The Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as an economic paradigm that could provide a pathway to sustainable development. The transition to a CE is a complex process requiring wide multi-level and multi-stakeholder engagement, which can be facilitated by appropriate policy interventions. As value retention processes in the CE require additional labour, the transition from a linear to a circular economy can be viewed as a transition from a capital-based economy to a labour economy. Consequently, a ‘circular tax shift’, based on an introduction of environmental taxation paired with a reduction of labour taxation, could be a powerful lever for public policy. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of this tax shift on the financial feasibility of circularity in the construction sector. The main research question is: ‘What is the effect of a circular tax shift on the financial feasibility of circular construction, in relation to linear construction?’ To answer this question, a micro-economic analysis has been applied on two circular construction case studies: the ‘The Voice of Urban Nature’ and ‘Circuloco’ pavilions that were built at the Floriade World Expo 2022. A linear and circular variant have been developed for both case studies, for which a life cycle costing analysis has been conducted. A life cycle assessment has been applied to determine the environmental impacts, on the basis of which environmental taxation was applied under the taxation scenarios, which reflected varying levels of the circular tax shift. The results show that under the current taxation system, the total life cycle costs for the circular variants are 2,0 - 2,7% higher than for the linear variants, though environmental impacts are lower by 38,7 - 52,7%. The effect of the tax shift is that the cost differences between the linear and circular variants decrease, and in two of the high level tax shift scenarios, the circular variant of the Circuloco pavilion becomes more financially feasible than the linear variant. Although the external validity is low, the results of the research imply that the suggested circular tax shift could create incentives to use secondary and biobased materials in construction. The tax circular shift also implies many other effects, which are outside the scope of this research, but have been suggested as subjects for follow-up research.

The reuse of secondary materials will be important in achieving a circular built environment. But now, this is challenging since material streams are not synchronized in terms of space and time. Building material hubs, a location where materials are gathered, examined, and momentarily stored before being packed and sent to the building site which, are a way to better organize the flow of goods between parties, might be the answer as they have a positive effect on fewer transit movements, reduced traffic, and better air quality in the city or region. By identifying building material hubs in relation to the realization of a circular build environment and by defining the factors that shape the emergence of the hubs, this study fills a gap in the literature. The primary research question is therefore: "What different building material hubs in relation to a circular built environment exist, and what factors explain their emergence?". This study identified six primary factors that explain the establishment of construction material hubs, based on 26 sub-factors. These primary factors include (1) land-based, (2) economic, (3) logistical, (4) technology and knowledge, (5) social, and (6) governance factors. Every circular construction material hub begins with a circular business case that demonstrates how the materials may be used more effectively and with more efficiency. The hub's strategic location connects the supply and demand of building materials, ideally used ones. The building material hubs are shaped by a variety of knowledge and experience as well as logistical accessibility to the main road network. The initiator from the hub contributed equally by raising awareness and offering white label facilities. In relation to the circular built environment, there are four distinct typologies of circular building material hubs: (1) the circular craft centre, (2) the circular multimodal building material hub, (3) the circular building material hub and (4) the circular raw building material hub. This study emphasizes the development of typologies and their connections to relevant territorial factors that explain their emergence, something that, as far as is known, no other study has done. This study is consistent with the body of research from research organizations on the topic of (circular) building material hubs and its potential. The report's findings provide an intriguing parable for cities and regions that have set the challenging objective of attaining a circular built environment. A reasonable next step when enhancing the circular activities in a region may be to implement a CBMH.

