The project converts the former kindergarten at Zeezwaluwstraat 4 in Duindorp, The Hague, into 16 social-rental homes. The building dates from 1921 and has not served as a school since 1972; it was later used as a library and childcare facility.24 The homes are intended for people in essential occupations, particularly workers in education, healthcare and the police.24
The developer is the Koninklijke Haagse Woningvereniging van 1854, which is responsible for the conversion.24 The City of The Hague’s executive approved giving the former school a new use on 26 May 2020, and the housing association subsequently developed plans for 16 two-room homes, designed for single occupants.4 Architect Ton Deurloo and Mirjam del Canho of the housing association were among the people involved in presenting the project.3 In February 2025, deputy mayor Martijn Balster unveiled the construction sign; the renovation had begun, with the first residents expected to receive their keys in spring 2026.2
The design makes use of the existing classroom layout: classrooms are divided in half to create single-person apartments, arranged in four blocks within the building.2 The conversion forms part of the city’s effort to make affordable housing available to essential workers and to create homes by reusing existing buildings.2 The housing association’s initial plans also stated that the project would preserve and strengthen the distinctive features of the 1921 building.4