Plans for so-called Mandir Park development on track

Laakhaven district goes Indian

THE HAGUE - Plans for the construction of three Hindu temples, so-called mandirs, as well as apartments and commercial space in the Laakhaven West rejuvenation project, are on track. The Hague’s officials recently signed a declaration of intent with project developers.

Approval in principle was given a year ago, conditional upon obtaining the municipality’s council on board for plans for Europe’s largest Indian temple complex. It was left to the initiators to show financial feasibility of their plans. These conditions were deemed to have been met.

According to the plan, three Indian religious movements will each build their own temple but share certain space in common. The sponsoring organizations are responsible for the project, including financing.

The developer will build apartments especially targeting first-time buyers. Construction of the complex is expected to commence in 2013 in the former business district, which is a 5-minute bicycle ride away from the city core.

About one percent of the Dutch population share Indian ancestry (arriving mainly by way of Suriname, India and Sri Lanka), with the ancestral roots of The Hague’s population estimated at about ten percent. The city's largest immigrant group is of Indian ancestry.