For many years, the concept of adaptive reuse of buildings has been researched. A focus on heritage and specifically the implementation of circular economy frameworks is however relatively new. Adaptive reuse of heritage is often concerned a circular strategy for its material reuse. However, there are many more dimensions to circularity in adaptive reuse, ranging from socio-economic values in urban environments to buildings facilitating and stimulating the circular economy by their new functions. Urban manufacturing is one of the functions that can benefit of the added values of industrial heritage. In return, urban manufacturing can provide several values to its urban context and contribute to development of the circular city due to ongoing developments in this sector. The next generation of manufacturers can be well integrated in urban areas contribute to realising circular ambitions, but several principles should be applied to realise this and create balanced urban development. To date, integration of circular economy and adaptive reuse of heritage frameworks is limited and fragmented. An overarching conceptual framework for adaptive reuse in a multidimensional way is missing, and current research often avoids practical solutions and guidelines that can be used by developers and planners. This research aims to provide these frameworks to combine the potentials and values of both heritage and the urban manufacturing industry through adaptive reuse. The main research question: ‘How can industrial heritage facilitate the developing urban manufacturing industry?’ is answered by executing a literature review, interviews, a questionnaire, studying different cases of heritage adaptive reuse, and providing a new framework for assessment and development of industrial heritage for facilitating the urban manufacturing industry.

This report focuses on the optimal utilization of commercial office real estate at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport to further contribute to the Mainport Strategy of the Netherlands. It is important to realize that the non-aeronautical activities play a crucial role for the business of the airport, especially considering factors such as a limit on the number of flight transfers per year and the increasing airport charges, that contribute negatively to the aviation business. This research emphasizes focuses on the emergent knowledge economy and how a functional program for office real estate at the airport can further contribute to the knowledge-intensive firms locating there. The literature review forms the base for the research which shows the existing Mainport strategy and Schiphol’s role, followed by an insight into the emergent knowledge economy and its potential for the airport location. Next, the empirical part of this research includes understanding the demands of the knowledge corporations at the airport, the strategies used by the office providers, and experts opinions to corroborate the findings from the demand and supply side. Thus, using this triangulation scheme, strategic recommendations are made for an optimal utilization of the office space to Schiphol Real Estate. This research is highly pertinent not only to the real estate department at Schiphol and other knowledge corporations who are looking to (re)locate in the airport vicinity, and also for other airports around the world to provide appropriate real estate for the commercial office spaces.

The redevelopment of brownfield sites such as port, industrial or business locations are designated for redevelopment, mostly for residential or commercial use. However, waterfront redevelopment sites are amongst the most complex to develop (Daamen, 2007). That is why it is important to understand why we choose for redevelopment to new or other uses. This research examines the intrinsic land value creation for two cases in the port of Rotterdam and how the intrinsic land value was created as a result of the actor arena and the involvement and perspectives therein. Through literature is first sought how we can explain intrinsic land value and what it comprises. Thereafter, two cases: the M4H and RDM sites in Rotterdam, are examined. These two related cases are particularly interesting as they resulted in a different outcome than a complete transformation from port to city, implying that different value creation and actor arena dynamics. It appeared that intrinsic land value can either be affected by context changes or actively be created through development. The intrinsic value of a location or land can be described through location factors. These can be categorized in factors from a classical, behavioral, institutional or evolutional approach. The different actor arena in the two cases has led to different area developments. For the RDM case, the Port of Rotterdam dominant involvement has resulted in a innovative and manufacturing cluster focused on maritime use and collaboration with educational partners. The M4H case, with the municipality as equal partner and the involvement of developers, includes a lot of residential and commercial uses too. The innovative making cluster in the M4H emerged from a mutual innovation agenda (digitalization and energy transition) and the need to enhance and diversify the economy for the port and city. It can be concluded that intrinsic land value is created through the interplay of involvement, power, actor perspectives and the C-strategies employed to impact those in one's favor. This thesis identified 10C's. This deserves more research in the future, to understand how we come to our redevelopment outcomes in the port-city interface, as well as other inner-city redevelopment projects.

