The Netherlands is a man-made country, conquered from the North Sea. It has grown to be one of the most prosperous and densely populated countries in the world. This would not have been possible without a tradition of tight land controls and a collaborative effort to keep the land dry.  Urban design in the Netherlands is based on this very tradition: working together to create and maintain land for development and for the creation of public as well as private benefits.

In the Dutch practice, urban design plans are made for relatively large areas, often in a collaborative effort of local governments, private developers and social housing corporations. The role of urban designers is to provide solutions in the form of urban development proposals that balance all interests and parties involved. Urban design to some extent becomes the vehicle through which consensus in urban development is achieved.  This approach has now been taken on board in many European countries, including France, Germany and increasingly the United Kingdom. Especially in complex, high-density locations, the collaborative approach is seen as a practical and successful way forward. 

There is another factor that has contributed to the outstanding reputation of Dutch planning and design internationally- the way in which the environment is integrated into planning and urban design. This too, goes back to the roots of Dutch society: water management. Dutch society has always relied on civil engineers to manipulate its natural environment. But the Dutch were also the first to discover the limits of engineering in dealing with environmental issues. This led to the construction of the first semi-open storm surge barrier in the early 1980's.

With this innovation, the Dutch set the trend for combining engineering design with ecology. Over time, this approach has become engrained in the Dutch planning system; water management and flood control are integral components of all urban plans, and Dutch society is one of the most efficient when it comes to transportation.

Over the decades to come, urban societies will need to transform into more sustainable systems; systems that are less dependant on fossil fuel; that have a reduced ecological footprint and that reduce the emission levels of greenhouse gases. Urban design can serve as a key component in creating more sustainable cities and regions. Dutch urban design has proven to be able to handle that challenge. Urban Progress makes this expertise available to the US and international markets.