Informal governance arrangements in the southern Randstad

Understanding the dynamics in a polycentric region

Journal article (2016)

Authors

M. Spaans OLD Urban and Regional Development
W.A.M. Zonneveld Spatial Planning and Strategy - Architecture and the Built Environment
Research Group
OLD Urban and Regional Development
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Published Date

2016

Language

English

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Research Group

OLD Urban and Regional Development

Abstract

The Dutch Randstad is known for its polycentric configuration resulting in regional daily urban systems and planning realities that do not match formal government tiers. Over the years many informal governance structures have been proposed to address this issue. Often the rationale behind such informal arrangements is ‘to get things done’, to overcome the rigidity and inflexibility of formal administrative structures. As many other polycentric urban regions face similar issues, this analysis may help government tiers in the development of a response to the mismatch between urban structure and the architecture of formal government. The southern Randstad is one of the regions which has faced different informal governance arrangements at different scales. We discuss their emergence, aim and the participants involved as well as the reasons for the fact that different arrangements co-exist for approximately the same area to understand the dynamics in polycentric regions as the southern Randstad.