Groningen: A Mini-Metropolis Representation Christopher Sean Gandy Department of Spatial Sciences University of Groningen September 27, 2011
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
Essay One
27-Sep-11
Contents Page 3: Introduction Page 4: The Miniature Metropolis Page 4-5: Density and Population Page 6-7: Significance of the City Page 7-9: Personal Insight Page 9: Conclusion Page 10-12: Appendix Page 13-14: References
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
Essay One
27-Sep-11
Introduction: What conceptualization resonates in the mind when an individual hears the word metropolis? For many people, a bustling city the size of Tokyo, New York, or Shanghai naturally constructs itself internally. However, these are not the only cases. The term also applies to cities much smaller than those listed above; for example, the city of Seattle. Seattle is miniscule when compared to New York or even Los Angeles, yet it still reaps the term “metropolis.” This is because a city does not need to be a global super center to fit the definition of metropolis. The examples initially listed are, in my opinion, mega-metropolises: the end of the spectrum, the pinnacle of our civilization, and the furthest our buildings have reached towards the clouds. But what about other countries’ Seattles? The city of Groningen in the Netherlands has been described as a miniature metropolis; is this justifiable? That is the question at hand. For some people, this could easily sound counter intuitive. After discovering the population size of Groningen, as well as how large it is (and for some, its location on a map) the term metropolis just doesn’t seem to fit the stereotypical idea of one; it doesn’t even come close to Seattle at first glance. The population size of Groningen and the area it covers is even less than an ordinary city like Olympia in Washington State. However, after analyzing data and experiencing living in the city, the statement does indeed, logically fit. To understand why, one must understand the definitions of miniature and metropolis, the country of the Netherlands, and the city of Groningen’s historical position in the nation. In short, one must understand the idea of context; the context of this dense nation and city. In this paper I will address these aspects, mainly the latter, to help give an understanding and perspective on why Groningen could be a Seattle. 3
Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
Essay One
27-Sep-11
The Miniature Metropolis: In order to understand what a mini-metropolis is defining each respective term is necessary. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, the definition of miniature is: 1a. A copy on a much reduced scale and 1b. Something small of its kind. So, just as there are large cities, there are also small cities. A metropolis is a little bit more complex, however. The definition of a metropolis (same dictionary) is: 1. The chief or capital city of a country, state, or region 2. The city or state of origin of a colony (as of ancient Greece) 3a. A city regarded as a center of a specified activity b. A large important city. When the two terms are combined together you get a small-scaled, important city of a region; something like Groningen. Density and Population: Groningen is the largest, furthest city in the Northern part of the Netherlands. The country of the Netherlands has a total population of about 16.7 million inhabitants, of which Groningen is the eighth largest municipality (Support: Seattle ranks around 13th largest city in the United States and is the largest in the North West, city-data.com) with some 187 thousand residents (580 thousand in the province); 33% of the province’s population. In comparison, the municipality of Amsterdam has a population of about 767 thousand people and is the first largest in the nation. The Dutch have placed around 90% of their population on only 10% of their land, meaning the cities consist of high densities (Spatial Problems & Spatial Policies lectures 7/9/11 and 12/9/11). With a population so large on such a small part of land, cities have a much different feel than traditional metropolises of larger, spread-out countries like the United States. Groningen as a province has 246 people per sq/km, while its neighboring Northern provinces of Friesland and Drenthe have 192 and 185 people per sq/km, respectively. On the other hand the
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
Essay One
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country as a whole has 486 inhabitants per sq/km (12 provinces handout given by Paul van Steen). Despite the province’s lower density scale in comparison to the country at large, the city of Groningen is still fairly dense (see table 8.1 to the right, taken from The Dutch Virtual Census of 2001). According to CBS (in the report titled Maanstatistiek van de bevolking p.43) in order to be considered a strongly urbanized municipality, the population density must be between 1500-2500 inhabitants per sq/km. Groningen clearly fits this standard. Also, Groningen is the only municipality in its province and the Northern region to have such a high density (see appendices 1-3). The municipality of Leeuwarden in Freisland comes second with 1,145 people per km/sq and in Drenthe the largest municipality of Assen with 750 people per km/sq. Compared to Groningen, these densities do not even come close; thus, making Groningen the densest municipality in the Northern region, as well as the capital of its Province. That’s two checks on the metropolis definition (1 and 3b. 3a to come; 2 is excluded). Also, if we look at the density/area land ration, Groningen is around half that of Amsterdam. Since it is a city, and a metropolis by definition, the miniature definition requirement is satisfied as well. The importance the city holds, however, must also be backed with a certain understanding of its history.
