Interview with Mattias Van den Bergh, project leader Sustainable mobility and recreation

Since June 2024, Mattias has strengthened the Grenspark team as Project Leader Sustainable Mobility and Recreation. In doing so, he gives shape to the European MONA project. A three-year project with which Grenspark, with the support of Europe and together with the municipalities, wants to work on a modal shift, the (re)design of reception gates and the spreading of visitors in order to work towards a sustainable future for the park.

Mattias, can you tell us a bit about your background and what attracted you to your new role as Sustainable Mobility and Recreation project leader?

I am an urban planner by training and worked as a mobility project leader for the city of Antwerp for several years. Sustainable mobility has always fascinated me. What particularly attracts me in my current role is the atypical nature of this subject. After all, relatively little is still known about mobility behaviour at recreational attractions such as nature reserves. What we do know is that many people use cars to reach such locations. In addition, I find the context in which I get to work unique. I myself live in the city of Antwerp and the Grenspark has already been a great voyage of discovery for me to get to know the whole area.

What is the MONA project and why is it so important for Grenspark?

MONA stands for 'MOdal shift, routing and nudging solutions in NAture areas for sustainable tourism'. It is a European project in which we as a Grenspark cooperate with several other parks in France, the Netherlands and Germany to focus on sustainable mobility and sustainable recreation. Together we are working on a modal shift, i.e. we want to make interventions that can convince visitors to come to the park less by car and more with sustainable forms of mobility. This is important for the park because we notice that there is a lot of car traffic around the park on peak days, and this is not only a burden on the valuable natural environment, it also causes traffic congestion, traffic unsafety and parking congestion.

How does the project help achieve a modal shift? What should we imagine of sustainable mobility in the Grenspark?

The project contributes to the realisation of a modal shift in several ways. We are currently in the research phase, in which we have conducted a survey of visitors and local residents with the help of partner universities. The aim is to understand how they experience mobility and recreation in the park. The results will be analysed by Breda University of Applied Sciences, and based on their findings we can develop targeted measures for a more sustainable future for the Grenspark.

We also work together with other parks to learn from each other and support each other in implementing actions. We are also exploring ways to make information on sustainable alternatives more accessible to visitors.

What concrete changes can visitors expect in the coming years?

The first changes are already visible. We are putting stronger emphasis on sharing practical tips and information about sustainable transport options through our communication channels, such as news items, social media and the website. In the future, entrance gates and starting points will be given a new, recognisable look, which will be extended to surrounding stations and bus stops, so that the Grenspark experience already starts when getting off the train. The visitor card will also be updated with more attention to sustainability.

We are also exploring ways to spread visitors better by introducing new experiences. On busy days, popular spots, such as gateway 'De Vroente', can cause inconvenience such as full parking spaces. By spreading visitors out, we aim to reduce congestion and improve the experience for everyone.

Counting posts have recently been installed in the Grenspark. Can you explain how the poles work and what data they collect?

There are 13 counting poles scattered throughout the park, mainly at starting points of walking routes. These poles use a laser to count walkers and transmit the collected data to a dashboard. This gives us insight into visitor numbers and intensity per location, which helps identify busy and quiet spots. With this data, we can better spread visitors around the park, for example by offering new themed walks that explore other parts of the park. On peak days, specific spots are crowded, leading to mobility problems and damage to fragile nature. The counting poles help us reduce these crowds and maintain the balance between dispersion and tranquillity, without overloading other parts of the park. Thus, the counting poles are an important tool to identify trends in visitor flows and protect nature.

How do you see the future of sustainable recreation in the Grenspark? Are there other projects that could contribute in time?

To engage in sustainable recreation, we need fully equipped gateways. The success of Poort de Vroente is an example of how the right facilities, such as an information office, catering, walking routes, cycling facilities and sanitary facilities, attract visitors. Unfortunately, other gateways often lack these facilities, making them less utilised. Within this project, we are already taking steps to improve facilities, but more is needed to turn these gateways into fully-fledged recreational hubs. Improvements in sustainable mobility, such as better public transport connections or cycle paths, can also make an important contribution here, so that more visitors can explore the Grenspark in a sustainable way.

How can visitors or local residents contribute to the success of this project?

As far as possible, try not to come to the Grenspark by car. There are several alternatives available that are worth trying. Recently, the frequency on the railway line between Antwerp and Roosendaal has been increased, making the train an interesting alternative. Or come to the Grenspark by bus. Did you know that right at gates Volksabdij and Ravenhof several buses an hour stop both from Bergen op Zoom and Antwerp? Or try out a shared bike or car, or carpool! Every little helps.

What motivates you personally to work for a more sustainable and accessible Grenspark?

Unfortunately, we don't have many large-scale nature reserves in Flanders, which makes it all the more important to protect the nature we have. By encouraging visitors to travel more sustainably, we not only help nature, but also society. Fewer cars on the road, fewer parking problems, healthier visitors coming by bike,...the list of benefits is endless!

More information on the MONA project can be found on our project page or via Interreg's European project page.