Changing public space

esidential square located outside the centre rather than a commercial retail square like it
was before it the weekly market moved to the Statenplein. Fear and fantasy thus seem more
applicable to commercial squares in the city centre than non-commercial squares outside the
city’s core. The diagram of the Statenplein is largely the result of the dominance of shops and
events. As indicated in Section 6.3.1, the improvement of the retail district was one of the main
goals formulated in the 1996 business plan (Gemeente Dordrecht, 1996). In this respect, the
diagram of the Statenplein can be regarded as an intended outcome of the municipal policy.
Both the Statenplein and the Grote Markt rate low on secured dimensions. This may result from
the fact that Dordrecht is relatively safe. In a ranking of the safety level within the 50th largest
Dutch cities, it occupies the 28th position (Marlet & Van Woerkens, 2007). Dordrecht is not
characterised by high crime rates, at least not to such an extent that the local government feels
that more security measures are required.
7.4 Fear and fantasy in Enschede
Section 6.4.1 described the rise and fall of Enschede as an industrial city. From the 1970s to
the 1990s, the city experienced an economic downfall after the textile industry collapsed. To
counteract the problems, the municipality decided to restructure its centre thoroughly. The
redevelopment of the Oude Markt and the Van Heekplein are the result of this policy objective.
The two research objects have different functions; the Oude Markt is a café square, while the Van
Heekplein is a typical retail square. According to Yücesoy (2006), the nearby public spaces also
differ with respect to the level of participation (disengaged observation at the Oude Markt versus
engaged participation at the market on the Van Heekplein) and form (respectively circular and
also indoors versus rectangular and solely outdoors). Despite these dissimilarities, the diagrams
of the Oude Markt and Van Heekplein based on dimensions of fear and fantasy show that the
squares can both be categorised as themed public spaces as the coverage in the lower part of the
diagrams is larger than the coverage in the upper part (Figure 7.3).
The Oude Markt is one of the most used locations for events in the city centre. This includes
large-scale events such as concerts but also smaller happenings like theme markets. There are
electricity hook-ups available in the square’s surface to facilitate these events. The Oude Markt
shows a low intensity regarding the dimension ‘funshopping’. This is related to the high rating
with respect to sidewalk cafés. Many cafés and restaurants surround the square; the only ‘shop’
present is the local tourist office (VVV). Because of this characteristic, Yücesoy (2006) has
defined the Oude Markt as leisure centre:
On sunny and warm days, the terraces are full, almost all tables in the sun are occupied
and meanwhile passers-by’s check these places with a quick look to see if there is anybody
they know. The unified experience in the Square [the Oude Markt] is the entertainment
and leisure of the individual. With its circular shape, the Square provides the very best
setting for the individual to play the audience role…. (Yücesoy, 2006: 152)
The Oude Markt shows high ratings on two secured dimensions. Camera surveillance has been
applied since July 2005. Two signs on the square indicate the presence of cameras that record
and store images for a maximum of seven days. On busy evenings (Thursdays and Saturdays),
the images are watched live. The cameras are used in combination with so-called ‘calamity
lighting’. This implies that the police are able to put on extra lighting by mobile phone in order
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