AN EXERCISE IN WORLDMAKING 2009 - ISS

5 The Case of the Herman Costerstraat Market in The Hague 53
THE ROLE OF THE MUNICIPALITY: ADMINISTERING THE MARKET
The HCM is the centre of a space where different actors interact among
each other and carry on with their different activities. Among them, we
can identify the employees that work for the OASM and other branches
of the municipality (local government), vendors that have stalls assigned
to them and work at the market and owners of small shops located in the
periphery of the market (private sector), residents of the neighborhood
(local community), and visitors from different areas of the city that arrive
on the days the market is open to do their shopping and enjoy the
chance to socialize with all kinds of people. Making sure that all this relationships
and interests do not conflict with each other and are aligned in
order to bring the best outcomes for all the parties involved, is the role
and task of a municipality that is practicing the principles of a developmental
local government.
Besides the Herman Costertraat Market, the OASM is responsible for
all other street markets in The Hague, a total of seven markets (MTH,
website). Its main office, responsible for issuance of permits, processing
of applications for stalls’ permits and implementation of the rules and
regulations approved by the municipality, is located close to the HCM
and staffed with fifteen employees, at the main office, and eight in the
office located at the market floor (Marieke, OASM staff, 2009, first hand
interview). In addition, the OASM is also responsible for making decisions
to settle misconducts and grievances among the street vendors.
Rules and regulations for street vending have been in place in The
Hague since 1856, when first created by the municipality. Throughout
time, the rules and regulations have been modified to adapt to the changing
nature of business and society, most recently in 2004 (Municipal Archives,
2009). The responsibility for the creation and modification of the
rules lies in the MTH and its administration and execution in the OASM.
Although the creation and modification of the laws is carried exclusively
by the municipality, top-down approach, the vendors are allowed,
through their organizations, to voice their concerns during the approval
process.
In addition to the OASM main office, each market has a smaller office
that represents the OASM and is responsible for the markets’ daily
administration, located in the market floor. In the case of the HCM, the
office is located in the centre of the market, thus facilitating effective
monitoring of activities and compliance of the rules and regulations at