Oosterzelestraat 3

I am currently doing an internship in Hart voor Breda Noord, where we deal with many residents and issues in the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood is very pleasant to live in, though not always safe as there are many incidents. This could of course be better; deploying a lot of police would not be a good idea, as it only scares the residents! Furthermore, more camera surveillance and weekly patrols would sometimes be nice. A neighbourhood officer who is social and open to the neighbourhood and residents could help a lot with this. In terms of location, residents, accessibility, and social cohesion, it is a good neighbourhood. Our neighbourhood is seen as a deprived area, which actually carries a negative connotation, while if you have lived here for 20 years, you have a very different view than people from outside the neighbourhood. It is a cosy neighbourhood with a lot of diversity, which you might think would not promote social cohesion, but that is certainly the case. We are interested in each other's culture and way of life, and this actually brings everyone closer together! Our differences also make us special compared to others. Not everyone knows each other in the neighbourhood, but from what I have experienced, everyone, regardless of their situation, gets along well. We also take good care of the neighbourhood itself; streets are mostly always tidy, filled with trees and small canals, very beautiful. And then we have the various large diverse playgrounds, from swings to zip lines, found in almost every corner! Very nice for both children and the whole family :).