Visiting the municipality of Gouda: A high bar for decarbonisation
Decarbonising municipal real estate is essential to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. Municipalities face the challenge to improve the energy performance of their ageing or less efficient buildings and make them futureproof. During a site visit organised by Duurzaam Gebouwd, the Municipality of Gouda, DWA and CFP Green Buildings shared their visions and approaches. The iconic town hall formed the backdrop for a day filled with ambitions, obstacles and smart solutions.
Step by step: How Gouda is decarbonising its municipal buildings
The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) is clear about the potential: “Hundreds of kilotonnes of carbon per year” can be saved by decarbonising public buildings. These include schools, sports facilities, municipal buildings and care institutions. Enough reason for policymakers and professionals to re-evaluate their real estate strategies.
To exchange ideas and explore concrete solutions, aldermen, policy officers and experts gathered in Gouda. The historic town hall, built between 1448 and 1450, was the setting for the visit. Soon, the building itself will undergo a two-year renovation, with sustainability and accessibility at its core.
Ambitious real estate strategy in Gouda
Alderman Thierry van Vugt, responsible for culture, heritage and real estate, explained that Gouda manages more than eighty buildings. “We’re setting the bar high. Our goal is to be gas-free and carbon-neutral by 2040, ten years earlier than the national target. That’s quite a challenge, not least due to budgetary constraints.” The real estate portfolio is highly diverse, ranging from post-war school buildings to municipal and sports facilities. “Our swimming pool, for example, is still in need of sustainability upgrades. In addition to our sustainability goals, we’re also focusing specifically on making buildings more accessible,” said Van Vugt. Collaboration with DWA has resulted in a futureproof plan for the town hall, which Gouda hopes will inspire its residents. “Today is also an opportunity to learn from other municipalities and stakeholders. That’s just as valuable.”
“Everyone is reinventing the wheel. But in the end, it’s about finding the smartest solutions, together.”
Sustainability and accessibility go hand in hand
Anne-Marie Goudzwaard, project leader for the town hall redevelopment, explained the broad scope of the project. “We’ve integrated sustainability, accessibility and heritage preservation. We’re working closely with the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE).” The new plans include a lift to the second floor, improved signage, a ground-source heat pump, and a minimum 52% carbon reduction.
Vision-driven decarbonisation in a historic setting
Wilfred van der Plas, Managing Director of DWA, emphasised the importance of an integrated approach. “We deliberately set a high standard. Sustainability isn’t just about energy—it also involves material use, mobility and inclusivity.”
He presented two design options: a ‘bronze’ plan with a hybrid heat pump, and a ‘gold’ plan with a full ground-source system. The municipal council unanimously chose the gold option. “It combines architectural interventions, like vacuum-insulated secondary glazing, with the retention and optimisation of existing installations.”
CFP Green Buildings: turning insight into action
As a participant in the site visit, CFP Green Buildings shared its expertise on strategic decarbonisation of real estate portfolios. With the Green Buildings Tool, CFP helps municipalities and other property owners assess opportunities, investments, returns and payback periods.
“It starts with a solid baseline: data on energy consumption, building condition, and more,” explained Reinier Derks, Consultant at CFP. “From there, you can develop clear plans, calculate carbon reduction, and assess other aspects like circularity, multifunctionality and biodiversity. Tools like ours help to integrate all these goals into one coherent approach.”
Insight into real estate is not only crucial for a municipality’s own portfolio—but also for broader policymaking. It enables more effective use of subsidies, targeted interventions, and acceleration at neighbourhood level.
Keys to successful decarbonisation
Wilfred van DWA concluded with four key recommendations for public-sector clients:
- Take a holistic approach – connect real estate with wider societal and policy goals
- Link to policy – use policy ambitions to drive decarbonisation
- Ensure financial continuity – secure long-term funding to avoid fragmented efforts
- Foster collaboration – build coalitions with market partners and knowledge experts
During the Q&A session, Strategic Real Estate Advisor Rachid Ihataren and Lennart Motman discussed the practicalities of decarbonising municipal buildings in Gouda. Each building requires a tailored approach. Historic structures offer different possibilities than newer ones. Critical thinking, integrated planning and smart collaboration proved to be common threads.
Text: Marvin van Kempen, Duurzaam Gebouwd.
Want to learn more?
Are you a municipality or housing association looking to start or accelerate your strategic decarbonisation journey? CFP Green Buildings offers the insights, tools and business cases to make sustainability achievable and financially viable. Get in touch with us.
