Merwede is a large urban housing development in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on a former business site between the Merwedekanaal and Park Transwijk. The district is planned for around 12,000 residents and is designed as a green, car-free neighbourhood, with residents encouraged to walk, cycle and use public transport or shared cars.2
The project comprises 6,000 new homes across two phases, alongside a mix of facilities. The planned housing includes 1,800 social-rental homes, 1,500 middle-rent and affordable owner-occupied homes, and 2,700 private-sector rental and owner-occupied homes.2 Utrecht’s municipality is developing the plans in cooperation with nine other landowners. The participating organisations include AM/Synchroon, BPD, Greystar, G&S, Boelens de Gruyter, Round Hill Capital, Janssen de Jong Projectontwikkeling, Lingotto and 3T.2
A cooperation agreement for Merwede was signed on 9 March 2021 by the municipality and the other landowners.2 Construction of the wider district began in March 2025 with 189 homes in the northern area, according to DUIC.
A further construction start was announced for 1,068 rental homes in Blocks 1a and 2a, in the southern part of the district near Europalaan and the Maxx residential towers. At least 600 of these are middle-rent homes; the rest are private-sector rentals and social-sector student homes. DUIC reported Trebbe and Bouwcombinatie Wessels Merwede among the construction partners for the start. DUIC said most homes were then scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2030.