ACTION PLAN RURAL AREA ALBLASSERWAARD
BLOC developed an integrated and action-oriented regional approach on behalf of the Province of South Holland, and in collaboration with the municipalities involved and local parties. We did this to prepare the Alblasserwaard for 2027: the polder's anniversary year.
Read moreThe goal: to use visitor flows to the Kinderdijk World Heritage Site as a lever for broad prosperity, regional pride, the local economy and a recognisable, connected Alblasserwaard.
Helping the Alblasserwaard move forward in logical steps
The Alblasserwaard has great potential: an authentic landscape, strong village centres, a rich agricultural culture – from the first milking robots to generations of traditional farmers – and the appeal of the iconic Kinderdijk World Heritage Site. Every year, around 800,000 people (including passers-by) visit Kinderdijk, many of whom are actively seeking to experience the Dutch landscape and region. Yet the surrounding villages and businesses are still not benefiting sufficiently from these visitor flows.
The analysis reveals a clear common thread:
There is a lot of energy among local entrepreneurs and their networks, with many proven initiatives.
Stakeholders indicate a need for more joint structure and clear points of contact.
The potential of the 750th anniversary of Alblasserwaard can be better exploited as an opportunity for regional visibility and cohesion.
The task is therefore clear and societally urgent: to move from opportunities to coordinated implementation, with a solid foundation of cooperation, communication, mobility and experience. That is why we developed an action-oriented, public-private programme approach consisting of four interrelated components. The goal: to use visitor flows to the Kinderdijk World Heritage Site as a lever for broad prosperity, regional pride, the local economy and a recognisable, connected Alblasserwaard.
Bestaande bezoekersstromen inzetten voor brede welvaart
A shared vision as the basis for a programmatic approach with concrete results
This approach combines four elements: a shared vision, a recognisable perception of the area, smart organisation and a programmatic way of working. This forms a logical whole that is understandable to all stakeholders and new parties. The result is a region that presents itself clearly, is easy to discover and in which parties work together in a goal-oriented manner.
Think of an area that has a clear narrative, accessible ways to experience the landscape (such as routes or thematic lines), a light but effective structure that facilitates collaboration, and a programmatic approach in which steps, choices, and investments are made clear. For authorities with similar issues, this integrated way of working offers an attractive prospect: without complex plans or major interventions, a region is created that is easier to find, experience and organise – a basis on which policy objectives relating to liveability, economy, tourism and identity can be realised in a concrete and sustainable manner.
With this action plan, the Province of South Holland and its partners – authorities, entrepreneurs, residents and heritage organisations – are taking a decisive step towards a future-proof Alblasserwaard. By clustering routes, activating networks, providing insight into investments and preparing strategic choices, we are delivering exactly the concrete work specified in the tender.
The result is an approach that not only links Kinderdijk and the hinterland, but also strengthens the region’s liveability, economy and organisational strength. This method proves its value for governments facing similar issues: how can you use tourism as a lever for broad prosperity without losing authenticity and tranquillity? By working from existing energy, local stories, smart infrastructure and light but effective governance, a scalable and reproducible working method is created that can also be applied in other regions.
Van ontwerpend onderzoek naar het juiste gesprek
THIS ACTION PLAN DEMONSTRATES THAT AREA DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE LARGE OR COMPLEX, BUT THAT IT DOES NEED TO BE TARGETED, COHERENT AND SUPPORTED.