Working together on new policy for caravans
The City of Leeuwarden has enacted new policy with regard to the caravans within the city. This page has more information about what we have done so far, what is changing and what we are still going to do.
What we have done so far
- We started an investigation into the preferences of caravan residents in January 2025.
- We shared the results in June 2025.
- We next spoke to residents about the results and if anything was still unclear.
- In February 2026, the city council asked questions about the new policy.
- In March 2026, the Municipal Executive definitively adopted the new policy.
What is the new policy
- More space for caravans. Anyone who wants to live in a caravan, should be given the opportunity to do so. The waiting period should not exceed that of social housing.
- More sites
- The local authority wants to realise around 30 new sites.
- There will be 1 or 2 locations:
- 1 for funfair families
- 1 for other families
- One administrating organisation
- There are currently two administrators: the local authority and WoonFriesland. Soon, there will be 1 administrator that takes care of everything: letting, registering and allocating.
- Allocating sites The order for allocating sites is:
- Family members in the first degree: parents, partner, children.
- Family members in the second degree: brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren and parents-in-law.
- Persons from a caravan community working in Leeuwarden.
- Other persons working in Leeuwarden.
Those who have been registered longest will be given priority within groups 1, 2, 3 and 4. Receiving an income from a funfair is not longer a requirement.
- Better contact with residents
- there will be a fixed contact person;
- we will determine together with residents who can represent their interests.
The Municipal Executive has definitively adopted the Memorandum of principles for caravans and pitches in the City of Leeuwarden (part A) including the explanation (part B), the implementation agenda (part C) and the written response to the comments and questions of the city council about the draft memorandum. You will find the documents on the Administrative Information (opens in new tab) website.
Investigation
The first step was a survey (opens in new tab). If you have trouble reading the document, please contact us. The local authority wanted to know how many people would like a caravan site. Almost 90% of residents and interested parties from the 4 caravan sites in Leeuwarden participated in the survey.
Main findings of the survey
- there are many people who want a caravan site: 44 adults and 14 children want one between now and 8 years.
- half of these people want a site as soon as possible.
- most people would like to live in a site that already exists. If that is not possible, a new site is also acceptable.
- many people like to live with family members.
- most residents who have a site now want to stay there.
- many people want more information about how the sites will be allocated, how to register and how maintenance will be arranged.
- many residents feel that contact with the local authority could be better.
What are we going to do
- 2026: Making an appointment for parties representing the interests of the caravan community.
- 2026: Research into new locations.
- 2026–2027: Discussions about 1 administrator.
- 2031–2033: New pitches ready.
Questions
Contact the City of Leeuwarden.
Quick to:
What we have done so far
- We started an investigation into the preferences of caravan residents in January 2025.
- We shared the results in June 2025.
- We next spoke to residents about the results and if anything was still unclear.
- In February 2026, the city council asked questions about the new policy.
- In March 2026, the Municipal Executive definitively adopted the new policy.
What is the new policy
- More space for caravans. Anyone who wants to live in a caravan, should be given the opportunity to do so. The waiting period should not exceed that of social housing.
- More sites
- The local authority wants to realise around 30 new sites.
- There will be 1 or 2 locations:
- 1 for funfair families
- 1 for other families
- One administrating organisation
- There are currently two administrators: the local authority and WoonFriesland. Soon, there will be 1 administrator that takes care of everything: letting, registering and allocating.
- Allocating sites The order for allocating sites is:
- Family members in the first degree: parents, partner, children.
- Family members in the second degree: brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren and parents-in-law.
- Persons from a caravan community working in Leeuwarden.
- Other persons working in Leeuwarden.
Those who have been registered longest will be given priority within groups 1, 2, 3 and 4. Receiving an income from a funfair is not longer a requirement.
- Better contact with residents
- there will be a fixed contact person;
- we will determine together with residents who can represent their interests.
The Municipal Executive has definitively adopted the Memorandum of principles for caravans and pitches in the City of Leeuwarden (part A) including the explanation (part B), the implementation agenda (part C) and the written response to the comments and questions of the city council about the draft memorandum. You will find the documents on the Administrative Information (opens in new tab) website.
Investigation
The first step was a survey (opens in new tab). If you have trouble reading the document, please contact us. The local authority wanted to know how many people would like a caravan site. Almost 90% of residents and interested parties from the 4 caravan sites in Leeuwarden participated in the survey.
Main findings of the survey
- there are many people who want a caravan site: 44 adults and 14 children want one between now and 8 years.
- half of these people want a site as soon as possible.
- most people would like to live in a site that already exists. If that is not possible, a new site is also acceptable.
- many people like to live with family members.
- most residents who have a site now want to stay there.
- many people want more information about how the sites will be allocated, how to register and how maintenance will be arranged.
- many residents feel that contact with the local authority could be better.
What are we going to do
- 2026: Making an appointment for parties representing the interests of the caravan community.
- 2026: Research into new locations.
- 2026–2027: Discussions about 1 administrator.
- 2031–2033: New pitches ready.
Questions
Contact the City of Leeuwarden.