1. Development of an Urban Area
The Randstad Conurbation

2. Randstad and Greenhart

3. A conurbation in the Netherlands.
The Randstad (Dutch: rim city, i.e. a city at the edge of a circle, with empty space in the centre) is a conurbation in the Netherlands. It consists of the four largest Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht), and the surrounding areas.
With its 7.5 million inhabitants
(almost half of the population of the
Netherlands; when other conurbations
connected to this area are also taken
into consideration, it would have a
population a little over 10 million,
almost 2/3 of the entire
Dutch population) it is one of the
largest conurbations in Europe.

4. The Randstad
The Randstad contains 40% of the Dutch population living on only 17% of the country's land area

5. Characteristics One of the most urbanised areas of Europe
Radius of aprx. 50 km
Horseshoe shaped with open end in less populated east
A Polycentric city - Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Utrecht/The Hague
No single city is dominant
Each has its own distinctive function – The Hague – Political/Rotterdam – Port/Amsterdam – Tourism/Retail/ Utrecht - Transport

6. Characteristics
The centre is an important recreational and agricultural region – Greenhart
Rapid growth since WW2
Strategically located in the core of Europe on traditional trading route
Excellent infrastructure particularly transport – Rivers/canals/Road/Rail/Port
Competition for land is fierce and putting severe pressure on the Greenhart

7. Planning Many difficulties for planners:
Urban Sprawl – How to limit it? - Buffer Zones
5 Regional centres identified to take pressure off the conurbation eg Eindhoven/Groningen
Reclaimed land and cities such as Elmoord and Lelystadt on these polders
Hope that these regional centres will become a stronger attraction for people and encourage decentralisation of economic development

8. Green Belts
Will act as Buffer Zones to restrict urban sprawl. No new urban development will be allowed. Protect the existing natural environment and rural countryside.

10. Unchecked Growth – Potential Problem?
If the conurbation is allowed to sprawl it could effectively join up with two other expanding urban areas
Rhine-Rhur in Germany
Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent in Belgium
Result could be a West European Megalopolis
A potential environmental disaster if this happened

11. Potential to Sprawl into Belgium Antwerp-Brussels-Ghent

12. Potential Expansion into Rhine-Rhur Region of Germany