This thesis develops a systematic, design-led framework to bridge the gap between uncertain technical energy scenarios and specific socio-cultural landscape qualities in the province of Groningen, thereby reducing ‘spatial blindness’ in energy transition thinking. The methodology is structured in three intertwined phases: analysis, spatial mapping, and visual narratives.
The analysis phase utilises the ‘Future energy footprint toolkit’ to deconstruct the energy system into spatially quantified ‘energy tools’. Simultaneously, three national II3050 scenarios (Regional Resilience, National Transition, European Integration) are regionalised to Groningen to define distinct territorial pressures.
In the spatial mapping phase, three distinct explorations, Energy Edges, Energy Clusters, and Offshore Energy, are developed explicitly as spatial hypotheses and extremes in a range of possibilities. This mapping is tested via GIS against landscape constraints, applying the schaal-bij-schaal principle to match intervention scale to specific landscape capacity.
The visual narratives phase systematically tests a set of visual methods, including collages, AI-generated images, and eye-level sketches, to translate these abstract spatial concepts into relatable human-scale experiences and visual arguments.
The research concludes that no single spatial exploration can, on its own, yet meet high ambition targets while preserving landscape quality. Thus, the eventual energy system will probably be a hybrid that combines these spatial extremes. Ultimately, rather than closing the debate on Groningen’s energy future, the framework instead structures a necessary discussion on how technical ambitions, landscape identity, and questions of spatial justice can be brought into one conversation, offering a methodology that is highly transferable to other sustainability transitions. ... Read more

Only 1% of the surface water in the Netherlands has been classified as ‘good’, making it the EU member state with the worst quality of surface water (Didde, 2022). Polluted rivers cause problems such as worsened human health, reduced biodiversity, and poor soil fertility. To comply with the Water Framework Directive, there is an urgent need to transform water management in the Netherlands. This report adopts a research-by-design approach to address the issue of water pollution on a pilot project scale, specifically the river Eem in the Netherlands. The policies and interventions implemented in the river Eem area are categorised according to their transferability to different programming areas, namely urban, industry, or agriculture, creating a toolbox that can be used to upscale the same approach in various parts of the Eurodelta. The report answers the following research question: How can the transformation of the Eem Valley turn the river Eem into the healthiest river in Europe as a pilot for the Eurodelta? It catalyses rethinking pollution flows from human activities, industries, and agricultural practices. The goal is to develop sustainable practices for the land surrounding the river and create a synergy between improved soil and water quality. Finally, the report concludes with a toolbox of interventions and policies that contribute to improving river water quality. The toolbox forms the basis for implementing this small-scale approach on a larger scale ... Read more