Reimagining (Sports) Parks
A case study of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Q.E.A. Verhagen (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Y. Chen – Mentor (TU Delft - Urban Development Management)
Eveline van Leeuwen – Mentor (Wageningen University & Research)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
Everybody engages in sports and physical activity, but the mechanisms underlying these activities are extremely complex. This study examines the systemic imbalance that exists in Amsterdam's sports landscape, where current, static, supply interacts with dynamic, changing user demand. It specifically looks into how programming (Software), governance structures (Orgware), and physical infrastructure (Hardware) interact to create bottlenecks.
By using a mixed-methods case-study approach that triangulates literature and policy review, expert interviews, and user surveys, the study evaluates the interrelationship between demand and supply within the metropolitan context. Key findings include that demand is shifting toward more flexible, informal, and individually organized sports. This shift leads to bottlenecks within the traditional, club-based organized sports landscape that is unique to the Netherlands. The analysis revealed several mismatches that lead to bottlenecks, most notably aging, monofunctional infrastructure, fragmented municipal governance, missing statutory foundations, and inadequate legal frameworks for sports.
To address these bottlenecks, eight design principles are suggested that prioritize multifunctionality, professionalize public space management, and strategically collaborate with commercial providers. This study contributes to the academic field by suggesting a strategic framework for policymakers, practitioners, and urban planners to align sports infrastructure with contemporary needs. The thesis concludes that there is no universal solution. Instead, it advocates for 'maatwerk' (context-specific customization) and the structural legal embedding of sport in spatial planning to guarantee its future place in the ever-densifying metropolitan city.