By a last-minute agreement during a town council meeting lasting into the early hours of Wednesday (23 Jan 2002) morning, the political coalition of the Mayor and Aldermen of Leiden withdrew its proposal known as the "Aalmarkt Project" from consideration by the town council; in turn, an ad hoc "Aalmarkt Referendum Workgroup" withdrew its request (supported by 1,500) signatures) for a city-wide referendum on that proposal. It was agreed that the city officials will work together with a project group formed from among the people and organizations that had submitted specific objections to the rejected plan, in order to produce a new urban-renewal plan by October 1, 2002, - one in which both sides will attempt to reach agreement on improvements to the area while respecting the historic monuments and environment of this part of the ancient city center...

...Although the Vrouwekerk Plaza renovation plan was not structurally a part of the Aalmarkt Project, more quietly it, too, has been shelved while new plans are drawn up that would respect the remains of the Vrouwekerk and other historic buildings surrounding the square. It is not expected that those revised plans will be submitted to the town council until after the elections...

Please help us prevent the loss of this historically important structure..