Redifferentiation of the Urban Housing Stock in the Netherlands: A Strategy to Prevent Spatial Segregation?

ABSTRACT

In advanced countries the issue of spatial segregation is perceived as a major problem. In many urban neighbourhoods spatial concentrations of social insecurity, criminality and vandalism can be observed. The political challenge is to improve the quality of life in cities; a strategy has been adopted in several countries to promote mixed-income urban areas (Turner, 1997). Since 1995, the Dutch government has gradually become aware of the looming threat of spatial segregation. Measures are now being taken to prevent low-income districts from taking root. The state argues that the restructuring of urban districts and the redifferentiation of the urban housing stock are tools that will prevent spatial segregation. This paper presents the current public policies in the Netherlands which are designed to prevent spatial segregation, gives some background and discusses policy ambitions and their possible impacts in a critical way.