This article presents important observations on the territorial planning and development process of Holland throughout history

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OBSERVATIONS ON SUCCESSFUL TERRITORIAL AND DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING FROM THE NETHERLANDS
Fernando Alcoforado*
The Netherlands is also called the Low Countries because more than a quarter of the
country is below sea level. The official name of the country is (Kingdom of)
Netherlands, which consists of twelve provinces. Two of these provinces, the North
Holland and the South Holland, form together, the Netherlands. Due to the maritime
and economic power of these provinces in the seventeenth century, the Netherlands
became known as Holland throughout the world. And why would not it then be Low
Countries, in the singular? It is that the Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces, which
would be such countries, in the plural. Two of these provinces - called North and South
Holland - became synonymous with the whole region. It is important to note that these
two provinces have long dominated the history of the country. There are the great ports
and the ships that traveled abroad carried with them the name of the region.
More important is the struggle of the Dutch against the ingrate geography of the country
because until the fourteenth century, part of what is now Holland was submerged. To
avoid flooding in Amsterdam, and the rest of the country, the Dutch decided to find a
solution that is a channel system. This began in the thirteenth century. The canal system
in Amsterdam is the result of successful urban planning with defensive purposes and
transportation since the city expanded during the 16th century. The city was built on
dikes and dams that fight against water and send it to the sea. Thus, the channels are not
only aesthetic, in reality, they have a very important utility.
Holland was, in the Middle Ages, a country with a privileged geographic location to
transport products by the sea, which was precious. Owner of the Dutch East India
Company, which controlled maritime traffic to seek products in the East and resell in
Europe, Holland was a country that specialized in the art of good business. And, unlike
other European countries, it was not dominated by the Catholic hierarchy. This lack of
religious authority and the culture of commerce made the Netherlands also a tolerant
country, being the first to legally allow the Jewish religion in the world, for example.
All in the name of business.
The 17th century was the golden age of Holland when it was the richest country in the
world. And it was at this stage that the famous network of circular channels was
expanded in Amsterdam. The functions were twofold: creating space for water to
circulate through secure nets to the Amsted River, avoiding flooding, and creating a
beautiful architectural legacy. They did it. The canals of Amsterdam make up one of the
most beautiful landscapes in the world. About Amsterdam there is one thing that best
characterizes that are undoubtedly the channels. The canal system that is running
through the city resembles blood veins, giving it life.
The introduction of the windmills, symbol of the country, was the technology needed to
drain huge flooded areas - the large blades caught the energy of the wind and with it
triggered suction pumps. This, together with the construction of dams, allowed the
increase of the habitable territory. In January 1953, the levees that protected the
southwest of the Netherlands broke after a violent storm, combined with high tides.
About 150,000 hectares of land were flooded and 1,800 people died. The country then
developed the Delta Plan, which strengthened and increased the levees, and built dams
to protect the Netherlands from low altitude in relation to the sea.

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For the last 900 years, the Dutch have been building dykes to protect themselves against
the river waters that cross the country and the waters of the sea. As a result, the
Netherlands now has thousands of miles of dykes that give it such protection. This is an
impressive achievement. The threat of water comes not only from the North Sea, but
also from the rivers that flow through Holland before discharge into the sea. It is
important to note that Holland is the "water box of Europe" because at the end of
winter, after the long rainy season and when the snow of the mountains melts, a huge
volume of water coming from Switzerland, Germany, France and Belgium it flows
down the river and enters the Netherlands. This colossal amount of water can cause
serious problems. For example, in February 1995, the rivers in the center of the country
began to rise so much that people feared that the pressure of water could break the
levees. If there were any breach, all the land behind the levees would have been covered
with many feet of water. Today the millions of Dutch people living below sea level can
sleep peacefully at night due to a constant battle that is waged against the floods.
Over thousands of years, a natural barrier - beaches and dunes - has formed that protects
the Netherlands against the advance of the sea. But constant erosion weakens this
barrier. To compensate for the loss, dredgers draw sand from the seabed 9 to 20
kilometers offshore and lay it on the beach in front of it. Since 1970, about 85 million
cubic meters of sand have been removed from the seabed to conserve the country's
dunes. In 1932, the Dutch built the Afsluitdijk, a 32-kilometer-long closure dock to bar
the North Sea. All at once, this dyke transformed the inland sea of Zuider Zee (South
Sea) into a lake, the Ijssel. 20 years later, in 1953, after a flood killed 1,835 people,
dyke builders implemented an even larger project. His goal was to close all the coves in
the southwest of the country, except those that led to the ports of Rotterdam and
Antwerp.
