the residents whilst participating together.
A Blueprint for Europe
The example set by Apeldoorn inspires other European cities. The example shows us that small cities can provide unbeatable quality of life when managed with care. In doing so, Apeldoorn is challenging larger metropolitan areas to transform the way that they live in the city.
Conclusion
Apeldoorn is more than a city: it is a view to the future, of balanced growth and well being. The storey behind the failure to achieve their health or their life is that it can be done, strategically, through governance, integration and the community. It reminds us a better urban future is possible, and is already happening.
