ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

Are You a Stakeholder or a Streekholder? Formal and informal planning in the Flemish-Dutch Delta

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Oral Track 04 | GOVERNANCE

Speaker

Alankrita Sarkar (Delft University of Technology)

Description

Grenspark Groot Saeftinghe (Borderpark Saeftinghe) is a transboundary region located within the Flemish-Dutch Delta, a significant river delta shaped by the Rhine, Meuse, and Scheldt rivers. The territory of Flemish-Dutch Delta spans provinces in the Netherlands and Belgium, including Antwerp, East Flanders, West Flanders, Zeeland, North Brabant, and South Holland. As a region of strategic importance, it hosts major international ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp, serving as a critical gateway to Europe’s hinterland. Saeftinghe exemplifies the challenges and opportunities inherent in transnational governance and spatial planning. The region faces increasing environmental pressures, such as sea-level rise and pollution from port activities, which threaten its ecological and socio-cultural resilience. As one of the largest tidal areas in western Europe, Saeftinghe holds an importance in the European level as well. Thus, the value of this region has been recognised historically from an economic, ecological, political viewpoint. Situated within the environmentally sensitive estuary, this region exemplifies greater challenges with sea level rise and extensive pollution from the port activities. Despite these hurdles, it creates opportunities for experimentation in the dialogues, both the local and transnational levels.

Since the Flemish-Dutch Long-Term Vision for the Scheldt estuary was established in 2001, cross-border planning initiatives have sought to address these challenges through multi-level collaboration. Central to these efforts is the INTERREG project Grenspark Groot Saeftinghe (GGS), initiated in 2016, which brings together 11 key organizations, including the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, EGTS Linieland van Waas and Hulst, and governmental authorities from both Dutch and Flemish territories. In addition to formal stakeholders, local citizen groups, referred to as “streekholders” (a term coined by Grenspark Groot Saeftinghe - GGS), have played an active role in preserving the region’s socio-cultural identity. These grassroots initiatives have complemented formal governance structures, creating a dynamic interplay of interests, power dynamics, and collaborative efforts. The GGS framework highlights the complexities of navigating such diverse and, at times, conflicting objectives to achieve a sustainable future for this region.

This paper explores governance and planning at two interlinked scales: the Saeftinghe region and the broader Flemish-Dutch Delta. By examining how governance frameworks integrate both formal and informal actors, the study sheds light on the interscalar dynamics that underpin sustainable spatial planning in transnational contexts. Particular attention is paid to the intricate relationships among stakeholders, including governmental bodies, port authorities, environmental organizations, and streekholders. The analysis highlights how these actors navigate the tensions between environmental conservation, economic development, and social cohesion, ultimately shaping the region’s trajectory.

Saeftinghe’s experience offers valuable insights into the challenges of coordinating cross-border planning, managing competing interests, and fostering resilience in transboundary territories. Navigating through these conflicting interests and power dynamics, this article delves into the intricate web of relationships among the streekholders and stakeholders to understand the interplay between nature-port-society in Saeftinghe and the impact of it in the Flemish-Dutch Delta. This study contributes to the broader discourse on interscalar governance and cross-border planning by illustrating how the interplay of nature, port, and society in the Flemish-Dutch Delta provides a pilot case for sustainable methodologies and strategies. It aims to find the potential of multi-level and collaborative governance frameworks in addressing the complexities of transnational territories.