Unlike other countries, Holland is known for its polders, plains of "new land" below sea
level, surrounded by dikes. These lands resembled marshes, but salty ones. Almost a
thousand years ago the Netherlands began a process of fighting against nature and its
survival. About 60% of Dutch territory was below sea level. Since then the technology
and struggle of the Dutch aimed to expand the areas for human use and with this has
created a very sophisticated system of dykes, dams and canals. These changes in the
territory were possible thanks to the construction of more than 3,000 polders that
allowed the drainage of much of the Dutch territory. A saying goes that "God created
the world and the Dutch the Netherlands". On the levees, it is possible to be observed
that the dyke of Tororó in Salvador in Bahia was constructed by the Dutch when they
occupied this city in 1626.
Until the end of the 19th century, the level of water in the polders was controlled by
windmills. Currently, all work is performed by computerized pumping stations. In the
polder, the surrounding dike prevents it from being flooded. But the polder has no
cover. Heavy rain could cause the plain to fill. In order to avoid tragedies, water has to
be forcibly pumped out. But where does the water go? The polder has a system of
ditches that drain the water to the pumping station. For these ditches not to become
clogged, farmers must keep clean those that are on their property. The station then
pumps excess water from the polder to the boezem, an ingenious system of lakes and
canals that functions as a storage basin of water outside the polder. The excess water in
the boezem flows into the sea during low tide.

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Maintaining the right level of water in the polder is vital for the Dutch economy. During
the dry summers, farmers need water in the ditches for grasses and plantations. Some
polders cultivate one of the country's most famous export products: flowers. In the
twentieth century, polders were no longer seen merely as additional arable land; but
they have also been considered as vital spaces. Half a century ago, when urban planners
began planning towns on the polders, they had little experience in organizing new
communities. But today, if you visit the polders, you will see that urban planners did
very well in developing cities where once it was the seabed. For example, if you
stopped at Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam, your plane landed on what used to be the
bottom of a lake. The fact that he did not realize that he reached almost 4 meters below
sea level proves that the levees in the Netherlands are still in good condition.
The competence of the Dutch engineers and Engineering's role is evident, especially the
hydraulics in the effort to tame the waters of the rivers and the sea in Holland and of
territorial planning and successful development of the Netherlands. One of the great
works of Dutch engineering is the Port of Rotterdam, which has more than 600 years of
experience in the management and development of world-class and international port
infrastructure with its Global Port Network. It is the largest logistics and industrial hub
in Europe and the eighth largest in the world. With a handling of 450 million tonnes of
cargo per year, it is the main gateway to the European market with more than 350
million consumers. The Port of Rotterdam has about 12,500 ha of extension, between
sea and river connections, with a great diversity of terminals, capable of receiving the
largest vessels in the world, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Cargo transportation is carried out quickly, efficiently and economically in the Port of
Rotterdam by means of water, road, rail and pipeline access, as well as through
transshipments / feeders and short distance shipping. It has now been overtaken by
Asian ports such as those in Singapore and Shanghai. The most important for the port of
Rotterdam are the petrochemical and general cargo industries. The port serves as an
important transit point for the transport of bulk goods and other goods between the
European continent and other parts of the world. From Rotterdam the goods are
transported by ship, river barge, railway or road. In addition, Rotterdam is a city that
vibrates with art, culture, innovation, design and style, accompanied by many green
areas with exemplary urbanization, cycle paths all over the city. But if you have a
reason why Rotterdam has to be very proud, it's because of its architecture. Partially
destroyed in World War II, the city re-emerged in style, becoming a world reference in
architecture.
Global climate change has also become an issue that is treated as a matter of interest to
the Netherlands. Many delegations of locations from various parts of the world land in
the port city of Rotterdam to hire Dutch companies that dominate the global market for
high technology engineering and water management. This is because from the first
moment when the population of this small nation began to drain the lands for planting
and housing, water became a primordial fact in its existence, a matter of national
identity and survival. No other place in Europe sees itself under greater threat than this
water-covered nation on the shores of the continent - after all, much of it is below sea
level and is slowly sinking. Now, climate change brings the prospect of higher tides and
even more violent storms.