The Netherlands is well-known for their long-standing tradition in spatial planning and growth management. Before the crisis of 2008, the municipalities carried out an active land policy in urban development projects, however this approach was not crisis-proof and is subject of change contemporarily. The new Environment and Planning Act expected to enter in force in 2022 plays a significant role in this. There is an ongoing transition from traditional into a more facilitating approach to urban development projects initiated from the government. This new approach offers room for initiatives from the market. However, it is not clear what the impact of these changes are and what it entails. The aim of this research is to clarify the framework of this facilitative approach and what it entails for the municipalities and project developers. In order to investigate this a literature review has been made in which the most important informal and formal procedures, instruments and documents have been described. The design of this research is qualitative. Based on document analysis, semi-structured interviews and multiple case studies a complete overview of the transition is given. This results in the definition of the context of urban development projects, legal and non-legal instruments used, practical experiences and relationship between parties involved. The goal is to map out the entire situation in the present and near future, which could be used as a guidance when the new Environment and Planning Law comes into effect.

Due to both geographical and functional separation of port and city, urban planning of port cities has become a rather slow, costly and sometimes conflictual process. To work towards a more collaborative way of planning and to enhance the competitive edge of port cities, mixed-use developments that include both city -and industrial orientated functions could be an outcome. A comprehensive literature study into the mixed-use concept reveals, besides a positive view, also a more critical view on mixed-use ideas. While mixing uses knows many benefits, in realized mixed-use developments higher goals, as sustainability, synergy and diversity are not always reached and residential satisfaction appears to be rather low. Furthermore, the combination of industry and housing is typically avoided and when attempted, this mix usually doesn’t last long. It appears residential nuisance plays a pivotal role in this. Consequently, it is argued that when developing mixed-use areas, the potential incompatibilities between different uses should be acknowledged and residential nuisance should be managed. By coining the terms actual and perceived nuisance, a distinction is made between the objective level of nuisance, exposed to the receiver, and the subjective level of nuisance, as perceived by the receiver. Commonly used measures in urban planning are focused on mitigating the observation of nuisance (actual nuisance). However, theory suggests that also the annoyance levels attached to these observations may not be overlooked (perceived nuisance) and that the relation between actual and perceived nuisance might not be as straight-forward as it seems. In this study a deeper understanding of how residents perceive nuisance caused by industry is gained with help of a practical case: Hoek van Holland. This is a Dutch village located close to industry and part of the port city Rotterdam. Two focus groups with residents of Hoek van Holland are conducted and an urban planner who is involved with developments in the village is interviewed. The findings show that perceived nuisance is a very interrelated concept. It is influenced in several ways and depends on more than actual nuisance alone. It is theorized residential satisfaction has a mediating effect on feelings of annoyance and, therefore, urban planners should not underestimate the value of residential satisfaction for the (long-term) success of a mixed-use developments.

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the wasteful use of raw materials, which leads to major nature and environmental problems. To address these issues, initiatives have been shown by all kinds of stakeholders, in the form of agreements, legislation and action plans, for a transition to a circular economy (CE). This transition is crucial, especially in the construction sector, due to the high level of waste and the use of raw materials. Literature review shows that localization can create local jobs and economic incentives, but also non-economic motives, such as inclusion and engagement. On the other hand, supply chains, business relationships and sales markets have actually been scaled up to a global level in recent decades. Therefore, a shift to a local approach is needed as well as a shift to a supra-national approach to facilitate the CE. Although this may seem paradoxical at first, this process is also known in the literature as 'glocalization'. Much research has been done on CE on multiple scales, however there is insufficient knowledge about the various components addressed by the concept of 'glocalization’, especially on inter-firm networks and how they deal with the paradox of glocalization in realizing a CE in the construction sector. The aim of this research is to shed light on how inter-firm networks, which consist of multiple types of business relationships, deal with shifts that take place in the field of institutional and regulatory arrangements and economic activities both to the supra-national and local scale. The research is done through literature research, which provides qualitative, and a case study on the concrete industry, which also provides qualitative data. The case study was investigated through semi-structured interviews, after which these were analyzed using coding tools. On this basis, the paradoxes of glocalization have been formulated and it has been analyzed how the companies and organizations within the inter-firm networks deal with these paradoxes. Although the research shows several limitations with regard to the data and synthesis, it can be concluded that the inter-firm networks exhibit different attitudes, which can be categorized as proactive, reactive and inert, towards the paradoxes of glocalization. Furthermore, the research shows that different attitudes to the paradoxes of glocalization can drive changes in the inter-firm networks, such as business expansions, new partnerships between companies that have similar activities, and new partnerships between companies that have different activities but are working on one resulting product.

