Changing public space

Oude Markt
Van Heekplein
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Secured public space
1. Surveillance
2. Restraints on loitering
3. Regulation
Themed public space
4. Events
5. Funshopping
6. Sidewalk cafés
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Figure 7.3 Six-dimensional profiles of the Oude Markt and Van Heekplein as secured (upper
half ) or themed (lower half ) public space
to recognise potential perpetrators. Moreover, the police are assisted by a team of young people,
who walk through the city during the night to soothe possible problems (the so-called susploeg).
These surveillance measures have been implemented to counteract problems at night when the
cafés close their doors. Although seating possibilities are numerous on the many sidewalk cafés
that surround the Oude Markt, there are no benches in the public part of the square. Some
possible edges to sit on have metal spikes. However, the Oude Markt cannot be closed off, hence
the square rates medium on the dimension ‘restraints on loitering’. The square is subject to the
regular local ordinance, which is enforced by the local police.
The Van Heekplein can be seen as a themed public space, because the square shows low
intensities on all three secured dimensions, and high ones on themed dimensions. There is no
camera surveillance present on the Van Heekplein, at least not on the square itself. Some of the
shops surrounding the square have installed cameras and the underground parking garage is also
secured by camera surveillance. There are a number of wooden benches on the square, which can
be removed when the Van Heekplein transforms into a market place on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Although publicly accessible spaces located in some of the surrounding buildings can be closed
off at night (e.g., the shopping centre Klanderij), the Van Heekplein itself cannot be fenced off.
The area is regulated by the regular local ordinance.
The Van Heekplein has particularly high intensities regarding the dimensions events and
funshopping. It is one of the main locations for events in the city centre next to the Oude
Markt. The events include open-air concerts, international markets, and fashion shows including
catwalk. To facilitate these events and the market, there are many electricity hook-ups as well as
metal hooks to secure objects. The Van Heekplein is surrounded on all sides by retail that has
a dominant ‘fun’ character, especially many clothing shops. There are no sidewalk cafés at the
square, although there are a few lunchrooms located on the Van Heekplein. This might change
in the future, since one of the restaurants (La Place, located on the north side of the square) has
recently shown interest in opening an outdoor terrace on the Van Heekplein.
Enschede occupies the 16th position in the safety index of the 50 largest Dutch cities by Marlet
and Van Woerkens (2007), and can thus be regarded as a relatively safe city. The inhabitants
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