From the Dutch point of view, climate change must be treated, basically, for the purpose
of allowing water to enter wherever possible without the intention of subduing Mother

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Nature. In other words, the Dutch seek to adapt to the phenomena of Nature and not to
fight to defeat them. The Dutch have designed lakes, garages, parks, and squares that
are not only useful for daily living as they serve as reservoirs for when the seas and
rivers overflow. One can also build an endless barrage of dams, but in the end,
according to the Dutch, neither option will provide adequate defenses. And that's the
message they're spreading throughout the world.
In fact, the Netherlands occupy a limited swamp in Europe on one side of the North
Sea, where immense rivers such as the Rhine and the Meuse flow from Germany,
Belgium and France. Dutch philosophy changed after the floods forced thousands to
evacuate in the 1990s. The floods were the warning sign, showing that the Dutch were
to return to the rivers a part of the space they had stolen. The Dutch defend the thesis
that they can not only build ever-increasing dykes. We need to give rivers more room to
flow. Protection against climate change is as strong as the weakest link in the chain -
which, in our case, includes not only giant floodgates and gates at sea, but a whole
philosophy of spatial planning, crisis management, online and public spaces.
Dutch cities, accustomed to starting over, reinvented themselves as centers of
environmental inventiveness. It was the first in the construction of facilities such as
those parking lots that become emergency tanks, guaranteeing conditions to avoid the
overflow of sewage treatment plants because of the storms that must occur every five or
ten years. He has set up squares, gardens, and basketball courts in needy neighborhoods
that also function as retention ponds. For the Dutch, an intelligent city has to have a
comprehensive and holistic view that goes well beyond the levees and floodgates. The
challenge of climate adaptation includes security, sanitation, housing, roads, emergency
services. The public must be made aware; and there must be cybernetic resilience
because the next challenge in terms of climate security will have to do with internet
security. You cannot have vulnerable systems to control gates, bridges and treatment
plants. And we need a sensible political scheme, both of measures large and small.
According to the Dutch, everything starts with small things such as people removing the
cement cover from the garden so that the soil absorbs rainwater and ends with a gigantic
dam to prevent storms in the North Sea. This refers to the Maeslantkering, built near the
exit to the sea, about a half hour drive west of the center - or the first line of defense of
the city. It's the size of two tubular Eiffel Towers, one on top of the other. In the twenty
years since it was inaugurated, Maeslantkering was not required to prevent overflows,
but to be sure, it has been tested regularly.
With regard to economic (energy, transport and communications) and social
infrastructure (education, health, housing and basic sanitation), the Netherlands is one
of the most advanced countries in the world. The Welfare State was also established in
the Netherlands to meet the needs of its population. As for the energy sector, The Blog
A Casa do Barão, available on the website
<https://acasadobarao.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/holanda-e-brasil-diferentes-formas-de-
encarar-a-energia/> reports that the Netherlands has a target of having 30% of its energy
matrix made up of clean and renewable energy sources by the year 2020. Currently,
99% of all household waste in Amsterdam is transformed into green energy, heat and
construction materials. In Amsterdam, the subway, street lighting and more work with
what almost everyone else throws away. Thinking about subway lines driven by the
energy taken from the trash is strange, but it works. About 1.4 million tonnes of garbage
are processed annually in the Dutch capital. This volume of material also guarantees the

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energy needed for the city's street lighting. Even the leftover of the incinerated material
is reused in the form of compounds used in street asphalt. From the chimneys of the
recycling plants, the only thing that comes out is water vapor.
Wind and biomass are the main sources of Dutch investment in the search for clean
energy sources. Currently, about 3% of the energy consumed by the country is of wind
power. Its huge wind turbines are now spread over land and sea. So much interest in
clean energy passes away from the nuclear power plants: although they do not produce
elements aggressors to the greenhouse effect, these are extremely difficult to be turned
off and their residues are considered a problem of difficult solution. In the capital
Amsterdam there is an undeniable interest in achieving national sustainability targets.
Owners of bars, restaurants, cafes and shops are being invited to request the visit of
consultants in renewable energies. For small business owners loans of up to € 10,000
will be made available with a grace period of four years to be paid. The intention is that
they invest in the modernization of the establishments.
