Customization by area

The government consists of different levels of government (national government, provinces, district water boards and municipalities) in which each level of government has its own tasks and powers and in which each level of government formulates its own policy. All these different levels of government formulate a great deal of government policy that is not always coordinated.

The same applies to policies made by municipalities. This too is not always well coordinated within municipalities. And all those policies, from all those different levels of government, boards and departments, eventually come together in living areas.

Then it may just be that road safety policy dictates that roadsides should be mowed because it is better for road safety, while biodiversity policy dictates that roadsides should not be mowed because it is better for biodiversity. One policy that says we should turn left, while other policies call for just the opposite.

The Environment Act aims to put an end to the fragmentation and compartmentalization of government policy and requires the government to take an integrated, coherent approach that is also tailored to different areas and area types. Area-specific customization, in other words, instead of fragmented and compartmentalized government policies that 'add up' to be unworkable, unaffordable and unfeasible.

More information on area-based working can be found on the website of VNG.