The Station House: the new meeting place in Delft-West

In this place everything comes together

The Station House houses a number of surprising functions. On the upper floor, local entrepreneurs can find a flex workspace and participate in the Delft Boost Lab entrepreneurship program. On the first floor is a café that is deliberately not an office canteen, but an accessible meeting place for everyone. The prices are tailored to the neighborhood, so that as many people as possible will soon be able to come here.

In the Stationshuis you will also find a so-called neighborhood shed: a place to make and repair with shared tools. Outside, space is reserved for circular initiatives, such as an experiment with "free furniture" in an old container, which explores how old furniture can get a new life with people in the neighborhood.

Aldermen Zwart and Schrederhof of the municipality of Delft were both present to congratulate residents. "The Station House shows that area development can also be built partly from the community," said alderwoman Karin Schrederhof. "What happens here was not conceived from above, but grew from the bottom up. That's what makes it so powerful."

Built on the desires of the neighborhood

What makes the Station House special is that it was designed from the perspective of the residents from the outset. Instead of a standard questionnaire, we took flowers to the streets, knocked on people's doors in the surrounding neighborhoods and really got to know our future neighbors. We didn't just ask what they were missing, but listened to what their week looks like, what hobbies they have and what they have to cycle a bit for.

From this, valuable insights emerged: the desire for a place to spot trains, play areas for children where parents can have a relaxing coffee, a nice reading corner, a craft club or a communal vegetable garden. Many of these ideas have since become reality in and around Station House.

This way of working shows how resident research can go beyond data collection. Investing in meeting and trust creates a place that is truly supported by the community. This makes the Station House not just a physical location, but tangible proof that co-creation and listening to residents lead to sustainable area development.

Photo: Marit Huisman and Marijn van Steen take to the streets with flowers

It's all about residents

One of the most symbolic moments of the day was the key exchange, starring the residents themselves. One of them, Hala Noaman, says, "The neighborhood really needs a cozy place like this. It makes me happy. From the first moment I felt at home here."

Gonnie from Buitenhof sees herself soon walking to this place regularly to play a game of chess. "I'm already in talks with the Station House to organize a chess event," she says.‍

Building the future

In addition to meeting, the Station House is all about entrepreneurship. Neighborhood resident and entrepreneur Aïsha Sriram proudly explains how she plans to continue building her business here. "A place like the Station House helps me become even more visible and continue to grow. Tomorrow I will give a pitch training to other entrepreneurs here myself."

Maiwynn of MaiMaakt from Tanthof is looking forward to making things in this place. This start-up entrepreneur in creative wood projects gave the outside of the Station House a special look. "I clad the shack with residual wood; all the planks come from an old gymnasium."

Area partner BPD Bouwfonds Area Development is enthusiastic. "As far as I'm concerned, the Stationshuis is a great example of how to develop a place together with residents that not only works now, but also gives direction to our future vision for the area around Delft Campus Station," said Patrick Joosen, regional director at BPD.

Alderman Maaike Zwart is also pleased with the arrival of the Stationshuis: "The Stationshuis shows how powerful a place can be when you bring together circularity, entrepreneurship and resident initiative. This is exactly what we want to make space for in Delft: a place where people from the neighborhood get opportunities to make, learn and grow. A place where local, sustainable entrepreneurship emerges! That is good for the neighborhood and for the future of the city."

Everyone is welcome

From now on, the Stationshuis will be open to the general public from Wednesday to Saturday. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy this special addition to Delft.

‍