Case study Metropoolregio Amsterdam
The Amsterdam region is the area around the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Outstanding features of the region are the historic centre of Amsterdam (attracting 15 mio day-visitors a year), Schiphol (the fifth largest airport in Europe), the port of Amsterdam, the central business district Zuidas, a variety of natural assets (such as the Markermeer-IJmeer) and landscapes (such as Amsterdam Waterland). The city of Amsterdam (820.000 inhabitants) is surrounded by several medium-sized cities, among them Haarlem, Almere and Zaandam. Greater Amsterdam has 1,5 mio inhabitants. The Amsterdam region is perceived to be part of the Randstad Holland, the western and economically most vital part of the Netherlands.
Spatial development of the Amsterdam region is the policy object of several authorities and partnerships, each with an own vision on the future of the area. The municipality of Amsterdam has published its Structural Vision Amsterdam 2040 in 2011. It has identified a set of zones that provide opportunities for densification, increased spatial qualities and more sustainable development. The Amsterdam Metropolitan Region (MRA) is an informal co-operation among 36 municipalities, two provinces and one city region in the area. The MRA vision focuses on economic development and accessibility in the northern part of the Randstad. The province of North-Holland has expressed its view in the Structural Vision North-Holland 2040. It focuses on the development of landscapes, regional housing markets and regional public transport. The Dutch national government has defined a range of area developments of national importance in its 2012 National Policy Strategy for Infrastructure and Spatial Planning. There is a National Spatial Strategy Amsterdam-Almere-Markermeer focussing on potential development in and around the lake area between Amsterdam and the new town Almere. Other plans foresee a growing integration between Schiphol, Amsterdam and areas surrounding Amsterdam. The Amsterdam region is also at the attention of partnerships that have an interest in development of the Randstad, among them the Delta Metropolis Association. Regional designs produced by this association concern, amongst others, integrated public transport and land-use development.
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