Coastal Quality in The Hague

In July 2012 an international workshop about coastal quality took place in The Hague and was attended by one of the original MPP project leaders. A report has now been produced about that event. 

The organizing team based its workshop format on Going Dutch I and Going Dutch II, two international workshops that took place on the Manhood Peninsula in 2001 and 2008 to help the local community understand the complexities of coastal defence and spatial planning.

 The workshop in The Hague aimed to look at the coast of Zuid-Holland from an outside perspective, in the same way it was during the Going Dutch events. The main question asked by the workshop was: would the coast of Zuid-Holland look different to others? Would the views expressed cause the Dutch view to change dramatically, or would it stay the same? Another aim was less obvious: to gain ideas from Europe that would inspire new ways of thinking about the Dutch coast. And thirdly, to get an idea of just how unique the Dutch approach to coastal management is.

Participants representing different European nationalities and professional backgrounds were asked to contribute to the four-day workshop, which was held on the Pier of Scheveningen, The Hague. Professionals from the fields of coastal management, urban planning and (landscape) architecture worked in five separate groups applying different approaches and perspectives to the coast of Zuid-Holland. Each group examined and analysed the benefits of different approaches to coastal matters using experience gained in their home countries.

 The five approaches discussed were – More Drama: the Dutch Coastal Park, Coastal Rhythm, Green Coast, Unveiling the Coast and The Cool Strip: 16 degrees, cloudy. All participants, both international and Dutch, were also asked to select an example of best practice from their home country as a contribution to the communal knowledge of the workshop.

 The workshop revealed that the coast is a lively subject that inspires people from a broad range of nationalities and professional backgrounds, a response that also reflected the findings from the Going Dutch events.  

A report about the workshop has been produced called ‘European References’ which publicises the workshop findings.

A digital copy of European References is available on the following website www.atelierkustkwaliteit.nl (click in the header on "resultaten" -> number 9).

Going Dutch

The first Going Dutch workshop (Going Dutch I) led to the formation of the MPP and outlined several ‘blue sky’ options for the future of the area, helping the community to understand the complexities and costs of coastal defence and spatial planning as well as helping local authorities and agencies appreciate the concerns and... Read More»

ICZM 2011 - Coastal Change Pathfinder

In late 2009 the Government awarded £11 million in grants to local authorities who demonstrated the best and most innovative ideas for dealing with and adapting to coastal change. To its delight, Chichester District Council was awarded £450,000 and and became part of the Coastal Change Pathfinder Project. The project began properly in May 2010 and continued until the end of June 2011. A total... Read More»

GLaM

GLaM aims to enhance the visitor experience and support sustainable transport measures on the coastal plain by capitalising on the footpaths and green links provided by the Medmerry Managed Re-alignment and other schemes. GLaM aims to further this by creating and improving more circular and green routes across the peninsula that will play their part in a Sustainable Transport... Read More»