VISUALISING THE EFFECT OF PRIVATE-SECTOR INVOLVEMENT ON REDEVELOPED PUBLIC SPACES IN THE NETHERLANDS

Many squares in Dutch city centres have been redeveloped in recent years. Their design and management have often changed, resulting in places characterised by dimensions of 'fear' and 'fantasy' such as the rise of camera surveillance and sidewalk cafés. The private sector is increasingly involved in these redevelopment projects. This paper visualises to what extent private-sector involvement affects redeveloped public spaces. Six-dimensional diagrams are set up as an analytical tool that enables the comparison of public spaces on a number of criteria. Eight squares are examined in the city centres of Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Enschede and 's-Hertogenbosch. Four are solely redeveloped by the local government; the other four are the result of public-private partnership. The diagrams show that the private sector mainly participates in the redevelopment of retail squares, but its involvement does not result in more fear or fantasy in public space. Copyright (c) 2009 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG.