The Netherlands has set an ambitious national goal of achieving a fully circular economy by 2050, positioning the building renovation sector as a critical area for sustainable transformation. Within this sector, particularly in urban centers like The Hague, migrant workers form an indispensable part of the workforce. However, a significant disconnect exists: while these workers often possess valuable, practical circular knowledge, they are predominantly viewed and hired as a source of flexible, low-cost labour rather than as a repository of expertise. This underutilization represents a missed opportunity for innovation.
This thesis addresses the central question: How can companies in the building renovation industry harness migrant workers' circular knowledge? Using a qualitative case study methodology, this research conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with contractors, clients, and labour union representatives in The Hague. Thematic analysis, guided by the theoretical lens of Absorptive Capacity, was employed to identify the types of knowledge migrant workers possess and the barriers to its integration.
The findings reveal that migrant workers hold significant circular knowledge, particularly in material reuse and the application of durable materials. However, this knowledge remains untapped due to key barriers, including a "linear employment" model based on temporary contracts, employer bias viewing migrants as "hands, not heads," and contextual mismatches with Dutch standards.
This study concludes that harnessing this knowledge is not merely an ethical consideration but a strategic imperative. It proposes a fundamental shift from a labour-focused to a knowledge-focused employment model and presents an actionable framework to help companies systematically develop their absorptive capacity, thereby turning an overlooked labour pool into a powerful engine for circular innovation and competitive advantage. ... Read more

Despite extensive research on flood governance, there remains a significant gap in understanding how these strategies specifically address socioeconomic vulnerability within urban neighbourhoods. This thesis, conducted at the Delft University of Technology, examines flood governance strategies in the socioeconomically vulnerable neighbourhoods of Krispijn and De Staart in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. It critically assesses the government-initiated flood resilience strategies, investigating both the institutional approach and the community perception, examining their effectiveness in preparing and empowering the vulnerable communities, their ability not only to mitigate the immediate effects of flooding, but also to address the underlying vulnerabilities that exacerbate the community's susceptibility to such disasters. The research uses a qualitative methodology, combining theoretical exploration with empirical investigation through a detailed case study approach. Data collection included reviews of secondary sources, policy documents, and primary data collected by semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with key stakeholders such as institutional actors and community members. Findings indicate that while Dordrecht's flood management strategies are developed, their inclusiveness and effectiveness varies significantly due to socioeconomic diversity and characteristics of the neighbourhoods. Although these strategies generally address immediate flood risks, they often overlook deeper socioeconomic vulnerabilities. In addition, this study highlights the critical need for increased community engagement and the inclusiveness of vulnerable groups’ needs into governance processes, which is essential for improving the resilience of flood management practices. Recommendations for refining flood governance emphasise the importance of involving stakeholders, such as citizens, in both planning and implementation, tailoring interventions to specific community needs, and strengthening the adaptive capacity of governance frameworks to effectively incorporate emerging risks and community feedback. This thesis concludes that for flood resilience strategies in Dordrecht to be truly effective, a deeper integration with the community-specific needs and vulnerabilities is imperative, underscoring the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to flood resilience. ... Read more

Participation activities areoften dominated by individuals who are easy to recruit, vocal, and comfortablein public arenas. As a result, white, older, higher-educated, and male citizenstend to overshadow other citizens, which can lead to a misinterpretation of thetrue community interests. This leaves underrepresented groups – such as ethnicminorities, youth, women, and lower-educated citizens – with a lack of voice orpower. This research examines how public participation processes of projects inthe urban environment in disadvantaged neighbourhoods can be improved to betterrepresent the voices of these vulnerable groups.

The study involved a policydocument analysis and semi-structured interviews with ten experts and thirteencitizens from two disadvantaged neighbourhoods, Feijenoord and Meerwijk.Through this secondary and empirical data, this research found that expertsemploy various strategies in the following areas: accessibility, communication,existing networks, human aspect, location, and rewards. This study alsoformulated a definition of disadvantaged neighbourhoods based on literature andthrough the perspective of the experts. Next, experts formulated multiplechallenges they experienced during participation processes in terms ofengagement, expectations, outside influence, participation design,representation, and understanding the neighbourhood. Lastly, the barriers andmotivators of residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods to participate arediscussed. The thesis concludes with eleven recommendations for policy andpractice aimed at improving inclusivity and effectiveness in publicparticipation for disadvantaged communities.  ... Read more