A decentralization policy targeting a structural problem that was occurring throughout The Netherlands: jobs had to be created quickly for the rapidly increasing population.
Situation
- The ongoing industrialization and growth of the population in The Netherlands led to different spatial economic patterns.
- Noord-Brabant was looking for a solution that would not re-create how the urbanization of the area ‘North of the Rivers’ / The Randstad had become.
- Catholics were aware of the correlation between the declining engagement with the Church and the increase of urbanization.
- During the time of industrialization, an increased number of people moved from the suburbs to the city with desires for better employment.
- The Catholic elite feared these changes because of secularization, fear of social unrest and rebellion. Cities were dirty, unhealthy and potential hotbeds of socialist rebellion.
- Immediately after the Second World War, the provincial authority agreed on a major industrialization programme managed by Jan De Quay, a famous Dutch politician.
Objectives
- To enforce decentralization, The Welvaartsplan stated that the industry should move to the location of the workers.
- An increase in the control of economical and cultural activities in parallel with a decrease in development.
- Ensure people stay loyal to the community and the Church.
Assets
- Factories could be set up in existing towns, where a labour pool was readily available.
- Companies had more space to expand in the suburbs.
- Existing spatial patterns could be used.
- Basic networks and high accessability of other economic cores.
- Top quality land in good condition.
Strategy
- Control development by combining economical, political and spatial goals.
- Use existing cultural and spatial patterns.
- Create a network of satellite cities all over Brabant within a radius of 6 km to each other, developing a decentralized mixture of living, rural and industrial space.
- A Welfare Plan (Welvaartsplan, 1947–1949) was created in response to the growing demand for industrialization.
Actions
- Commisioner de Quay proposed in his ‘Pre-advice Prosperity Plan’, a series of religious, social, economical and spatial strategies such as railway policy, overseeing expansion municipality and promoting traditional education in the municipality.
- A selected allocation of industrial sites and a secondary road network was proposed to influence the siting of companies close to existing settlements.
- The North-Brabant Welfare Plan (1947–1949) indicated which small towns and villages were to industrialize.
Effect
- The spatial effect of the Welvaartsplan can be seen in every arial image of the area.
- The north of Brabant has had very successful economic growth.
- The resilience against the economic crisis (1980-1990) in The Netherlands can be seen in the small scale patterns and regional networks of people and entrepreneurs who trust each other.
- Brabant is one of the top 5 innovative clusters of industry and logistics in Europe.