The city as a layered system
Amsterdam no longer consists of one centre, but is increasingly developing as a network of urban cores. Areas like Zuidas, Sloterdijk and Southeast have their own dynamics, scale and pace. This shift requires an urban planning and legal approach that moves with it. Not only because functions change – from business park to residential area, from monofunctional to mixed – but also because existing legislation is often still based on outdated structures.
Yet within this stratification, there is often more possible than meets the eye. Old uses do not always turn out to be utilised in practice, creating space for redevelopment. It is precisely in the areas of tension between plan, practice and potential that the need for smart legal interpretation and cooperation between different disciplines arises.
Legislation as both guide and obstacle
With the entry into force of the Environment Act in early 2024, a choice has been made for coherence and overview. Instead of dozens of laws, there is now one law that bundles all rules for the physical living environment. Although this looks clear on paper, in practice the application proves complex. The regulations are extensive and require knowledge of both detail and coherence. Moreover, the role of initiators is changing. Not only do they have to demonstrate that plans comply with laws and regulations, but also actively participate in participation and sustainable area development.
This development places demands on legal guidance in the preliminary stage. Where previously the emphasis was on reviewing plans, the role is now shifting to proactively advising on options within the system. This requires trust, cooperation and knowledge of both legal and spatial logic.
Pressure on the housing market
The city also has a hefty construction task. In aiming for 7,500 houses a year, the bar is high. At the same time, authorisation procedures are increasing in length and complexity. In 2024, the number of new housing starts was substantially lower than targeted for the first time in years, partly due to rising construction costs, staff shortages and uncertainty around regulations.
In addition, social themes such as mobility, energy transition, climate adaptation and social cohesion are increasingly playing a role in construction processes. This makes every new development a puzzle of interests, requirements and values, in which the right legal positioning can be decisive.
Building trust
At a time when residents are more critical, permits take longer to obtain and liveability is under pressure, it is important to keep the city moving not only physically, but also administratively. Transparency in regulations, early coordination between stakeholders and daring to set priorities can make the difference between delay and progress.
Urban growth can never be taken for granted. It requires vision, legal agility and cooperation. Only then can Amsterdam continue to make room for change in the future.
Curious about the other blogs in this blog series Amsterdam’s Trading Culture, click here, or listen to the podcast series here.
