Amsterdam is a dynamic and growing metropolitan area that faces significant land-use
pressures. Renowned for its tradition of collaborative planning, the city and its
metropolitan partners must adapt to new conditions. Ongoing population growth is creating
demand for housing and commercial space, and the new National Environment and Planning
Act is challenging planners to adopt more flexible, responsive and integrated land-use
management practices. This study examines the social, economic and environmental conditions
affecting the area’s spatial development as well as the plans, policies and institutions
that govern how land is used. The study offers recommendations on how the city and
its metropolitan partners can best respond to emerging challenges and meet their ambitious
goals for sustainable and inclusive spatial development.