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Lessons from the desert

Jos Hesselink • 16/12/2021
Having a place to live is a right for everyone. Preferably in a nice place in an inclusive environment with room for personal development and perspective.

Location and the 'success' of a city are determining factors. In other words, the economic health of a municipality has a strong influence on the opportunities for its inhabitants. And whichever way you look at it, the government has a determining role in this; both central and local.

The role of the government in the Netherlands is broad. And because the government is involved in many subjects at different levels and often has (final) responsibility, situations often become complex and decision-making turns out to be a challenge. In Jordan, the Al Za'atari refugee camp seems to be at the other extreme. A camp that was set up in 2012 as a temporary solution, but where the daily life of more than 80,000 people is becoming increasingly permanent. Due to the absence of any form of government, important basic facilities such as water and electricity, structural education, waste management and infrastructure, as well as police to combat crime and insurrection, are missing. Maintaining the temporary character and not investing in the basic facilities by governments results in companies not wanting to settle there. And with it the lack of tax revenue and economic context. A hopeless situation with zero social mobility and no prospects for the people in the camp.

On a completely different scale, we see an increase in polarization in the Netherlands. More than a million people live below the poverty line and there is a (growing) inequality in the areas of housing, job security and income. Due to limited social mobility, fewer and fewer people are able to withdraw from their living situation on their own. Missing or poorly organized basic facilities in a city or neighborhood have a (negative) impact on the socio-economic position of its inhabitants and their social mobility; it may offer living space, but no perspective. The layout of a city or neighborhood and its public space is an important element in this. It offers opportunities for its inhabitants to develop themselves.

In urban development, the spatial point of view goes hand in hand with the social and economic context. Where this is in balance, it offers young people opportunities for a job and housing, prosperity increases and the role of the municipality as a social safety net decreases. Where this is not the case, the opposite happens. The decentralization of our government has gone too far and has led to major economic and social disparities between regions, cities and neighborhoods. There is a need for national policy as a clear framework for local customization aimed at integral design of the city. The (local) government, in the collective interest, has the challenge of ensuring that balance. The role of the government, a diabolical dilemma, perhaps a suitable topic for the Christmas dinner.

Every month a column by Elsbeth Quispel is published on a topic related to the value of the city. In it she gives her vision on the social relevance of cities, urban development and therefore also real estate. This vision is based on internal research and dialogue with internal and external stakeholders, in close collaboration with consultants and analysts from our Real Estate Strategy & Innovation team.

Read more - Value Of A City

Lessen uit de woestijn card
Insights

Lessons from the desert

Having a place to live is a right for everyone. Preferably in a nice place in an inclusive environment with room for personal development and perspective.
Jos Hesselink • 16/12/2021
Smart City card
Insights • Technology

The smart Smart City

A fully digital city is like working completely from home due to corona: all spontaneity and creativity disappear like snow in the sun. Living in the city only gives energy when the city is bustling with activity and at the same time provides peace of mind when you need it.
Jos Hesselink • 18/11/2021
Climate risk card
Insights • Sustainability / ESG

Climate risk

Climate risk is now a reality which will impact current and future value of property. When we talk about climate risk, we invariably mean one of two things – the transitional risk of moving towards a low carbon economy or the physical risks associated with climate change.
Lucy Matchett • 29/09/2021
Urban Bike Share Rack
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The City That Moves Stays Healthy

We move too little. Both the city and its inhabitants. While the population density in the cities is growing. 
Jos Hesselink • 27/07/2021
Kalverstraat card image
Insights

Kalverstraat in 2030

The Kalverstraat as the aorta of the new business district that is developing in the center of Amsterdam. Where old business comes back in new form, because the businessman and woman is back in town!
Jos Hesselink • 17/06/2021
City profiler image card
Insights

City profiler

Today, we can better see urban policy makers as 'city profilers'. They must make the right connections to arrive at future-proof solutions for our cities in the coming decades.
Frank van der Sluys • 27/05/2021
De stad na COVID
Insights • Sustainability / ESG

The city after COVID-19

COVID-19 shows our vulnerability. At the same time, it gives us insight into how we should improve the quality of life in our cities in a future-proof way. Anticipating population growth, climate change, health and our continuing need to live, work and stay in cities.
Jos Hesselink • 22/04/2021
De Randstad loopt leeg card
Insights

The Randstad is emptying out

The initial cause of this has everything to do with supply and demand. For years there has been a chronic shortage of affordable housing in the Randstad, the economic heart of the Netherlands. This applies to both starters in the buyers' market and middle incomes in the tenant market.
Jos Hesselink • 25/03/2021
Auto de stad uit card
Insights • Sustainability / ESG

City streets should not have cars

The arrival of the car has radically changed the spatial development of our cities and the infrastructure in the Netherlands.
In order to bring cars and freight traffic safely and quickly from A to B, highways and motorways, bridges and viaducts, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings were necessary.
Jos Hesselink • 25/02/2021
Groene steden
Insights • Sustainability / ESG

A city full of green is not valued enough

A green environment or fresh air is not often a reason to live in a city, rather the opposite. It is often a reason to escape the city at the weekend and visit nature, or even to live elsewhere.
Jos Hesselink • 04/02/2021
Ruimtelijke ordening
Insights

The future-proof city

The value of the city lies in its future-proofness. In order to be able to anticipate the needs of the time, vision and ambition are needed as guidelines for strategic area development.
Jos Hesselink • 09/12/2020
Ode aan de woningcorporaties
Insights

Ode to the housing association

We are faced with a major challenge to ensure that living in the city remains affordable and thus retains its soul and that we feel connected to the city in which we live.
Jos Hesselink • 12/11/2020

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