Abstract
The Netherlands is internationally renowned for its conscientious physical planning. Yet, the budget of the National Planning Service is only 70 million guilders a year. The aim of fostering a comprehensive field of policy without putting a burden on the taxpayer seems too good to be true. Actually, physical planning entails the spatial integration of diverse policy sectors. In reviewing the budgets of these sectors, the large amount of spatially relevant expenditure becomes evident. From that angle, physical planning in the Netherlands suddenly becomes a matter of billions. And when private spatial investment is taken into account as well, the bill becomes four or five times higher. In this contribution, we investigate current policy as formulated in the Fourth Report on Physical Planning Extra. We describe what current planning policy in the Netherlands looks like and calculate how much the state spends on physical planning. This expenditure proves to be one of the best-kept secrets of the national budget.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alders, J.G.M. (1990)Stellingname Vierde Nota Ruimtelijke Ordening (Position Regarding the Fourth Report on Physical Planning), Second Chamber 1989–1990, 20.490 No. 21, The Hague: Sdu, 15 January.
Boer, M. de (1995)Brief over uitvoering en actualisering van het nationaal ruimtelijk beleid (Letter on Implementation and Updating of the National Planning Policy), Second Chamber, 1994–1995, 24.054, The Hague: Sdu, 12 January.
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries and Housing Ministry (1990)Voorbereidingsprogramma Randstadgroenstructuur, projectenlijs (Preparatory Program for Randstad Green Structure, List of Projects), The Hague: Ministry of Agriculture.
Ministry of Economic Affairs (1994)Ruimte voor Economische Activiteit (Space for Economic Activity), The Hague: Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Ministry of Finance (1994)Rijksbegroting 1995 hoofdstuk XI-Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening and Milieubeheer, Deel 1 exclusief Rijkshuisvesting (National Budget 1995 Chapter XI-Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment, Part 1 excluding Government accommodation), Second Chamber 1994–1995, 23.900 XI No. 1, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Finance (1995)Rijksbegroting 1996 hoofdstuk XI-Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieubeheer, Deel 1 exclusief Rijkshuisvesting (National Budget 1995 Chapter XI-Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment. Part 1 Excluding Government accommodation), Second Chamber 1995–1996, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Home Affairs (1990)Bestuur op niveau. Bestuur en stedelijke gebieden (High-quality Administration. Administration and urban areas), Second Chamber, 1989–1990, 21.062, Nos. 3–4, The Hague: BiZa.
Ministry of Home Affairs (1991)Bestuur op niveau deel 2. Bestuur en stedelijke gebieden (High-quality Administration Part 2. Administration and Urban Areas), Second Chamber 1990–1991, 21.062 No. 7, The Hague: BiZa.
Ministry of Home Affairs (1993)Bestuur op niveau deel 3. Vernieuwing bestuurlijke organisatie (High-quality Administration Part 3. Renewal of Administrative Organization), Second Chamber 1993–1994, 21.062 No. 21, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning, and the Environment (1988)Vierde Nota over de Ruimtelijke Ordening, deel a: beleidsvoornemen (Fourth Report on Physical Planning, Part A: Policy Plan), Second Chamber 1987–1988, 20.490 Nos. 1–2, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning, and the Environment (1989a)Nationaal Milieubeleidsplan (National Environmental Policy Plan), Second Chamber 1988–1989, 21.137 Nos. 1–2, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning, and the Environment (1989b)Vierde Nota over de Ruimtelijke Ordening, deel d: regeringsbeslissing (Fourth Report on Physical Planning, Part D: Government Decision), Second Chamber 1988–1989, 20.490 Nos. 