Transformations of Planning Rationales: Changing Spaces for Governance in Recent Dutch National Planning

Abstract

Dutch national planning has acquired an international reputation because it provides strong planning guidance while simultaneously being responsive to the particular spatial and political circumstances of different regions and areas. Spatial concepts, like the Randstad, are important vehicles for sustaining this approach. Such concepts incorporate select spatial planning rationales that justify operational decisions. Concepts can, however, also be ambiguous, and this can allow for different interpretations and deliberations about how guidance should take effect in different situations. In this paper we assess the degree of ambiguity contained in concepts outlined in Dutch national plans between 1988 and 2012. By focusing on the dimensions of spatial concepts, and the room for interpretation these create, we demonstrate how concepts were modified to accommodate a shifting appreciation of deliberation and, as a result, collaboration and governance. On a theoretical level, we propose a method that analyses in detail the ambiguity ("fuzzyness" or "softness") of spatial concepts. We argue that such sophisticated understandings contribute to explaining the variety of governance responses that these geographies produce in practice. On an empirical level we seek to increase understanding of change in recent Dutch national planning.

Randstad

“…The concept of urban regions is only descriptive: the policies are in the projects. The red lines were simply called 'elastics' in the hallways of the ministry of I&M (Balz and Zonneveld, 2018). For the Randstad there are two elastics which connect to the classic understanding of the Randstad formed by a northern and a southern wing.…”

“…In 2005, in the middle of finalisation of the National Spatial Strategy, parliament raised concerns about weakly underpinned investments decisions and called for improved justification through long-term strategic planning (Balz and Zonneveld, 2018). Apparently, the Strategy itself, in which projects became to overshadow spatial concepts, was not regarded as sufficient.…”

“…The Ministry of VROM managed to insert a special project into the programme: the Structural Vision Randstad 2040. Randstad 2040 was to establish guiding principles for long-term spatial planning and in this way inf luence future (infrastructure) project decisions (Balz and Zonneveld, 2018).…”

‘Artefactual anchoring’ of strategic spatial planning as persuasive storytelling

“…In recent research, the role of storylines and related spatial imaginaries and metaphors in shaping attention and coalition building has been emphasized (Baker and Ruming, 2015; Balz and Zonneveld, 2018; Vigar et al, 2005; Wetzstein, 2013). In their selective illustrativeness and interpretative flexibility, storylines, imaginaries and metaphors host multiple meanings and viewpoints.…”

The Institutionalisation of a Creative Practice: Changing Roles of Regional Design in Dutch National Planning

“…As in other European countries, decentralisation became a more prominent issue in Dutch national planning, resulting in an enhanced appreciation of regional governance (Hajer and Zonneveld 2000;Salet 2006;Salet and Woltjer 2009). To facilitate change the earlier, narrowly defined spatial-planning frameworks were expanded in both their spatial and organisational scope (Balz and Zonneveld 2018). In response to these changes, subnational governments started to form partnerships, on a voluntary basis at first.…”