The Hague opens first operational collector field beneath artificial turf |
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The municipality of The Hague has officially opened its first operational collector field. Beneath an artificial turf sports field in the Moerwijk district, solar heat is collected, stored in the ground and then used via heat pumps to heat two primary schools and a preschool.
The system is located entirely beneath an existing sports field and requires no additional space. According to the municipality, this could also make it an interesting option for densely built-up neighbourhoods. Alderman Isabelle Broeders (Public Space and Energy Transition) describes the project as an example of how innovation can contribute to societal challenges. 'With this collector field, we are showing how new technology can contribute to affordable, locally generated and clean energy without requiring additional space,' says Broeders. According to the alderman, the underground space is being used efficiently by combining different functions.
Lower natural gas consumption
The two primary schools and the preschool that will be connected currently still use natural gas. Their natural gas consumption is expected to fall by 75 percent thanks to the collector field. The municipality also expects the artificial turf field to remain cooler in summer, which could benefit athletes. According to the municipality, the reduced use of natural gas will also result in lower energy costs. The collector field is therefore intended not only to provide heat, but also to help make energy bills more manageable for the educational institutions involved.
Performance monitored for one year
The project is being treated as a practical trial. The municipality will monitor the system's performance for at least one year, looking at heat output, technical performance and the balance between costs and returns. The results should provide insight into the conditions under which collector fields could also be used at other locations. The Hague has more than 200 sports fields. If the trial proves successful, the municipality sees opportunities to combine sports facilities with local heat supply for the surrounding area.
According to the municipality, the Netherlands could take a leading role in this technology, partly because of its suitable soil conditions and large number of artificial turf fields. The project therefore focuses on combining local heat generation and heat storage with efficient use of space. The field in The Hague was installed by Finovi.
This article was previously published on 24 September 2026 on the Fieldmanager website.
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