Reinventing Dutch national spatial planning: the quest for a new governance approach between decentralization and recentralization

Joks Janssen and Lianne van Duinen

Planning Practice & Research, 2025, vol. 40, issue 6, 1453-1467

Abstract: Over recent decades, Dutch spatial planning shifted from strong national direction towards increasing decentralization. Today, urgent societal challenges such as housing, energy, and climate adaptation are reigniting calls for a renewed national role. This paper examines the current turnaround in Dutch planning debates and explores future options. Drawing on an advisory report of the Dutch Council for the Environment and Infrastructure, we outline three scenarios – ranging from centralized to decentralized and sectoral to integrated planning. We argue that neither excessive decentralization nor overambitious recentralization is sufficient; instead, a balanced governance approach is required.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/02697459.2025.2583808

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