Problem statement – As a result of the increasing world population, use of raw materials and energy, scarcity of the raw materials and the pressure on the environment, a transition to the concept of a circular economy has become more urgent. Since the Dutch government has the ambition to be fully circular in 2050, the concept of a circular economy is more and more linked to area development in the Netherlands. As a result, existing inner-city production areas are, partly because of urbanization, being transformed through a circular design approach into residential and commercial areas. However, due to these transformations, production processes disappear from areas, which in fact makes the areas less circular because the circular functioning in the areas is no longer included. Hence it can be questioned in what extent contemporary circular area developments are actually circular, or whether these circular area developments only consist of a circularly designed area that does not take into account the circular functioning of the area. Objective – The main objective of this research is to understand how circular functioning can be taken into account in the development of circular areas. Based on the understanding of how the circular functioning of an area is or is not taken into consideration during circular area development, recommendations will be drawn up. The research question that is answered: ‘’Which recommendations can contribute to an area development with regard to the circular functioning of an area?’’. Methods – The research process is divided in three parts. First of all, a literature review has been carried out to collect information in order to gain an understanding and insights about circular area development. Secondly, a case study and several interviews are conducted in order to gain insights of what criteria the recommendations should suffice to with the aim of improving the circular functioning of an area during a circular area development. Thirdly, an expert panel is held to validate draft recommendations to ultimately formulate final conclusions and recommendations. Results – The results of this research show that circular area development consists of a circularly designed environment and a circularly functioning environment, in which the use of resources and energy is minimized by closing, slowing down and narrowing cycles. In addition, a circular area consists of as much local production and transactions as possible, creating opportunities for the highest possible reuse of products, materials and resources. Further findings claim that area development can significantly change an area's program. As a consequence of an increasing program, material consumption and waste generation increase within an area. It can therefore be argued that, with regard to the circular functioning of an area undergoing an area development, more processing of materials and waste should take place as locally as possible. Conclusion – Several recommendations have been identified in this study that can be divided into three categories. First, overarching recommendations focus on (1) the specific formulation of guidelines for achieving sustainable and circular objectives and (2) stimulating innovations during area developments. Second, the focus should be on creating both a circularly designed area and a circularly functioning area during area development. This category consists primarily of rethinking the development plans, by analysing the current situation in the area and assessing how the current built environment, infrastructure and established activities can contribute to a circular economy. Subsequently, the following five aspects can be applied: (1) circular criteria for land issues and tenders, (2) design and build according to circular principles, (3) new forms of financial value assessment, (4) introducing flexibility in the existing zoning plan, and (5) stimulating local partnerships to close cycles. The third category, monitor, evaluate and improve, serves to assess whether the sustainable and circular objectives of an area development are achieved and, if possible, to make adjustments to improve the sustainability and circularity of an area. This category consists of the following six components to monitor, analyse and improve: (1) incoming and outgoing flows in an area, (2) existing and future raw materials in an area, (3) energy consumption of an area, (4) climate adaptation of an area, (5) health and well-being of residents in an area, and (6) local economy. Discussion – COVID-19 broke out during the research process. On the one hand, this created obstacles for the research: respondents were often not available for interviews. Nevertheless, all questions previously drafted in the protocols have been answered. On the other hand, the coronavirus outbreak has shown that the circular economy principle is more topical than ever, in which port cities in particular should focus more on less volatile manufacturing industries rather than international processes. As a result, countries will be less dependent on international processes and besides, the total number of international transactions will reduce. This given is in line with the principle of a circular economy. Moreover, the focus on less volatile manufacturing industries of port cities will eventually create new job opportunities for local residents. In other words, bringing (re)consumption and (re)production back or closer to port cities not only contributes to the ecological aspect, but also to the local economy.

