Changing public space

problems). In addition, it appointed one single landscape architect to design most of the
redeveloped public spaces. Enschede redeveloped its entire city centre within a short period of
time as well, but selected different designers and developers to give each public space a different
identity. ’s-Hertogenbosch’s policy plan also served as blueprint for the redevelopment of the
entire city centre, but the level of coherence between public spaces is less distinct because the
redevelopment process has become rather lengthy. This also applies to Rotterdam. Although the
city had formulated a coherent policy to redevelop its city centre, its implementation can rather
be defined as ‘urban acupuncture’ (Meyer et al., 2006: 214). The different redevelopment projects
(e.g., the Schouwburgplein, Beurstraverse, and Binnenrotte) are each quite distinct in terms of
design and use of materials.
The level of coherence among the redeveloped spaces thus differs among the researched
cities, but each has attempted to redevelop the city centre as a coherent system of streets and
squares rather than focusing on showcases only. According to Meyer et al. (2006), this is a
general trend in the Netherlands, which has become more dominant since The Hague was the
first to redevelop its city centre in a comprehensive manner in the 1990s (Section 1.1). Such a
comprehensive approach requires a high level of involvement of the local government because
it has to make sure the intended policy and design are retained throughout the redevelopment
process by means of strict supervision.
The cases reveal a shift in urban politics beyond the management of public services and the
provision of local welfare services to the promotion of economic competitiveness and place
marketing. In addition, they can be regarded entrepreneurial because an increasing amount of
urban economic activity within the cities is undertaken by or in co-operation with the private
sector. Developer Multi was involved in the redevelopment of four out of eight research
objects. Other private-sector representatives include the ING Bank, Fortis Bank, Foruminvest,
and VendexKBB, who all contributed to a greater or lesser extent to the redevelopment of the
research objects. Chapter 8 discusses their involvement and its effects on public space in more
detail. The next chapter first examines if the research objects can be seen as secured or themed
public space. Do measures to secure public space dominate, such as CCTV and strict regulation,
or are they rather characterised by themed dimensions including the presence of events and
sidewalk cafés?
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