La politique régionale et l'aménagement du territoire aux Pays-Bas

Abstract

Regional Policy and Planning in the Netherlands. — In the Netherlands, planning has a long history. But, although horizontal integration of socio-economic and socio -cultural policies has finally been set up, the problem arises of their vertical integration with planning policies. Spatial decentralisation has taken place. Peripheral regions for stimulation have benefited from it for industry, much less for services. It is the promotion of the Centre regions and parts of the intermediary Zone (especially Gueldre) which is the most spectacular. The position of Dutch towns has become less favourable in all respects; the socio-economic position of peripheral regions for stimulation and regions for reconversion has been severely weakened by the recession. Of them all, Utrecht province is in the best position. But today socio- cultural policy is ill adapted to the needs of the urban population. Priority is given to urban renovation, to the fight against suburbanisation and to the re -establishment of ecological equilibrium.