As part of Pilot A of the MONA project, Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park (NPUH), together with Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide and Montagne de Reims Regional Park, is working on a modal shift from car dependency and towards more sustainable modes such as walking and cycling. To support this goal, NPUH has commissioned consultancy firm Rebel Group (Living Mobility) to coordinate the joint development of a shared long-term vision for sustainable mobility, in close collaboration with public authorities, transport operators, and regional stakeholders. You can read more about this cooperation here.
On 16 April 2025, the first working session of this joint visioning process for sustainable recreational mobility in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and surrounding areas took place. A diverse group of participants—including representatives from public bodies, transport providers, and organisations such as NS (Dutch Railways), ANWB (national road users service organisation), Routebureau Utrecht (recreational routing agency in the province of Utrecht), Visio (a centre of expertise for people with visual impairments), and the NPUH Youth Council—gathered to explore what sustainable leisure mobility could look like in 2050. The session was led by experts from Rebel.
A shared vision to reflect different needs
The ’forecasting’ session encouraged open and imaginative thinking, considering
both human needs and the ecological value of the area. In mixed groups,
participants created 'user journeys' for 2050, envisioning how people might
travel to, within, and through the region in a sustainable transport system.
These journeys were based on fictional personas with diverse needs and
preferences.
Shared findings and insights as a basis for next steps
The workshop produced valuable shared insights on topics such as mobility
hubs and services, public transport, low-traffic zones, spatial zoning,
information access, and accessibility and inclusivity. These findings will form
the foundation for the next phase of the visioning process, during which the
themes will be examined in greater detail and further developed.