Inaugural lecture prof.dr. J.E. Abrahamse 2 February 2024 15:45 - 16:45

The importance of historical knowledge for the planning of the Netherlands

After the Second World War, the Netherlands underwent rapid modernization. Cities were expanded with residential areas and industrial zones, and city centers were adjusted for mass automobile traffic. The countryside was organized for large-scale, mechanized agriculture.
The relevance of historical knowledge for the spatial development of the Netherlands is central in the inaugural lecture of the special professor of City, Landscape, and Heritage, Jaap Evert Abrahamse.

Tabula rasa
Abrahamse states, "At the foundation of this were modernist ideas: the separation of living, working, traffic, and recreation, as well as the tabula rasa: the erasure of the existing landscape to create a blank slate for new developments. This approach has been codified in regulations and has become commonplace."

Since the 1970s, the renewal of city centers has faced increasing opposition. Since that time, historical research has been utilized in urban planning, especially in city centers. Instead of replacing the historical city, the goal was to build upon it. Outside the city, the modernist method is still prevalent. Abrahamse asserts, "Functional separation and tabula rasa play a significant role in urban expansion and land organization, but they are solutions to problems that arose a century ago." He adds, "The question now is: can we also build upon existing structures outside (urban) areas, and what knowledge do we need for that?"

The chair has been established in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE).