Bridging the social divide? reflections on current Dutch neighbourhood policy

Abstract

Current Dutch urban policy has opted for a focused approach to solve urban social problems. The Minister of 'Housing, Neighbourhoods and Integration' aims at tackling social deprivation and liveability problems in a limited number of neighbourhoods. Several assumptions underpin the policy ambitions: e.g., a strong interrelationship between social deprivation and liveability; a clear social and spatial divide in Dutch society; and extra negative effects of problem accumulation. In this paper, these assumptions are tested. It is concluded that the two types of problems are in fact unrelated; targeting a limited number of neighbourhoods does not effectively address social deprivation. Furthermore, there is yet insufficient research to support the idea that there would be extra negative effects associated with an accumulation of social deprivation and liveability problems.

A Place for Area-Based Policy? The Survival and Growth of Local Firms in Dutch Residential Neighborhoods

“…Over the past two decades, in several European countries, urban policies aiming at combating social exclusion and stimulating enterprise developments have increasingly been targeted at the regional (Huggins & Williams, 2011) or even the neighborhood level (Atkinson, 2000; De Decker, Vrancken, Beaumont, & Van Nieuwenhuyze, 2000; Van Gent, Musterd, & Ostendorf, 2009; Williams & Williams, 2011). For years, a fundamental and persistent discussion has centered on the question of whether policies should aim at people or places (Bolton, 1992).…”

“…The regeneration of these areas takes place through integrated measures by national and local governments, social welfare organizations, residents, and housing corporations. The program hypothesized strong interrelations between social deprivation, livability, and economic development (Van Gent et al, 2009).…”

Neighbourhood Effects as Indirect Effects: Evidence from a Dutch Case Study on the Significance of Neighbourhood for Employment Trajectories

“…The pre‐war neighbourhood of Transvaal‐Noord is located close to the city centre and next to the ‘Hague market’, the largest open air market in Europe. The neighbourhood is an urban renewal area under Dutch Neighbourhood Policy (Gent et al ., ). Transvaal‐Noord is one of the most marginalized areas in the Netherlands (see Table ): one‐third of the households have a disposable income below the poverty line and unemployment is twice as high as in the city.…”

‘We want to be there for everyone’: imagined spaces of encounter and the politics of place in a super-diverse neighbourhood

“…Especially (semi)public spaces in cities and neighbourhoods are seen as important locations for policy intervention (Duyvendak, Reinders, & Wekker, 2016). Dutch urban policies often focus on 'problem' neighbourhoods, which are described as lacking liveability and social cohesion due to their ethnically diverse and socio-economically weak population (van Gent, Musterd, & Ostendorf, 2009). These neighbourhoods are then subjected to a multitude of (often small-scale) social and physical interventions, in which resident participation is a key aspect (Dekker & Van Kempen, 2009;Uitermark, 2014).…”

“…Since then, it has received funding for investments in the social and physical infrastructure, including a budget for residents' initiatives. Underpinning this policy was the assumption (made at the national level but also expressed by local civil servants) that these neighbourhoods lack social cohesion but also risk becoming excluded from the mainstream and forming 'parallel societies ' (van Gent et al, 2009). Therefore, attempts were made to activate and include 'non-native' residents who were a growing part of the neighbourhood population but had not received proportionate attention in previous policies.…”