Project details

Start date: January 2025
Status: Finished
Duration: 6 months
Country: Netherlands
Participatory Action Researcher(s):

Liesbeth Gerritse
Melissa Claerhoudt
Madelon Eelderink

Partner organisation: Municipality of Zeist

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable development goal 11 SDG 11

Project

Samen Duurzaam Zeist

In 2025, SevenSenses collaborated with residents, partners and the municipality of Zeist on the future of Samen Duurzaam Zeist (SDZ), “Sustainable Zeist Together”. Through Participatory Action Research (PAR), a clear and widely supported plan emerged to grow into an independent, inclusive and visible movement by and for residents. The result: a solid foundation, new action teams and plenty of energy to continue building a sustainable municipality of Zeist together.

“The energy is here, the direction has been set – now let’s continue building together.”

Location: Municipality of Zeist
Stakeholders: residents, volunteers, initiatives, partners, Zeist municipality, Samen Duurzaam Zeist

Project team

Situation

Samen Duurzaam Zeist (SDZ) was established in 2017 as a citizen platform to translate the municipality’s Broad Environmental Vision into concrete action. It has since grown into a network of more than thirty resident initiatives and sustainable partners. Despite this growth, many residents still see SDZ as “something belonging to the municipality”. The organisational structure is vulnerable, funding is uncertain and its reach is limited. The municipality therefore commissioned Seven Senses to work with residents and partners to investigate how SDZ can grow into an independent, future-proof and widely supported movement.

PAR Design

Methods

Approach – researching and building together

The PAO process consisted of five phases, in which listening, analysing and immediate action went hand in hand.

1. Orientation
Drawing up the PAR canvas, initial meetings and mapping out initiatives.

2. System exploration
Over eighty people interviewed, village mapping, problem analysis.

3. Sharing insights & solution directions
Three focus groups on identity, organisational structure and growth, in which the themes that emerged from the interviews were explored in greater depth. Follow-up meetings were then held to determine which topics would be further developed by working groups.

4. Co-creation action plan
Action teams formed: “Mission & Vision” and “Organisational Structure”.

5. Formalisation & transfer
Action plan presented and handed over to the community.

Methods: semi-structured interviews, focus group sessions, dream- and problem tree, surveys, visual working methods, village mapping.

Outcome

What we discovered together

The study revealed many strengths and areas for improvement.

  • SDZ has a strong foundation as a network, but lacks a clear and visible identity.
  • Volunteers contribute a great deal, but professional support is needed to ensure continuity.
  • Young people, new residents and people with a migrant background still feel insufficiently involved.
  • There is a need for a central physical and digital meeting place.
  • Structural, hybrid financing (municipality, funds, own income) is essential.
  • SDZ can become stronger as a platform and connector between initiatives.

Specific ideas

  • Breeding ground for social entrepreneurship
  • Impact measurement via SDGs
  • Thematic meeting days and SDZ cafés
  • Accessible neighbourhood activities (such as tree mirror packages)
  • “Market square” for ideas

Result and follow-up

The PAO produced a widely supported vision for the future, and two action teams immediately set to work:

  • Building team: investigated legal form (ultimately: foundation).
  • Mission & Vision team: develops identity and strategic direction.

This process has set in motion the movement towards independence and strengthening. The energy is there, the direction has been set – and the foundation is ready to continue building together towards a more powerful, inclusive and visible Samen Duurzaam Zeist.

Building blocks for the future

Seven themes together form the foundation for the next phase:

  1. Identity and role: SDZ as a unifying and inspiring movement by and for residents.
  2. Professional support: coordination and communication skills.
  3. Appropriate organisational structure: encouraging ownership and cooperation.
  4. Broad participation and inclusion: actively involving all residents.
  5. Visibility and communication: inviting and action-oriented.
  6. Collaboration and knowledge sharing: connecting and strengthening initiatives.
  7. Sustainable financing: mix of structural resources and revenue models.

Project images