9–10, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning, and the Environment (1989c)Volkshuisvesting in de jaren negentig (Housing in the Nineties), Second Chamber 1988–1989, 20.691 Nos. 2–3, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning, and the Environment (1990a)Vierde Nota over de Ruimtelijke Ordening Extra VINEX (Fourth Report on Physical Planning Extra), Second Chamber 1990–1991, 21.879 Nos. 1–2, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning, and the Environment (1990b)Nationaal Milieubeleidsplan Plus (National Environmental Policy Plan Plus), Second Chamber 1989–1990, 21.137 Nos. 20–21, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning, and the Environment (1991)Vierde Nota over de Ruimtelijke Ordening Extra, VINEX, deel III: Het Kabinetsstandpunt (Fourth Report on Physical Planning Extra, Part III: The Cabinet's Viewpoint), Second Chamber 1990–1991, 21.879 Nos. 5–6, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning, and the Environment (1992)Beleid voor stadsvernieuwing in de toekomst (Policy for Orban Renewal in the Future), Second Chamber 1991–1992, 22.396 No. 4, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Transport and Public Works (1988)Tweede Structuurschema Verkeer en Vervoer, deel a: beleidsvoornemen (Second Structural Scheme for Traffic and Transport, Part A: Policy Plan), Second Chamber 1988–1989, 20.922 Nos. 1–2, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Transport and Public Works (1990)Tweede Structuurschema Verkeer en Vervoer, deel d: regeringsbeslissing (Second Structural Scheme for Traffic and Transport, Part D: Government's Decision), Second Chamber 1989–1990, 20.922 Nos. 15–16, The Hague: Sdu.
Ministry of Transport and Public Works (1994)Meerjarenprogramma Infrastructuur en Transport 1995–1999. Verkeer en vervoer in een duurzame samenleving (Longrange Program for Infrastructure and Transport 1995–1999. Traffic and Transport in a Sustainable Society), Second Chamber 1994–1995, 23.903 No. 1, The Hague: Sdu.
National Planning Service (RPD) (1994a)De prijs van een plek (The Price of a Site), The Hague: Housing Ministry.
National Planning Service (RPD) (1994b)Ruimtelijke Verkenningen 1994. Balans van de Vierde Nota Ruimtelijke Ordening (Extra) (Spatial Investigations 1994. Taking Stock of the Fourth Report on Physical Planning (Extra)), The Hague: Housing Ministry.
National Planning Service (RPD) (1995)Ruimtelijke Verkenningen 1995 (Spatial Investigations 1995), The Hague: Housing Ministry.
Needham, B.D., et al. (1994)Evaluatie van het Vinex-verstedelijkingsbeleid (Evaluation of VINEX urbanisation policy).Stand van zaken (State of the Art) andAnalyse, evaluatie Vino/Vinex (Analysis, evaluation Vino/Vinex), The Hague (National Planning Service).
Priemus, H., and H. Van der Wusten (1993)Bestuurlijke en ruimtelijke inrichting van de Randstad (Administrative and Spatial Organization of the Randstad), Stedelijke en Regionale Verkenningen 3, Delft: DUP.
RPD: See National Planning Service.
Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) (1992)Grond voor keuzen (Ground for Choices), The Hague: Sdu.
Social and Cultural Planning Bureau (SCP) (1994)Sociaal en Cultureel Rapport 1994 (Social and Cultural Report 1994), Rijswijk ZH: SCP.
Zandstra, F. (1969) Rijksuitgaven voor de inrichting van ons land (Government Expenditure on the Planning of the Netherlands),ESB, 21 May: pp. 520–526.
Zandstra, F. (1970) Overheidsinvesteringen voor de inrichting van ons land (Government Investments for the Planning of the Netherlands),Maandblad Bedrijfskunde, March and April.
Zandstra, F. (1971) “Rijksuitgaven voor de ruimtelijke ordening” (Government Expenditure on Physical Planning),Openbare Uitgaven (3) no. 3, October: pp. 114–125.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Priemus, H. Physical planning policy and public expenditure in the Netherlands. Neth J of Housing and the Built Environment 11, 151–171 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02496484
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02496484