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.