Changing public space

6 Urban policy and spatial
structure of the cases
One of our objectives of the city centre policy is to maintain the number of visitors at the current
level or even increase the number somewhat. And for that you also need a beautiful and good
public space. Interview public-sector representative (2006)
6.1 Introduction
The previous chapter has outlined the selection of eight public spaces (named ‘research objects’)
in four Dutch city centres (the ‘cases’), in which the empirical research has been carried out.
We continue by investigating the urban policy and spatial structure of Rotterdam, Dordrecht,
Enschede, and ’s-Hertogenbosch. Policy objectives can lead to the redevelopment of public
space, as indicated by an interviewed public-sector representative in the quote above. We
enquired which municipal policies have been implemented in the four cities regarding public
space. Differences and similarities in urban policy are summarised and explained in Section 6.6
by using the theoretical framework of the entrepreneurial city (Chapter 4). Besides policy, the
spatial structure of the city is also important in researching the redevelopment of a particular
public space. The presence and characteristics of other nearby public spaces can influence the
research objects. If a nearby public space is upgraded, this might affect another part of the city.
Similarly, if the need for sidewalk cafés is met on one square, terraces might not be present
elsewhere. The city is a coherent entity and the investigation of the eight public spaces is thus
impossible without knowledge on the spatial structure of the city centre as a whole. In addition
to the description of the urban policy and spatial structure of the cases, the eight research objects
are described in more detail in terms of their past and present design and management. As such,
this chapter amplifies the theoretical basis provided in Chapter 2 and 3 with empirical findings
to extend the answer on the first en second research question: when focussing on the research
objects, how have the design and management of Dutch city squares evolved through history, what
are the current trends in the design and management of Dutch public space, and which dynamics have
induced these trends?
Rotterdam is the first city presented in this chapter. With the redevelopment of public spaces
such as the Beurstraverse (1996) and the Schouwburgplein (1997), the city was one of the first in
the Netherlands to acknowledge the importance of redeveloping public space for the identity of
the city. What is more, Rotterdam was a pioneer in involving the private sector in these processes
of redevelopment. Unique to the city is that the local government does not merely co-operate
with the private sector but also actively participates in redevelopment projects as a private actor.
The Beurstraverse (Section 6.2.3) is an example of far-reaching co-operation between the local
government and private parties such as the investor ING Bank. Therefore, Rotterdam qualifies
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