Changing public space

compared to 36 per cent in 2000. The retail function of the city thus appears to become more
important. At the same time, the impulse of the Arena’s completion – which led to a peak in
sales in 2000 – seems to fade away (Gemeente ’s-Hertogenbosch, 2004). This trend might be
reversed when the last big projects in the city are also completed. First in line is the Markt,
followed by the redevelopment of the remainder of the Tolbrugkwartier (see above). Another
future project is the redevelopment of the Parade, which is probably ’s-Hertogenbosch’s most
famous public space. The Parade is an example of a parvis; a medieval city square that has served
as forecourt of the large Saint John’s cathedral, which was built in the 12th century. In 1748 the
city’s administrators decided to turn the square into a parade ground. The square was paved, lime
trees were planted, and two horse stables were constructed. There have been few changes in the
design of the square since, but its function altered in the 20th century when the Parade was
turned into a parking space. This parking function has been contested for years, but the retailers
in the city centre repeatedly thwarted the plans to make the square car-free, because they feared
their shops would become less accessible. Currently, the municipality is looking for alternative
parking locations and making plans to redevelop the Parade in 2008 (Schreuder, 2007b).
6.5.2 Markt
The first accounts of the Markt and Pensmarkt date from 1279. Instead of being two separate
squares, they can best be regarded as a single public space with a central structure in the middle,
or a dominated square in terms of Zucker’s typology (Section 2.6). When we refer to the Markt,
Table 6.11 Timeline of developments at the Markt
Year
Developments
1200s Origin of the Markt as medieval market place
1897 First redevelopment
1953 Second redevelopment resulting in the separation of the Markt and Pensmarkt. The Pensmarkt
was turned into a roadway, while the Markt became a parking lot paved with concrete tiles. These
developments were implemented to make the city centre more accessible.
1966 Third redevelopment during which the Pensmarkt was reconnected to the Markt by closing it
completely to motorised traffic and repaving it with the same concrete tiles used at the Markt. No
buildings were demolished.
1979 Fourth redevelopment. Cars were removed from the Markt and it was repaved with natural stones.
New lighting was used in the form of historic lampposts.
1998 Proposed year of fifth redevelopment according to the 1993 policy plan. Due to several causes, the
redevelopment was delayed.
2002 Consultations with local inhabitants and entrepreneurs about the future principles of the Markt
(‘Conversations around the Markt’)
2005 Agreement among the city council about the main principles of the Markt’s redevelopment. After this
decision, municipal architects started to make designs for the Markt.
2006 Consultations with local inhabitants and entrepreneurs about the new designs.
2007 Proposed year of fifth redevelopment, but problems arose concerning the tender procedure. As a
result, the start of redevelopment activities was postponed from February to the end of the summer.
The construction activities must stop from November 2007 to spring 2008 to not hamper shopping
and celebration activities for Christmas and carnival.
2008 Expected completion of the redevelopment project
Source: based on Gemeente ’s-Hertogenbosch (2006) and Interviews (2006)
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