Earth’s resources are being depleted which creates a need for a transition towards a circular economy. This transition brings multiple challenges and requires new behaviours. However, in current design practice, the focus lies on products and materials, not on the required circular behaviours. The goal of this research is to describe the relation between design and circular behaviour. To do so, a flexible analytical framework is created based on a literature study, which can be used to perform an empirical study in any context for any behaviour. The applicability of the framework is tested in this initial exploratory research of which the scope is focused on the circular behaviours of Reuse and Recycle Materials of students living in student housing complexes. The framework is filled in with document analysis on the context and semi-structured interviews with the inhabitants of the cases. The results show that a design has influence on behaviour. A design can make behaviour impossible by having a negative influence on one or more of the three categories of the COM-B theory. A design can also make a behaviour possible, by changing the categories that are negative into positive. In between the two extremes of possible and impossible there is also the degree of the categories that influence behaviours. Someone could be able to show behaviour, but if it takes too much effort the person can refrain from showing the behaviour. If there is a high degree of capability and opportunity, it can motivate a person to show the behaviour, and likewise a low degree can demotivate. Therefore a design should strive to have a high degree of capability and opportunity for a behaviour that is desired. However, it must be noted that behaviour is a complex phenomenon with a multitude of factors that influence it, both conscious and unconscious. It is difficult to map all the different factors for every person. Not all factors are related to a design, there are also beliefs and values which have a major influence in behaviour.

Monofunctional office areas in the Netherlands have been facing difficulties in recent decades. Obsolescence of buildings causes financial, social and environmental problems for owners, users, municipalities and society. As most office buildings are located in monofunctional urban areas, the problem of obsolescence becomes a structural one on an area level and solutions on a building level are insufficient. This requires a generic solution by transforming the area into a mixed-use location which is more liveable, self-sufficient and future-proof. Urban area transformation is a highly complex process that involves multiple actors, multiple projects and specific risks. This research aims to identify and analyse inherent risks in addition with factors that promote success. The research design is qualitative, based on case studies, semi-structured expert interviews and a questionnaire. The first outcome is an extended risk register that is combined with a success factor register, which increases awareness and can be used as a checklist to manage risks and achieve success factors. Secondly, a framework is designed that can be applied as a tool to manage risks and success factors within the process of transforming urban areas. Finally, general advice is given in form of developers and policy recommendations. Those outcomes help professionals in the field to reduce uncertainty and to successfully transform urban areas, and thus fight obsolescence.

Business parks are marked as key areas in sustainable transitions, including the energy transition and transition to a circular economy. This thesis analysis what the current practices and developments in sustainable and circular business parks in Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands are in their contribution to local, regional and national circular and energy transitions The thesis starts with an evaluation of literature to determine what options for sustainable and circular development business parks can implement. A variety of collective or individual initiatives aimed at either streams and production processes, or site arrangement, park organization and architecture/construction were found. Next, case studies were performed to evaluate current policies and strategies on sustainable and circular development of business parks by the national, provincial and municipal governments. And to investigate the current practices, initiatives and developments at sustainable and circular business parks in Zuid-Holland. This resulted in a detailed overview of policies and strategies, and in depth documentation of four business parks using ten variables: (1) Initiation, vision and ambition; (2) Organization and actors’ roles; (3) Sustainable and circular initiatives at the park; (4) Physical location specific and business specific features; (5) Social location specific and business specific features; (6) Regional and local characteristics; (7); Regional spatial-economic strategies and environment policy; (8) Policy instruments; (9) Economic context; and (10) External context. Lastly, based on a cross case analysis, eight key lessons were formulated for future development of sustainable and circular business parks.