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
Essay One
27-Sep-11
Significance of the City: A Further Understanding Groningen holds a very high position historically and presently in the Northern Netherlands. It is a home for academics, energy, and many jobs; all of which spread their influence throughout the region and even the nation. In previous centuries, the city of Groningen held a strong presence in the North. The Grote Market’s location at the end of the “dog’s back” is the highest location in the region. People accumulated here for a reason: to escape floods. As civilization went onwards, the Martini Church Tower was built to signify the city’s power over the region. The tower remains the tallest structure in the province, even today. The height of this structure is a clear signifier of the city’s longstanding presence of importance over the Northern region. When combined with the density and other factors, it is apparent that the city has been developing and growing for hundreds of years. Today the municipality serves as the largest metropolitan agglomeration in the North (see appendix 4). With such a rich history, this is not surprising. In the early 1600’s the University of Groningen was founded, which is the second oldest university in the nation and one of the largest. The city is known for its strong presence in the field of academia and high student population. It is an intellectual hub of knowledge in the North, as well as one of the largest academic centers in the nation. Furthermore, the municipality has some 134,000 jobs available and 13,300 firms. When compared to the population at large, there are fewer jobs than residents. This is because of the high student population that does not work and around 50,000 people who commute to the municipality for their job. The concentration of natural gas in the North has deemed Groningen the energy capital of the North
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
Essay One
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(all from lecture 7/9/11, Society & Space: City of Groningen). People commute to work for this reason, as well as in the areas of commercial services and government (CBS web magazine 12/8/02). Groningen has always maintained a very high GDP because of the types of jobs it attracts; especially with natural gas. According to CBS Statistics NL in 2003, “. GDP per capita there is 39 thousand euro, one of the highest in the country. Even without the natural gas, GDP is above the national average. This is mainly the result of the university city of Groningen which functions as a regional centre for the north of the country” (27). The combination of jobs, energy, and academics have set Groningen as (even in 2011) an area of high economic growth (see appendix 5), outshining all other northern regions. The city of Groningen is a minimetropolis of the North, and the country at large. This is proven by the definition of a metropolis’ importance (definition 1b.); which with Groningen’s strong historical and regional background becomes fulfilled. Personal Insight: Small Scale, Large Benefits When I first arrived in the Netherlands I did not intricately know what to expect from the city of Groningen. I had heard it was voted the most bike friendly city in the world in a magazine as well as a very dense student city. But based on size alone, I did not expect the term “metropolis” to be dubbed on where I was headed. My district (the University District) in Seattle is also heavily populated with students; roughly the same numbers as Groningen. However, the setting is drastically distant. The absence of cars and strict planning on a non-grid pattern made learning Groningen interesting and fun. The scale of everything combined with the density made for a lot of referring to maps and exploring in order to figure out my way around the city. In terms of density and scale from a walking/cycling perspective, the city feels large
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
Essay One
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even though it has only around a 5-7 km radius extending out in any direction from the city center; making the city perfect for the cyclist and walkers; not the gas guzzler. I believe the effect of pulling cars out and transferring the city over to pedestrians was one of the best ideas for this city. If it had not happened, the city would have become ruined by more pollution and fail in terms of community. This is because of the density and scale that the city is known for. So many cars would occupy such a small space; it would end up being a mess and separate people. The highway that separates neighborhoods is evidence of this situation (E.G. Vinkhuizen). People hardly consider crossing the highway by bike or foot; and those who live on either side see the other as far away. Part of making this city feel so lively is its density and small space. With a small space interaction is required, which cannot be achieved with the primary use of automobiles. Cars would make the city seem even smaller, which I believe would hit many small businesses, and ultimately cause the closeness and “village” community feeling of the city to crumble. The community is so strong, so connected, and so well designed because the transportation structure is