THE NETHERLANDS is with approx. 400 inhabitants per km² the European country with the highest density of population (Germany in comparison counts 266 inhabitants per km²). The juxtaposition of high density dwelling and rural appearance is only possible with a wide public discussion and many parties involved. The lack of space and shortage of housing generates large scale building and urban planning projects. The result is a unique dynamic of planning and innovative architecture solutions.

Planning processes are of public interest and therefore architecture is part of the everyday culture in the Netherlands. Institutions and governmental departments encourage the public discussion, in which pragmatism and creativity continuously lead to interesting approaches and built results, such as MRDV´s Expo 2000 building of stratified landscape.

Come with us on an architecture tour through the Netherlands: Amsterdam - canal city with diverse housing projects, Rotterdam - boomtown on the Maas river, Den Haag - postmodern showpiece, Utrecht and its university quarter, Almere - planned city of the 80ies in transition, just to name some of them.