Placemaking through the eyes of placemakers – An exploratory study of professional placemaking practice in the Netherlands
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2025-11-21
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nl
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This thesis examines how professional placemakers in the Netherlands understand and apply placemaking in their daily work. Although the concept has gained significant traction in planning and development, its popularity has also made it diffuse and at times superficial. Existing literature offers rich theoretical debates, yet the perspectives of those who practice placemaking remain underexplored. This study therefore asks what placemaking means to practitioners, how they operationalize it and why they consider it valuable.
Using a qualitative, interpretative approach inspired by constructivist grounded theory, nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with practitioners from design agencies, development firms, and cultural organisations, complemented by a mapping of the Dutch placemaking field. The findings show that practitioners approach placemaking less as a fixed methodology and more as a guiding philosophy that links social and spatial processes through intentional collaboration. Despite differing interpretations, three recurring principles emerge: intentionality, contextual sensitivity and inclusivity.
The study also reveals tensions around agency, temporality, and purpose, alongside structural constraints such as limited resources and institutional rigidity. Yet practitioners remain optimistic about placemaking’s future role as a bridge between physical development and social responsibility. By foregrounding their perspectives, this thesis contributes to ongoing debates on how placemaking can evolve into a more mature and meaningful practice.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen