Future exploration: the Lelylijn in 2125
During the Masterplan Congress Lelylijn 2026, the future exploration of the Lelylijn in 2125 was presented. Over the past six months, De Zwarte Hond, together with Polyfern Landscape Architects and the Lelylijn Project Organization, investigated the long-term impact of the Lelylijn on the northern Netherlands.
Four scenarios explore what living, working, and everyday life could look like in 2125, and the role the Lelylijn may play within them. The study is based on scenarios developed by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) in 2025. Expanded with themes such as ecology, soil & water, and broad prosperity, the study shows that the Lelylijn is much more than rails and stations.
Key insights:
- When making the final route selection, reason from water and soil conditions to ensure the Lelylijn is climate-resilient and to stimulate spatial development (such as urbanization) in climate-robust locations.
- View the Lelylijn as a meaningful component of a future economy increasingly shaped by the characteristics of the delta in which we live.
- Consider the Lelylijn as a broad development zone across city and landscape, enabling it to support other challenges such as housing, energy, nature, and climate adaptation.
- In all scenarios, develop a well-functioning door-to-door mobility network.
By providing insights per scenario, the study helps create clarity around the choices that need to be made for the future. The future exploration is part of the Masterplan Lelylijn and can be accessed via the website of Lelylijn Project Organization.