What about sustainable highways? This is the design of a road that would be surrounded
by a glass dome. Reason? Reduce noise, emissions of CO2 particles from the exhaust of
cars and still generate power. On asphalt, impact-absorbing systems would turn the
movement of automobiles into energy. On the glass domes will be installed photovoltaic
cells to absorb sunlight. Still in Amsterdam, the De Bazel building, the famous symbol
of the city, has been transformed into a contemporary and sustainable building. At the
top of the building, there are gutters that descend from a glass vault. Through them, the
summer-warm air descends into the underground water table. This same heated water
will be pumped back to the surface in Dutch winter. The forecast is that in up to seven
years all the investment made has been paid.
Much of Holland's success in territorial planning and its development is due to the
educational background of its population. The Netherlands Educational System has an
excellent reputation all over the world due to its high quality. Higher Education
Institutions and Dutch Universities offer more than 1,700 courses and international
programs taught entirely in English. These programs cover a wide variety of areas. The
classes are intense, high level and with a practical orientation designed to meet the
expectations of students seeking to obtain specialized knowledge. These courses
combine theory with practice in real situations or simulations. The courses provide a
diploma or certificate, depending on the program undertaken for bachelors, master's and
doctoral degrees. The Netherlands has received international recognition for its
“Problem-Based Learning” system which enables students to analyze and solve
problems on their own through an emphasis on self-study and self-discipline. The
Netherlands has two forms of higher education. Research universities, which are
focused on independent research aimed at an academic position and applied science
universities which are more focused on practice and prepare students directly for
specific careers. A small part of the universities is composed of International Teaching
Institutions, which offer specific programs to foreign students.
11 of the 14 research universities in the Netherlands are in the top 200 of the QS World
University rankings 2013-2014. 6 of them are in the top 100 and all of these have
improved their positions compared to the previous year. Dutch research universities
have visibly improved their positions in the recently published QS 2013 University
rankings. Six of them have reached the top of the world's 100 universities. The
University of Amsterdam, which ranked 58th this year, ranked first in the Netherlands.

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The five other Dutch institutions that rank among the top 100, Leiden University (74th),
Utrecht University (81st), Erasmus University Rotterdam (92nd), Delft University of
Technology (95th) and Groningen University (97th) also improved their overall score.
The Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Wageningen have also
improved their rankings.
* Fernando Alcoforado, 77, member of the Bahian Academy of Education and the Brazilian Academy of
Letters of Rotary - Bahia Section, engineer and doctor in Territorial Planning and Regional Development
by the University of Barcelona, university professor and consultant in the areas of strategic planning,
business planning, regional planning and planning of energy systems, is the author of the books
Globalização (Editora Nobel, São Paulo, 1997), De Collor a FHC (Editora Nobel, São Paulo, 1998), Um
Projeto para o Brasil (Editora Nobel, São Paulo, 2000), Os Condicionantes de Desenvolvimento do
Estado da Bahia (PhD Thesis, University of Barcelona, http: //www.tesisenred.net/handle/10803/1944,
2003), Globalização e Desenvolvimento (Editora Nobel, São Paulo, 2006), Bahia- Desenvolvimento da
Bahia do Século XVI ao Século XX e Objetivos Estratégicos na Era Contemporânea (EGBA, Salvador,
2008), The Necessary Conditions of the Economic and Social Development- The Case of the State of
Bahia (VDM Verlag Dr. Müller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG, Saarbrücken, Germany, 2010),
Aquecimento Global e Catástrofe Planetária (Viena- Editora e Gráfica, Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São
Paulo, 2010), Amazônia Sustentável- Para o progresso do Brasil e combate ao aquecimento global
(Viena- Editora e Gráfica, Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo, 2011), Os Fatores Condicionantes do
Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (Editora CRV, Curitiba, 2012), Energia no Mundo e no Brasil-
Energia e Mudança Climática Catastrófica no Século XXI (Editora CRV, Curitiba, 2015), As Grandes
Revoluções Científicas, Econômicas e Sociais que Mudaram o Mundo (Editora CRV, Curitiba, 2016) e A
Invenção de um novo Brasil (Editora CRV, Curitiba, 2017). Possui blog na Internet
(http://fernando.alcoforado.zip.net). E-mail: falcoforado@uol.com.br.