The Significance of European Policy in the Context of Decentralization of Planning: The Case of the Netherlands

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of European Union regulations on spatial planning in the Netherlands, focusing on how EU directives affect both planning policies and the country’s traditional comprehensive integrated approach to land use. The paper highlights that the impact of EU rules is mediated by national legislative choices and governance structures. Within the context of ongoing decentralization and deregulation reforms, the analysis suggests a paradox: despite a Eurosceptic political climate, European influence on planning in the Netherlands is likely to increase or at least become more visible.