Station Laan van NOI

Station Laan van NOI is ideally located, adjacent to the Beatrixkwartier and serving as a gateway to the CID; the Central Innovation District that forms the economic core of The Hague. The station is a crucial interchange point between national rail, RandstadRail, trams, buses, and the cycling network. Schiphol and Rotterdam Central Station are reachable within 25 minutes, and the A12 highway is nearby. However, this potential is currently underutilized: the quality of the surrounding environment lags behind. In two steps, we have explored how the station area can transform into a sustainable, high-density urban area, and how the station can become a fully-fledged public transport hub.

Step 1: urban planning vision
In the first step, we have outlined an urban planning 'development framework' for the station area; Laan van NOI is depicted as an urban campus with the green Schenkzone as the area's backbone. The Schenkzone - an ecological artery connecting De Binckhorst with the polder landscape between The Hague and Leiden - will be widened, and the relationship between buildings and landscape will be strengthened.

The public space will have a consistent landscape appearance on both sides of the railway, creating a unified campus area. Long green edge zones will connect Laan van NOI with the Binckhorst and the surrounding area, along with a green 'inner environment' for pedestrians and cyclists. The railway tunnels will be improved, and new connections under the railway are proposed. The station will be transformed from a logistical node into the transportation heart of the campus.

Density
The campus provides space for densification, making the area more vibrant and increasing social safety and the number of interactions. Densification in the urban campus serves the quality of the area and follows the 'The Hague high-rise typology': Plinths form streets and squares, with slender towers above ensuring light at street level. The tallest parts are located along the railway embankment and gradually descend towards Bezuidenhout in the north and Leidschendam-Voorburg in the south. Public plinths and rooftop terraces promote interaction and a lively streetscape.

Typology
Parallel to the railway, there is a collection of buildings running throughout The Hague that strongly distinguishes itself from the surrounding architecture. These are large closed volumes, with the entrance on the railway side. Inside, there are courtyards/atria. In potential, this typology aligns very well with the campus; the buildings are large enough to accommodate various types of businesses and organizations - from large corporates to startups. The courtyards/atria can serve as protected meeting places. By making these accessible, the buildings can be made all-sided, thereby better integrating them into the environment.

Step 2: station explorations
In a second step, we examined the station itself: How can the station be transformed to fit the new role of the area? For this purpose, all components of the station - such as bicycles, station tunnels and access points, trams, P&R, buses, etc. - were examined, and we have presented various 'alternatives' for the station. These alternatives provide insight into the possibilities, opportunities, and challenges of the station.

Scenario 1: widening of the current tunnel
Scenario 2: tunnel extension of the W. van Pruisenweg
Scenario 3: tunnel at the Laan van NOI

Scenario 1: widening of the current tunnel
In the first alternative, the current station tunnel is widened. The tunnel will have a public 'interneighborhood connection' alongside the destination for train and metro travel. On the Hague side, there is an elongated station square, while in Leidschendam-Voorburg, new buildings frame the station square.

Scenario 2: tunnel extension of the W. van Pruisenweg
This variant includes a new station tunnel with a bicycle connection extending from W. van Pruisenlaan, with access points on both sides of the tunnel. The current tunnel, which is not future-proof due to its narrow dimensions, is closed, but theoretically could also be renovated.

Scenario 3: tunnel at the Laan van NOI
The most impactful variant will have a new station hall at Laan van NOI. The access points are located at the end of the platform; an end-access solution. For this variant, the viaduct needs to be modified because the current viaduct is too closed off. However, this does bring something positive: the station will be perfectly situated along Laan van NOI, an important axis in the city.

MIRT exploration
The explorations have provided all stakeholders with insight into the opportunities and challenges. The studies formed input for the MIRT exploration into the development of the station area.