There is a need to broaden discussions on sustainable mobility beyond the prevalent focus on electric cars, particularly considering the challenges faced by border regions and marginalized groups that rely on public and soft transport. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the intricate dynamics of cross-border mobility transitions in Belgium and the Netherlands, with a specific focus on activating stakeholders and facilitating sustainable mobility transitions through the application of meta-governance. Utilising a multifaceted research methodology, including an extensive literature review, in-depth case studies of HSL-Zuid and IJzeren Rijn, stakeholder interviews, this research navigates the complex landscape of meta-governance in cross-border regions. The study reveals three pivotal tensions that disrupt current decision-making processes for cross-border connections: (1) National and Regional Imbalance in Decision-Making, (2) Formal and Informal Routes to Decision-Making and Flexibility, (3) Conflicting Interests. These tensions intricately impact governance styles, creating challenges and inefficiencies. To address the identified issues, the research proposes actionable recommendations. Emphasising the need to harmonise national-regional governance frameworks, work on nuanced approaches to formal and informal routes, considerate divergent national interests, and heightened awareness of governance style interplay. Moreover, the research also highlights that metagovernance is already ingrained in current practices. The key lies in raising awareness of its presence among stakeholders, enabling a more informed and seamless navigation of the cross-border governance landscape. Metagovernance’s true value lies in its ability to articulate and navigate through different governance styles, adapting to various challenges and opportunities. While it may not always represent a novel approach, it serves as a critical analytical tool for understanding the dynamics of governance in complex infrastructure projects.

The transition to renewable energy is necessary and urgent. Fossil fuels are depleting, leading to geopolitical instability and are driving climate change. The climate crisis and growing inequalities are among the greatest problems of the 21st century. Temperatures, sea levels and gas prices are rising. This transition poses spatial and economic challenges for the maritime region of South Holland, as the port is a large hub for fossil energy and contributes greatly to the national economy. The social challenge posed, is to create a fair transition. Some groups are more vulnerable to the transition than others, as they are more prone to be subjected to energy poverty and to potentially lose their (fossil related) jobs. Therefore, we conducted a research on how to create socio-economic and spatial justice for the Rotterdam maritime region through a fair distribution of burdens and benefits in the energy transition. This research resulted in a vision for South-Holland in 2050 ,"from consumer to prosumer", proposing a mainframe and a local frame. The mainframe proposal concerns a large renewable energy landscape in South Holland with a central circular hub in the port. The local frame proposal is the main focus of this report and concerns the vulnerable neighbourhoods that become prosumers instead of consumers. This means that they will not only consume energy, but renewable energy systems will be installed to also produce energy, while at the same time improving the quality of living. New job opportunities will be created in the circular construction and demolition sector in the neighbourhoods as well as in the port. The Rotterdam region will fully transition to renewable energy, while also decreasing inequality, unemployment and poverty.

Nowadays, circular economy is of growing importance in the social, economic, and environmental fields. The realisation happens on different scales. First steps towards a circular economy have already been taken, but it will take time before a circular world is reached. Also, under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the bio-based concept raises more awareness. This strengthens the aim to create a circular economy. The industry in the Port of Rotterdam is mainly based on fossil-based industries that follow the linear system. Therefore, high emissions and waste are caused. This contradicts the aims of the SDG and the idea of a circular system. Consequently, the port area should be transformed into a flexible system that can adapt to changing future situations. This will be realized by a circular system that contributes to the development of the bio-based industry. This transition is triggered by the current oil- and plastic industries taking place within the Port. By treating the bio-plastic industry as a trigger industry, a strategy for the transition towards a bio-based system is created. This leads to a circular economy that depends on bio-based materials. Since the bio-based system might face future challenges, it is important to guarantee further adaptation and self-improvement over time. The final goal is to create a closed-loop within the Port region to reduce emissions and waste products using these bio-based materials. To close this loop, the Bio-Loop ZH2050 is integrated into the Port area. A Green Belt strategy promotes the circular economy within the province of South Holland, and by implementing the Living Labs, knowledge and technologies are improved over time. The Bio-Loop ZH2050 influences the aim of the province to become 100% circular by 2050 and several SDG topics. Environmentally, this project supports the transition towards a circular bio-based system and to reduce the impact of pollution and climate change. Socially, the Bio-Loop ZH2050 creates the possibility to get society involved in the bio-based circularity. And finally, economically, the Port of Rotterdam will become the port of Europe based on the bio-based economy, which is the entrance connecting the global market and EU market.

