The verges of Zwolle – ecological mowing policy in practice

More and more cities are switching to ecological mowing policies. My summer residence, the town of Zwolle, proves that this is not only better for biodiversity but also results in a more beautiful city.

Wildflowers

Every summer I spend a few weeks in Zwolle to house-sit for friends. And every time, I am amazed by the abundance of ​​wildflowers you see everywhere in the city, especially along the major roads.

Depleting the soil

I looked into it, and what I suspected is true: that floral splendor is the result of deliberate policy. And that policy is not a recent phenomenon, but dates back half a century. As early as the 1970s, Zwolle was experimenting with depleting or impoverishing the soil. That sounds a bit harsh, but it prevents a few grass species from becoming dominant. It is on nutrient-poor soils that greater richness, including rare flower species, emerges. The trick is to remove the clippings a few days after mowing. This allows seeds to spread, but reduces the amount of nutrients entering the soil.

Flower-rich grassland

Around 1990, the municipality of Zwolle made a structural switch to ecological roadside management. As a result, there are now a total of no less than 500 hectares of flower-rich grassland in the city and the surrounding countryside, in verges and green strips, on embankments and roundabouts, and in parks.

Refinement

In recent years, the mowing policy has been further refined. For instance, in many places, everything is no longer mowed at once, but in phases. As a result, there are always areas with food and shelter for butterflies and insects. Careful attention is also paid to the right moment to mow, using a detailed digital mowing time map.

Doing less

This mowing policy provides a feast for butterflies and insects. And that, in turn, attracts all kinds of birds. This way, you get not only more plants but also more animals in the city. And all that simply by doing less (but doing it at the right moment)

Cooling

Taller and varied roadside vegetation also provides cooling. An ecologically managed verge retains rainwater longer than neatly mown grass. The soil remains cooler, and heat is extracted from the surroundings through evaporation. It may be less effective than a forest, but a flower-rich verge can certainly help keep the city cool.

Short-cut grass quickly turns into a barren wasteland during dry periods anyway. But even in the extremely hot and dry summer of 2026, the long-haired verges in Zwolle remained remarkably colorful.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam lags decades behind Zwolle in this respect. But ecological roadside management is gaining ground in my hometown too. Some people still need to get used to that. Words like messy, neglected, and weeds are used. Well, if you’ve always been taught that a neatly mown lawn is the greatest asset and that weeds must be eradicated root and branch… then an ecologically managed roadside verge might look a bit messy.

Cost-cutting

It is often said that it is just a matter of money, an ordinary cost-cutting measure. And indeed, fewer and smaller machines, lower costs for labor and fuel—that saves money. But that could then perhaps be spent on playgrounds, community centers, tram lines, and other useful things.

Beautiful

As far as I am concerned, one of the most important arguments for ecological roadside management is an aesthetic one. Biodiversity is important, but the eye wants some candy as well. And the photos accompanying this blog post demonstrate it: a sea of ​​flowers along the road simply looks much better. A city where nature is given a chance is a nicer, healthier, and more beautiful city to live in. A gift, not only for butterflies, insects, and birds, but also for human residents and visitors.

So come on Rotterdam: what they do in Zwolle, we can do too!