Defining the Spatial Planning: Space and Knowledge of a Sea with Jort de Vries

Jort de Vries is a scholar, researching the integration of knowledge in Marine Spatial Planning policy and maritime development for his PhD at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Jort also works as an advisor at Deltares, a Dutch company at the forefront of knowledge production concerning coastal, water, maritime and general delta management. 

Jort just published the first paper of his PhD titled “making knowledge matter, understanding and improving knowledge integration in Dutch marine spatial planning policy” which can be accessed with the following link: https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0964-5691(23)00453-2

Jort recommends the following book, which demonstrates how spatial planning, when integrated with knowledge and interests from all relevant stakeholders leads to valuable, efficient and healthy spaces for communities, whereas the opposite can lead to segregation, crime and general dissatisfaction: 

“The life and death of Great American cities. by Jane Jacobs”

A book which demonstrates the Dutch way of looking at space is: “environmental planning in the Netherlands, Too good to be true”. by Gert de Roo. 

Finally, if anyone is interested in the kind of research programs Jort is involved with when it comes to informing Marine Spatial Planning and Offshore Wind Farm policy, the following video provides an overview of current efforts: https://www.nwo.nl/en/cases/what-is-the-environmental-impact-of-wind-farms-in-the-north-sea