Randstad Holland is the urbanized western part of the Netherlands. It contains the four largest cities of the country: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. The name Randstad (rim city) refers to the distinctive shape of the conurbation, a horseshoe of cities around an open agricultural and recreational area, known as the Green Heart.
This book analyzes the restructuring of the region. The volume summarizes the research of the Urban Networks research program. The discussion is focused on four themes: housing, labor market and employment, infrastructure and transportation, and the provision of public services. The Randstad is internationally known as the playground of urban and regional planners. Their debates on present policy issues are extensively reviewed in the book.
Teachers and students of urban change and planning, and policy makers and planners in The Netherlands and abroad will find much valuable information in this book.

Inhalt

1. The Restructuring of Randstad Holland.- 2. The Randstad Playground of Physical Planners.- 3. Changes in the Residential Function of the Big Cities.- 4. Housing and Physical Planning.- 5. A World City Paradox Firms and the Urban Fabric.- 6. The Randstad A Welfare Region?.- 7. Randstad Infrastructure Its Use and its Deficiencies.- 8. Randstad Policy on Infrastructure and Transportation High Ambitions, Poor Results.- 9. The Provision and Use of Public Services and Facilities in the Randstad.- 10. Provision of Services and the Welfare State.- 11. The Restructuring and Growth of the Randstad Cities Current Policy Issues.- List of Contributors.