Leidschendam-Voorburg Alderman Marcel Belt confirmed on June 29, 2026, that the municipality will proceed with plans to relocate the historic Kippenbrug over the Vliet.
The move is needed to accommodate a new regional bicycle route between Pijnacker and The Hague.
Residents presented a petition with over 1,200 signatures protesting the relocation of the 1891 Rijksmonument, officially known as the Nieuwe Tolbrug.
The bridge currently connects Voorburg and The Hague.
Regional authorities, including the municipalities of The Hague, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Rijswijk, and the province of South Holland, chose "Oplossing 3."
This solution involves installing a flat bicycle bridge at the current site and moving the historical structure to Park Vreugd en Rust.
"Dit is echt wel een beetje de finale richting," said Belt, noting that regional partners would refuse further delays if alternative options were pursued.
The alderman emphasized that the route represents years of joint planning to improve regional accessibility and safety for cyclists traveling between Pijnacker and central Den Haag.
"We hebben met de regio de knoop doorgehakt," said Belt.
He noted that while local design details remain open for discussion, the overall alignment is non-negotiable.
"Over de inrichting gaan we met bewoners om de tafel, maar het tracé is afgesproken," said Belt.
He warned that deviating from this established plan would jeopardize the entire regional infrastructure agreement.
"Als college zeggen we: wijk daar niet van af, want dat zet alles op losse schroeven," said Belt.
Local residents expressed concerns over increased traffic and the displacement of historical heritage.
They had previously proposed a separate bridge 400 meters away near the former Diaconessenhuis to preserve the original landmark site.
"Een extra fietsbrug is mogelijk goedkoper dan de combinatie van een nieuwe brug én het verplaatsen van het monument," said Daan de Graaf, a resident of Hoekweg.
Community members argued that moving the bridge detaches it from its historical environment and the adjacent bridge master's house.
"Erfgoed ontleent zijn waarde niet alleen aan het object zelf, maar ook aan de plek waar het zich bevindt," said De Graaf, explaining the motivation behind the neighborhood petition.
Local political factions also questioned the regional priority over local heritage preservation during the council deliberations.
"Wij zitten hier voor onze eigen inwoners," said Rick de Klerk, VVD Council Member.
Municipal party GBLV urged the executive board to prioritize thoroughness over speed to prevent long-term administrative complications.
"Voorkom dat het een hoofdpijndossier wordt," said Sanja Duijvestein, GBLV Council Member.
The permit process for the project is scheduled to begin between late 2027 and early 2028.