Mankind is exhausting natural resources. Therefore, the need to transform the linear material flows towards circular chains is increasing. Steel is a material that is produced and used globally and has high potentials for recycling. However, in the maritime sector, steel is currently barely recycled, let alone reused in a more direct way. Maritime manufacturing is a vital industry in the province of South-Holland, strengthened by a strong knowledge network. The aim of this project is to localise and extend the steel life cycle, to create an environmentally and socially sustainable province in which maritime manufacturing can grow in a responsible way. In order to close the loops, the R-ladder is used as a framework for circular material flows in the manufacturing industry and in the participation of the citizens. A local steel life cycle for maritime manufacturing will be achieved through the connection of the steel using maritime companies in Rotterdam and the Drecht Cities with the steel production company of TATA Steel in IJmuiden. Missing links in the cycle, a secondary steel processing company and ship disassembly companies, will be brought to the province, providing a new purpose to the Port of Rotterdam when fossil fuels phase out. The transition to material circularity will be made possible through innovations in modular shipbuilding and renewable fuels. Innovation centres in the maker's industry will bridge between knowledge and practice. The consumers will be involved in the material transition through community re-hubs in their cities, where they can share, reuse and recycle products. In this strategy, the extensive water network will function as a backbone along which spatial developments will take place. The water backbone will be a connector for both public transport and industrial transport. This strategy for a transition towards circular steel flows in maritime manufacturing, can be an incentive and inspiration for other manufacturing sectors to close their material cycles.

There is a big demand for housing in the Netherlands and a significant portion of that demand can be facilitated through urban redevelopments. Urban development is hindered by financial barriers that cause public financial deficits. Stimulating urban redevelopment can be achieved by stimulating feasibility. The developers’ contribution is a value-capturing tool that can facilitate private contributions to public space. Through contributions in public space, feasibility can be stimulated by optimizing and widening the developers’ business case. Using the Delphi method, a panel of developers was formed to analyse the relation between the developers’ contribution and developer decision-making in practice. Decision-making is determined by the type of contribution, benefits for the developer, a context and conditions. Private contributions to public mean taking responsibility in some way. Doing this can add value in various ways, but developers are mainly driven by financial aspects. There are certain conditions to doing the contribution, of which the level of financial feasibility is the most important. The willingness to contribute is highest when a municipally adopts a passive role. Developers should be aware of the benefits and municipalities must be aware of the context that enables private contributions. Further research could improve the significance and confidence in the findings.

