Municipality purchases strategic locations in the centre of Sittard

Gemeente Sittard-Geleen

V.l.n.r. Wethouder Leon Geilen, Paul Berden, Mark Berden en wethouder Andries Houtakkers

The municipality of Sittard-Geleen is actively working on a large-scale redevelopment of the centre of Sittard. Changing times call for direction and vision to keep the city centre attractive and vibrant.

This includes a smaller, more compact core, surrounded by a lively outer zone where retail, housing, social interaction, and services together create an appealing approach area.

Huis aan de Markt

An important pillar of this transformation is the development of the so-called Huis aan de Markt on the site of the former V&D department store. On 27 March 2024, the municipality and Berden signed a development agreement for this location. Among other things, it was agreed that Berden’s store would be relocated from Steenweg to a department-store concept within the Huis aan de Markt.

All detailed agreements have now been finalized, clearing the way for the realization of Huis aan de Markt, which is set to open its doors no later than 1 January 2029.

Sittard city centre

The Province of Limburg is helping to make the redevelopment of the city centre possible through a subsidy of €2.3 million. A condition of this subsidy is that the retail floor space (“retail meters”) is transferred from Steenweg to Huis aan de Markt, and that the retail designation at the Steenweg location is removed.

To make this possible, the municipality is taking the lead by purchasing Berden’s current store location. This also immediately secures the municipality an important strategic position in the further development of the approach area between the railway station and the core shopping centre, as part of the Sittard-Central programme.

To enable the overall area development, the municipality has chosen to acquire additional strategically located properties in the area. For example, the building on the corner of Steenweg and Rijksweg-Zuid (formerly the Fair Play casino) has now also been purchased.

Strategic acquisitions

These purchases align in several ways with the course set by the municipality. They fit within the Environmental Vision 2025–2040, the Land Policy Memorandum, and the Active Acquisition Policy.

The acquisitions involve a total amount of approximately €2.5 million: €2 million for the Berden location and €450,000 for the former casino. The properties acquired will be added to the development sites within the Sittard-Central programme.

“The conditions for the further development of Huis aan de Markt have now been fulfilled,” says Alderman Andries Houtakkers. “Since the moment we jointly expressed our intention, all parties have worked hard to make this possible. Now the path is clear, and together we are taking the next step toward Huis aan de Markt.”

“But not only that,” adds Alderman Geilen. “Through the targeted acquisition of the properties on Steenweg and Rijksweg-Zuid, we are putting ourselves in a strong position to develop the city centre in a coherent way. In this way, we can strengthen Sittard and work toward the final vision outlined in the environmental plan.”

Next steps

The Municipal Executive will submit the financial and planning frameworks of the proposal to the City Council. Council deliberations are scheduled for 5 March 2026. The Council will then decide on the amendment to the Environmental Plan, the budget allocation, and the proposed conditions.

Following a positive decision, the further elaboration of the redevelopment will proceed in collaboration with Berden, the Province of Limburg, and other parties involved.

Gemeente Sittard-Geleen

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