Holland Property Bike Enschede Ladies and gentlemen, Ladies and gentlemen, it's a great pleasure to welcome you all to the city of Enschede. I am the Alderman responsible for urban renewal in the City Council.   Enschede is a very lively city. With 157,000 inhabitants and more than 160 nationalities, it is an interesting place to live. And the presence of more than 30,000 students makes it even more dynamic. Among these are approximately 1,500 German students. I am proud of our city and its people who – after years of reconstruction – can finally enjoy the results of all that effort: we now have an attractive city centre with many new facilities. As you may know, we suffered a terrible firework disaster 14 years ago, which destroyed a whole district where we are now – Roombeek. This district has been completely rebuilt, and it is now both inspiring and diverse. I would like to start by showing a short film about Enschede. After all, you have only recently arrived here and there is a lot to do in this city, which is the most important urban centre in the East of the Netherlands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5sYHePkGcs Alderman Jeroen Hatenboer Property Development, Urban Renewal and Spatial Planning Enschede, 20 juni 2014

I would like to tell you something about our history I would like to tell you something about our history. Last year we published a book entitled Enschede 2030. This book covers the most important developments in the history of the city as well as the challenges facing it in the years ahead. You can download this as an e-book (only in Dutch), and we also have copies available for you here this evening.

Enschede is an international city, which received city ​​rights in 1325. The historic and economic development of the city has been characterised by migration. Knowledge workers, investors, migrant workers and students have been here from the beginning. People with more than 160 nationalities now live here and the egg-shaped area that you see here still forms the bustling core of the centre of Enschede.

Since 1000 the city has grown significantly and it is still growing today. New land on the outside has been used to put up new buildings. As a result, this valuable area is increasingly under threat, gaps are emerging in the city centre (we don't have many high-rise) and we don't have the kind of compact building that you see in many urban centres. Now is the time to create a green zone round the city and to put up more compact buildings in the area defined by the city ring.

In 1950 the population of Enschede was 110,000 In 1950 the population of Enschede was 110,000. In 2000 this had increased to around 155,000. Over the next 15 years we expect this population growth to level out, although the number of households will increase until 2030. Each house that is built in Enschede must be exactly right. The main focus will be on enhancing the various parts of Enschede and in particular the centre.

Spatial planning requires a long-term vision Spatial planning requires a long-term vision. A nice example is this map dated 1914, which shows plans by Edo Bergsma for creating a city ring in various phases. The city ring is still the most important internal boundary of the city

Much of the employment in Enschede is spread right across the city Much of the employment in Enschede is spread right across the city. There are two main concentrations: Kennispark / University and the central area which contains large educational institutions such as Saxion and the MST hospital. If you want to attract knowledge-intensive jobs, you need a high-quality urban environment, which creates conditions that appeal to companies. This is why investing in the quality of the city will continue to be important in the years ahead.

This is the framework for the future. What are we aiming for This is the framework for the future. What are we aiming for? A very strong and lively city centre en clear boundaries of the city. High-speed general framework: how you experience the city from a vehicle. In this sense the approach roads towards the centre determine the image of the city. Iconic avenues are the best solution here. The city-edge: to counter further dilution of the city and development in the landscaped outer areas. Slow-speed detailed framework: within the cityring there is a continuous attractive mesh of streets and squares. Public space is mainly scaled and designed for pedestrians and cyclists. Cars are of secondary importance.

The detailed framework There are now too many empty gaps within the cityring. If we fill in these gaps, this area will become a continuous environment of streets and squares. Public space just needs a quality boost here and there. There is however one exception – a weak spot in the framework – and that is de Kop Boulevard. In terms of public space major structural changes are needed here so that the new hospital which is being built is properly connected to the central shopping area.

Kop Boulevard This is a photo of the current situation of the Kop Boulevard.

Kop Boulevard vision This is our vision of de Kop Boulevard, with major incentives for investment around the newly built hospital.

In the book 'Enschede 2030' there are various examples that can provide inspiration. For example, here is a spot in the town centre that requires more quality and a more metropolitan look.

Here is an example of what I mean.

But how can we ensure that we further increase the quality of the city? Which strategies, government interventions and tools can we use? I will give you some suggestions that may help: Build on some of the empty areas in the town centre Only sketch the broad lines of an urban framework: areas where anything is possible/development by invitation Clearly indicate where and where not to enforce strict visual rules (in areas bordering the framework) Be more flexible in zoning: flexible programmes, fixed in terms of volume, façade length/control, development sites Less housing density at the edge of the city and more within the cityring.

Within the cityring there is sufficient space to build 2000 homes. If we fill these gaps, the city centre will be more complete. In this way, the areas can be filled in, together with a wide range of stakeholders. You know where you are: where you have a lot of freedom and where there need to be visual rules. There is considerable freedom in the areas outside of the framework. This also gives us an agenda for the future which we can use to ensure good spatial planning.

Right now, zoning plans restrict us too much. Can't we do this in another way, for example in terms of buildings, not functions? So that a building can be used for different functions through the centuries.

To create high density development within the city ring, we need to create low density building in residential areas. Can there be a trade-off? And in what other ways can we balance our planning?

People and users of buildings are key Go for quality: you have to get it right first time Be creative, be daring It needs to be exciting So, when thinking about the future development of Enschede, these things are important: People and users of buildings are key Go for quality: you have to get it right first time Be creative, be daring It needs to be exciting.

City Centre of Enschede We intend to strengthen the central position of Enschede in the Euregio and we want to better known internationally. Enschede is already one of the top three knowledge-intensive regions in the Netherlands, but we aim to make it one of the top five in Europe. Entrepreneurship, in combination with a forward-looking spirit, makes Enschede an ambitious city. And it’s with this ambition in mind that we continue building up the city, both literally and figuratively.   Like many other places, Twente faces the consequences of economic recession. Sustainability and innovation are the key to fighting recession. After all, the economic crisis is also a systemic crisis. Old solutions can no longer be used to tackle new problems.

District Roombeek Enschede now has a completely new city centre. I have given you a short introduction to our city. I hope you will have the opportunity to look around and see with your own eyes how much is new, or renovated. There are many facilities: the best department stores, the biggest underground car park in the Netherlands, a casino, and let's not forget our totally remodelled city square, the Van Heekplein.   Let me finish by stressing the importance of creativity. Because of the need for more sustainable solutions there will be more scope for creativity. The value of that creative potential must not be underestimated. On behalf of the City Council, I wish you all an interesting meeting and a pleasant stay in Enschede. I will now hand you over to the second speaker this evening. Mr Kees Eijkel, director of the Kennispark Foundation.