In his New Year’s speech, Hugo de Jonge, as King’s Commissioner in Zeeland, advocated a strong growth of the population. From 400,000 today to at least 600,000 in 2050, all to combat the impoverishment of facilities. The reactions were predictable – supporters and opponents saw it very differently, as usual.
Interestingly, we conducted a study with our office 1.5 years ago for Central Zeeland and came to more or less the same conclusion. The vitality of the region is under pressure due to an ageing population, weakening urban cores, salinization of agricultural land, growing tourism and, last but not least, the increasing presence of infrastructure for the national energy transition. Zeeland gets a lot on its plate and takes it resignedly as if it were providence itself that had thought of it that way. And soon another nuclear power plant will be built here.
The illusion of a landscape empty and calm has settled in the minds and bravely resists the new reality. We thought it would be a good idea to put a stop to the slumbering alienation with the design of symbiosis landscapes. These are environments where existing hard contrasts between land and water, nature and agriculture, permanent residence and recreation parks, etc. are bridged. Symbiosis landscapes offer space for natural processes and bio-based solutions, and give Zeeland a renewed impetus.
One of the landscapes houses a new town for more than 50,000 inhabitants. This brings together water, new nature, recreation, habitation, agriculture and optimal accessibility. Soon the sketch design will be ready. I have no illusions that the whole of Zeeland will immediately welcome us with open arms, but it would be a huge step forward if the major renovation of Zeeland does not take place behind our backs but is approached with an open mind.
Henk Hartzema, Linkedin January 15, 2025
