Moerdijk is committed to creating a welcoming and attractive area for residents and visitors

The Municipality of Moerdijk is presenting the Leisure Economy Program. This program provides direction for the area’s tourism development by strengthening the tourism offering, fostering a livable and vibrant community, and promoting strong collaboration and organizational capacity. The municipal executive is proposing that the municipal council adopt the Leisure Economy Program at the council meeting on March 12.

Why This Program?

“The leisure economy is an important theme in Moerdijk. Willemstad, as a unique fortified town with a rich history, is the main draw, but Klundert, Zevenbergen, and the surrounding countryside are also valuable tourist destinations. “With the leisure economy program, we are committed to strengthening overall well-being in the municipality of Moerdijk, where the leisure economy contributes to a pleasant and attractive living environment and adds value to the area,” explains Alderman Danny Dingemans.

Three Strategic Pillars

To achieve this, we have focused on three strategic pillars:

• Diverse tourism and recreational offerings: strengthening existing offerings and promoting new ones that fit within the program’s framework.
• A livable and vibrant municipality: strengthening the tourism profile in the western part of the municipality and focusing on the development of business tourism in the eastern part of Moerdijk.
• Strong collaboration and organizational strength: the ability to organize both within and outside the municipality is a key foundation for the sector’s development, with the leisure economy contributing to a future-proof region where policy and practice are interconnected.

Broad support

Moerdijk’s tourism offering is diverse. Many stakeholders, such as business owners, local history societies, and venues, are part of the sector. During the tourism networking meetings in the spring and fall, attention was given to the tourism program. In addition, the tourism program was discussed with the steering group in Willemstad in collaboration with the Willemstad Center Vision. A resident survey and a public meeting were held to engage the broader public. During the public meeting, we brainstormed together about the future prospects for the Willemstad fortress.

Initiatives Starting in 2026

The municipality is launching initiatives that can be implemented in 2026, such as extending the Mauritshuis’s hours of operation, improving signage, developing an evaluation framework for lodging, and strengthening partnerships in the region. Of course, the municipality will also continue to work with the tourism network to identify initiatives that can be implemented.