Majesty

Majesty

As usual, I watched and listened to your Christmas speech on Christmas Day. I thought it was a very good story. Clear and accurate in the description of the era in which we live. Beautiful and positive in the way you make connections. With (biblical) history, with the people around us and with the role that each of us can play in this.

It is not my habit to write to you about this. But I thought it would be nice to let you know that your speech is very much  appreciated.

Above all, I felt an urge because of the care I thought I heard between the lines of your speech. I think I share the same concern. Although I don’t know if my considerations overlap completely with yours, I thought I’d write down some of my thoughts and experiences about this.

‘Freedom needs space’ you indicated. Indeed, it seems that we are feeling more and more oppressive. Abandoned, somewhere between a Europe that is too big on the one hand and small personal considerations on the other hand. It is a theme that I have tried to interpret several times in letters to members of the Council of Ministers and Parliament from my field of expertise as an urban planner.

In our country, spatial planning has degenerated from a proud tradition to decentralized plodding in a few decades. Where we thought we could rely on our government, it is now not giving in. Freedom is not a sand desert, but freedom is Route 66, I wrote Prime Minister Rutte a few years ago. In other words, a person needs something to hold on to in order to feel free. The Randstad needs structure, lines along which this metropolis can develop.

It is called planning in my field, but the same applies to, for example, organizing care,  keeping the pension system up to date and housing the elderly. The country must be governed, and in the literal sense of the word; aiming, directing, leading.

With a dot on the horizon, it can be so much easier to stay together. Standing still causes confusion, direction connects. So don’t look at each other magnifying the differences, but let the similarities be leading. As free and equal people, as you said in your speech.

Recent political statements are not encouraging. And I realize that you may not be able or allowed to be substantively guiding in the formation of a government, and if you do, you probably have more than enough advisors around you.

But wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to focus on a number of national themes in the next term of office? Because they are themes that belong to all of us, which we also happen to be able to decide on ourselves as a country.

Across the political differences, care, elderly policy and spatial planning to be top-notch. Simply being the best in the world. It is not possible without a view!

I wish you much wisdom.

Sincerely,

Henk Hartzema