Exploiting policy complementarities for regional development in the Netherlands

The decision of the Dutch government to discontinue the Peaks in the Delta policy in 2010, represents the end of any explicit support for spatial economic development and overarching national framework for regional development policy. Similarly there is no explicit and overarching national urban policy framework. There are currently several policies affecting the regional level: the Top Sector Policy the National Policy Strategy for Infrastructure and Spatial Planning the regional development plans developed at the provincial level and the EU programmes. There is a danger of disconnecting the regional and local development agenda from a comprehensive national vision of regional development. A key challenge for a successful territorial development policy will be ensuring that the various policies having an effect on the development of regions make the most of potential complementarities.