Spatial Planning in the Netherlands

The Netherlands was made by humans. Cities, polders, the landscape and even nature reserves have all clearly been shaped by man. The country’s planned development is as unique as it is famous.

This book describes the intriguing history of spatial planning in the Netherlands from the late Middle Ages to the present day. Where does this strong tendency towards regulation and planning come from? Did these thousands of plans always come together? Or did planners and urban designers sometimes get things wrong?

From Amsterdam’s ring of canals to the motorway network and the Noordoostpolder, the Netherlands is constantly being rebuilt and renewed. The country is never finished. This fully updated book provides an insight into the culture and development of urban and regional planning in the Netherlands. It is an indispensable textbook for planners, urban designers, geographers, administrators and practitioners.