AN EXERCISE IN WORLDMAKING 2009 - ISS

5 The Case of the Herman Costerstraat Market in The Hague 51
FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOPMENTAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The role of the Municipality of The Hague has evolved over time. Starting
as a service provider, associated with the traditional role expected of
local governments, to become one of the main actors in the process of
local development, fulfilling the modern concept of local governance as
presented by authors such as Nick Devas and others. Traditionally, local
governments were only responsible for providing basic services to the
residents of the city, such as public lighting, transportation, and cleaning
of the streets. The concept of local governance goes beyond service provision
to include responsibilities such as planning for development, governance
and administration, financial self-sustainability, provision of services
to citizens and businesses, and the establishment and maintenance
of regulations.
This change at the municipal level represents a shift in paradigm from
local government to “developmental local government”. As sustained by
Nel and Binns, developmental “local governments are to maximize social
development and economic growth, to help ensure that local economic
and social conditions are conductive to the creation of employment opportunities,
to take a leadership role, involving citizens and stakeholder
groups in the development process and to build social capital and generate
a sense of common purpose to find local solutions for sustainability”
(Nel and Binns, 2001, page 357).
The MTH has been at the forefront of institutional change to adapt
to the demands and needs of the residents of The Hague and the economic
reality of the region and the country. By playing a pivotal role in
the creation and administration of street markets, the municipality has
contributed to the smooth economic and social development of the city
and its residents. The creation of the market has provided employment
for people working in the market, people serving and administering the
market, people that own shops in the periphery of the market, and has
also added to the spaces available for social interaction and integration of
the residents of the city.
While becoming a central actor in the process of the local development
of the city, the MTH has also contributed to the creation of a
friendly business environment appropriate for the growth of the private
sector. Through high-quality planning and the establishment of clear
rules and regulations for all stakeholders involved, the municipality has
provided entrepreneurs with a friendly environment where investors,