Changing public space

focused its attention and budget to the redevelopment of other train station (squares) in the
Netherlands, such as the Stationsplein in Rotterdam. Despite the fact that the reconstruction
is still in full swing, the impact on its image and use of the city centre can already be observed.
Dordrecht has been nominated as best city centre in the Netherlands in 2004 and 2005 by the
platform for city centre management (Platform Binnenstadsmanagement, 2005) and was selected
City of Events in 2003 by tourism organisation TRN. The number of visitors on Saturdays has
increased 55 per cent from 151,300 to 234,900 between 2000 en 2003. The Social Geographic
Office (SGB) has researched the opinion of the inhabitants of both Dordrecht and other
surrounding cities (known as the Drecht-cities) about characteristics of the city centre. The
research shows that people feel more positive about Dordrecht’s features, especially with regard
to shopping and sidewalk cafés. 58 per cent of the inhabitants feel that Dordrecht offers pleasant
shopping possibilities in 2004 compared to 40 per cent in 1999. More than half (56%) thinks
there are many nice sidewalk cafés in the city in 2004 compared to 35 per cent in 1999. The
inhabitants of Dordrecht appear to be less positive about the attractiveness of Dordrecht than
residents of other Drecht-cities (respectively 71% versus 85%) and the availability of nice shops
in the city centre (respectively 42% versus 73%). This finding suggests that the redevelopment of
Dordrecht’s city centre has been successful in regaining the city’s regional shopping function, but
also that there is still room for improvement according to the city’s residents.
6.3.2 Grote Markt
The Grote Markt is a very common name for Dutch public spaces (Section 2.3). It often refers
to the central, vibrant square of a city of medieval origin. Examples are the Grote Markt in
Groningen, Bergen op Zoom, Middelburg, Breda, and Haarlem. The Grote Markt in Dordrecht
is different, as it is neither historical nor lively. It resulted from the 1960s demolition activities
discussed above (see Table 6.5). The existing residential buildings were not up to standard and
were therefore demolished. Also two historic buildings were pulled down: the weighing house
(Waag) and Synagogue. In return, a large market and parking place was constructed as well as
new housing, which at the time had a modern appeal.
Two decades later, the city already regretted the outcome of the rehabilitation. It carried
out the urban revitalisation plan (Stadsvernieuwingsplan) in 1982. For the Grote Markt area,
this implied that the large opening between the Scheffersplein and Grote Markt was narrowed
with a new construction, the Waagpassage (Rein Geurtsen & Partners, 2003). But despite these
efforts, the Grote Markt remained an outlier in the historic fine-grained structure of the city.
The 1996 business plan summarised the state of the Grote Markt at the end of the 1990s as
follows: “The Grote Markt (and surroundings) has little appeal and is focused on low-frequency
shopping. Here, people feel they are already outside the centre …” (Gemeente Dordrecht, 1996:
50, translation from Dutch by the author). The wish to restore the historic character of the area
was a trigger for the redevelopment plans of the Grote Markt. A more direct reason was the
necessity to redesign the square after the move of the weekly market from the Grote Markt (and
Scheffersplein) to the Statenplein. The 1996 business plan had indicated that the Statenplein
would be a better location for the weekly market. The local entrepreneurs objected, fearing the
withdrawal of activities and visits from the Grote Markt. However, the local authorities decided
that the advantages of placing the market on the Statenplein would outweigh the disadvantages
of removing it from the Grote Markt and the Scheffersplein. After this decision, both the
Scheffersplein and the Grote Markt needed a new function and design, because they were worn
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