As cities around the world continue to confront the intertwined challenges of climate change, housing demand, energy transition, and ecological restoration, landscape architecture and urban design have evolved beyond technical disciplines of spatial planning. Today, they serve as vital tools for addressing social issues and environmental transformation. Yearbook Landscape Architecture and Urban Design in the Netherlands 2025 offers an essential overview of contemporary developments in Dutch landscape and urban design.
One of Europe’s most respected annual publications in the field, this volume presents 22 outstanding projects selected by an independent professional jury. Together, these projects demonstrate how Dutch landscape architects, urban designers, and local governments are responding to contemporary urban and environmental challenges through innovative design strategies. From the regeneration of aging public squares and office districts to the transformation of waterfronts, the planning of shared communities, and the implementation of new planting strategies and urban green networks, each case study illustrates how design can actively improve social, environmental, and spatial conditions.
A particularly notable theme throughout this year’s selection is the growing focus on climate adaptation, ecological resilience, and social cohesion. Projects involving water system restoration, the reinterpretation of historic landscapes, and the integration of public spaces and shared facilities not only respond to the Netherlands’ unique geographical conditions but also provide valuable lessons for cities worldwide facing similar challenges.
In addition to detailed project documentation, the book features interviews and critical essays curated by the editorial team of Blauwe Kamer. These contributions explore key trends, ideas, and debates shaping contemporary Dutch landscape architecture and urban design, making this publication far more than an annual showcase—it is also an important record of the discipline’s ongoing development.
For architects, landscape designers, urban planners, and readers interested in sustainable urban futures, Yearbook Landscape Architecture and Urban Design in the Netherlands 2025 is more than a collection of exemplary projects. It is a thoughtful report on the possibilities of future cities and landscapes. Through these Dutch case studies, readers gain insight into how design can establish new balances between ecology, society, and culture, while encouraging fresh perspectives on the relationship between people and their environment.
Details
Author︰ Mark Hendriks, Djuna Spreksel, Hester van Gent, Eva Vroom, Martine Bakker, Marit Noest, Vivian van Gaal, Leon Sebregts, Daphne de Bruijn Publisher︰ Blauwdruk Dimensions︰ 30×23 cm Binding︰ Paperback Pages︰ 188 pages
