OECD Territorial Reviews: The Metropolitan Region of Rotterdam-The Hague, Netherlands
This report examines the Netherland’s new Metropolitan Region of Rotterdam-The Hague
(MRDH), drawing on lessons from governance reforms in other OECD countries and identifying
how the MRDH experience could benefit policy makers beyond Dutch borders. Long in
search of ways to strengthen urban areas, the Dutch government has recently undertaken
the development of a National Urban Agenda known as Agenda Stad, in parallel to a
series of broad institutional reforms. This included abolishing the country’s traditional
eight city-regions, which led Rotterdam, The Hague and 21 smaller neighbouring cities
to form the Metropolitan Region of Rotterdam-The Hague (Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den
Haag, or MRDH). This report analyses the emergence of the MRDH both as a geographical
area that spans 23 municipalities in the southern Randstad region and as a new metropolitan
authority with transport and economic development responsibilities. One of the challenges
the MRDH faces is how to bring the economies of Rotterdam and The Hague closer together
while generating growth and well-being.
Published on February 01, 2016
In series:OECD Territorial Reviewsview more titles