We are at the beginning of the most significant societal change since the internet. We are transitioning from a 2-dimensional browser-based interaction to immersive 3-dimensional experiences. The metaverse is not a place or a destination but a state where technology and ecosystem are symbiotic. Digital Twins, interactive toolkits, tokenization and urban platfomization, are the bedrock of the future cities and the metaverse. Today, we see the metaverse as cartoonish meeting rooms, yet on a granular level, the metaverse systems focus on user-centric governance and new decentralized economic models. De Filippi and Wright (2018) have described this as "a structural shift of power from legal rules and regulations administered by government authorities to code-based rules and protocols governed by decentralized blockchain-based networks." ... deployed to citizens. With a nickname as Europe's Capital of vacant buildings, Riga suffers from excessive urban negligence and diaspora. Such a location provides a unique opportunity in the tokenization economy, where each urban void can become an asset (an NFT) or social crypto coin that individuals can purchase or 'invest' in, exchanging money for equity (fiat to crypto). By buying into the urban void metaverse, individuals establish a digital identity and can become active citizens of the duality. With a token, one automatically becomes part of the DAO protocols and proposes alternative solutions to the urban void of Riga through its city dashboard. The architectural project acts as a jugendstil-inspired expression of art, history and local struggles. As part of the Next Generation EU, the project proposes a Metaverse Research Academy, where locals can play, imagine and shape their neighbourhood through serendipitous learning. The project can be viewed as a public space where the architecture seamlessly adapts the context into an icon to attract local and international talent while transforming an agglomerate of urban voids into a social, age-inclusive, permeable pocket. Please do not share or reproduce without the written permission of Rihards Dzelme.

This thesis will focus on the relationship between collaborations and the innovation of the circular construction industry. The reason for choosing to investigate this topic is because the construction industry is one of Europe's largest waste producers and energy consumers. Therefore, it can also make a big impact when the circular economy is implemented as efficiently as possible. According to het Planburea voor leefomgeving (2019), there is very little innovation in the circular economy, which does not favour the efficiency of the circular economy. On the other hand, the literature states that collaborations will be beneficial for implementing circularity in the construction industry. However, companies in other sectors that mainly work in-house (no collaborations) are frontrunners in the innovation of the circular economy. An example of this in the car industry is Tesla. They are a frontrunner in terms of electric cars and do 80% of the process internal (Benam, 2020). Out of this emerges the main question of this thesis. What is the relationship between collaboration and innovation in the circular construction sector? To support the main question, the four sub-questions will be answered first: RQ1: What kind of innovations are there in the circular construction sector? RQ2: What are the different elements of collaboration in the circular construction sector? RQ3: What are the factors that drive and prevent collaborations in the innovation of the circular construction sector? RQ4: Who are the stakeholders with whom collaboration should be established to facilitate innovation in the circular construction sector? The research method that will be used for this research is an exploratory study and the data collection will be done with the help of five case studies.

Different government bodies, from the European Union down to the Port of Rotterdam Authority have implemented the policy goal to become circular by 2050 to minimize demand and dependence on finite resources. However, a circular economy - an economic model in which materials circulate in closed loops and waste is viewed as a resource - is vastly different from the current linear system of extraction, consumption and waste. The plastics industry that is currently present in the port of Rotterdam is one such industry where large amounts of raw material is being used and large amounts of waste generated. It is still far from circular. Thus, transitions in the industry itself and in our interaction with products are necessary. The question that arises is: how can the transition to circular plastic manufacturing in the Rotterdam maritime region contribute to a more sustainable, resilient and just economy? Theory on transition management and socio-technical systems, analyses of spatial use and networks of the plastics industry in South Holland, and research on the developments in plastic manufacturing, has led to the understanding of the current networks and flows in the plastics industry. A subsequent analysis of stakeholders, policies and design options has led to a vision and strategy for the South Holland region, on how to shape a new circular plastics economy. In the proposed strategy of Plasticity, (1) the strength of a strategic location in the port of Rotterdam is used to expand the renewable cycle of the bioplastics industry, and (2) by actively engaging citizens in reusing and recycling plastic products on a local level in the whole region, a technical circular cycle is enhanced in the whole province. Plastic is used as an example to demonstrate the contemporary issues around dependency on fossil material in the South Holland context, but similar principles regarding integrating the biological and technical cycle, facilitating space for innovation and growth of circular models, and engaging the whole socio-technical system in the transition process can be applied to other sectors and places. This expands the applicability of this vision and strategy beyond plastic.