HET RIJK ALS RENTMEESTER (2020)

Marinke Steenhuis 

commissioned by: Board of Government Advisors (Floris Alkemade, Bernard Strootman and Daan Zandbelt) 

with the cooperation of: Jelte Boeijenga, Annet Kampinga, SteenhuisMeurs

An essay on the success factors of complex projects in a decentralised model of spatial planning
When it comes to realising large-scale interventions in our landscape, The Netherlands are internationally renowned for our organisational efficiency. An often mentioned example is the Delta Project. But since the realisation of this project, things have changed, both in government policies and in the organisation of the executive agencies. What is the impact of these changes? Commissioned by the Board of Government Advisors, Marinke wrote the essay ‘Het Rijk als Rentmeester’, studying the role of the national government in four successful projects that were executed in the past ten years. The projects she discusses are: train station Rotterdam Centraal, the reinforcement of coastal defences in Katwijk, the A2 tunnel in Maastricht and ‘Ruimte voor de Rivier’. What were the key factors that – apart from the spreadsheets – made these projects succesful and unique. Marinke shows that complex projects can also succeed in a decentralised model of spatial planning, with substantial roles for private sector organisations and in a diffuse political and policy landscape. The Board of Government Advisors incorporated the results in a letter of advice to the cabinet. You can read the essay or watch a short clip in which Marinke explains her findings through the links below (both in Dutch).

Download the essay

Watch the film