The Hague (The Netherlands):
rethinking the curbside for cleaner and more efficient urban logistics
The Hague is a dense administrative city with ambitious climate goals and a strong commitment to zero-emission urban mobility. As demand for deliveries continues to grow, the city is rethinking how curbside space is managed, recognising that streets need to accommodate many different users while keeping logistics efficient.
Within NEXTLOGIC, The Hague pilots Smart Loading Zones supported by Digital Twin technologies, exploring how dynamic curbside management and real-time data can improve freight operations, reduce congestion and support the transition towards zero-emission urban logistics.
A city where every metre of public space matters
In a compact and highly active urban environment, curbside space has become one of the city’s most valuable resources. Delivery vehicles, residents, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport all compete for the same limited space, making efficient management increasingly important.
Although The Hague already promotes zero-emission freight policies, traditional loading and unloading areas cannot always respond to changing demand throughout the day. At the same time, existing regulations allow loading activities in many locations beyond designated bays, making enforcement and optimisation more complex.
Within NEXTLOGIC these challenges are tackled by introducing a more flexible and data-driven approach to the management of on-street parking spaces, with a view to gaining a better understanding of how public space can better adapt to changing needs, including logistical ones, whilst at the same time supporting cleaner urban transport.
The NEXTLOGIC pilot
The pilot develops a dynamic system for managing loading and unloading spaces based on real-time demand rather than fixed allocation. Instead of assigning curbside space permanently to a single function, the project explores how these areas can become more flexible throughout the day, responding to different logistics and mobility needs.
Digital Twin technology supports this process by integrating mobility and logistics data into a virtual environment where different operational scenarios can be analysed before implementation. This allows planners and decision-makers to evaluate how changes to curbside regulations influence traffic flows, delivery efficiency and the overall use of urban space.
Alongside the deployment of Smart Loading Zones, the pilot also investigates the role of electrification in urban freight, assessing how zero-emission logistics could become part of future urban logistics management strategies. Throughout the pilot, local authorities, logistics operators and other stakeholders work together to ensure that the proposed solutions remain practical, scalable and transferable to other European cities.
Digital tools and logistics solutions
The Hague combines digital planning technologies with innovative urban logistics solutions.
Digital Twin
The Digital Twin supports the analysis and simulation of freight movements, curbside occupancy and operational scenarios. By testing different configurations before implementation, the city can make better-informed planning decisions and evaluate the impacts of future policies.
Smart loading and unloading Zones (SLZ)
Smart Loading Zones introduce a more dynamic approach to curbside management. Instead of relying on static loading bays, the pilot explores flexible allocation based on operational demand, helping delivery vehicles access appropriate spaces while reducing conflicts with other road users.
Electrification of Urban Logistics
The pilot also examines how zero-emission freight operations can be integrated into future urban logistics management strategies, supporting the city’s wider climate-neutral mobility objectives.
Expected impact
The Hague demonstrates how smarter management of existing public space can improve urban logistics without requiring major physical infrastructure changes. How?
- Testing and validating a dynamic approach to Smart Loading Zones
- Improving the efficiency of loading and unloading operations
- Reducing unnecessary circulation, congestion and freight-related emissions
- Strengthening data-driven decision-making through Digital Twin technologies
- Supporting the transition towards zero-emission urban freight transport
- Providing practical knowledge that can help other cities implement flexible curbside management strategies
The pilot also contributes to a broader understanding of how digital technologies can help cities balance competing demands for public space while improving both logistics performance and urban liveability.
Contacts
Interested in The Hague pilot? For more information about the local activities, demonstration site, or opportunities to collaborate, please get in touch with the NEXTLOGIC partners coordinating the pilot.
Hans Quak
Breda University
of Applied Sciences
Academic partner
Laurens Tuinhout
Gemeente Den Haag
City representative
Discover the other pilot cities
The Hague is just one of eight European Mission Cities demonstrating the NEXTLOGIC approach. Discover how the other pilot cities are developing and testing complementary solutions for smarter, greener and more efficient urban mobility and logistics.