designed to be relative to the scale. Cars cause things to spread out, people to live further from the city, and in turn, cause the city to expand. Expansion is not a good thing in this case, however. The city has had the centrum as its focus and is dense enough as it is. I believe the density utilization was saved by the Traffic circulation Plan of 1977, cutting the possibility of cars to drive from one sector of the city to the next (lecture on 7/9/11). In doing so, the preservation of the culture and city core was saved. The key to a strong city is a strong center, or hearth…a place of gathering. The roads away from the centrum are like arteries flowing away from the heart; without a strong heart, there is no strong, unified structure. What I’m trying to get at is that everything is interconnected here. Combined with the density aspect, the miniature-metropolis concept flourishes. Support 8
Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
Essay One
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and maintenance are required for it to continue as so, and keep the population always satisfied with its space. If Groningen loses people due to poor planning, the population will dwindle, and with it the significance and influence. Conclusion: Groningen is the embodiment of a miniature metropolis. It is a cultural center of importance in the North, the largest city in the region, capital of the province, and its scale/density ratio is similar to that of Amsterdam. Just as Seattle is deemed a metropolis, yet its scale is much smaller than New York City, the same should be true for Groningen. The issue at hand is the country in discussion. The Netherlands is one of the smallest nations in Europe as well as one of the densest. It has a high GDP and well planned system of infrastructure; concentrating jobs, education, and resources in key locations. The definition fits extremely well, and after living here and learning the city and streets, it is clear that strong spatial planning was the key to this term’s application.
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
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Appendix 1
Appendix 2
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
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Appendix 3 (column headings same as above)
Appendix 4 (metropolitan agglomeration)
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
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Appendix 5 (regional econ growth)
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
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References Van Steen, Paul. “Society & Space: The City of Groningen.” Lecture on September 7th, 2011 at the University of Groningen. Van Steen, Paul. “Demography in the Netherlands.” Lecture on September 12th, 2011 at the University of Groningen. Central Bureau of Statistics, "Maandstatistiek van de bevolking Jaargang 48 – februari 2000." Last modified 2000. Accessed September 27, 2011. http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlres/E7EB5E2A-3988-4974-922F-7E2C96B3D1DF/0/b150200.pdf. Merriam-Webster’s Online dictionary: http://www.merriam-webster.com/ Central Bureau of Statistics, "The Year in Figures 2003." Accessed September 27, 2011. http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/C0378EAC-2EAD-4819-83CF-63D238B7CAA6/0/yif2003.pdf. C.M. Schut and B. de Vet, First. Central Bureau of Statistics, "Regional indicators for the allocation of the Structural Funds Objective 1 regions." Accessed September 28, 2011. http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/A9077CC6-DE19-479D-A5B63123CCF47384/0/regionalindicatorsallocation1regions.pdf. Central Bureau of Statistics, "Statline: Regional Economic Growth 2011." Last modified April 21, 2011. Accessed September 27, 2011. http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/? DM=SLEN&PA=71542eng&D1=0-3&D2=0-2,6-17&D3=215&LA=EN&HDR=G1&STB=T,G2&VW=C Vliegen, Mathieu. " Metropolitan agglomerations and urban regions delimite." CBS, October 2005. http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/7B1E63B2-53D4-4555-B84B2E0DAE176EDC/0/2005metropolitanagglomerationsurbanregionsdelimitedart.pdf (accessed September 27, 2011). de Vet and van Lochem, First. CBS: Statistics Netherlands, "Economic Growth Rate highest in Groningen and the Hague." Last modified August 12, 2002. Accessed September 28, 2011. http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/macroeconomie/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2002/2002-1024-wm.htm. "The Dutch Virtual Census of 2001." 2001. http://www.cbs.nl/nr/rdonlyres/d1716a600d13-4281-bed6-3607514888ad/0/b572001.htm. (accessed September 27, 2011). City-Data, "Seattle Population Profile." Last modified 2009. Accessed September 27, 2011. http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-West/Seattle-Population-Profile.html.
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Christopher Gandy Professor Paul van Steen
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References cont:
"Statistical Yearbook of the Netherlands 2004." CBS. (2004): 39-40. http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/3C60B3E9-09E0-491F-87F2-99B8E54936A1/0/2004a3pub.pdf (accessed September 27, 2011).
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