Living doesn’t stop at the border
Border Residents
Young people don’t experience the border itself, but they do experience the impact of policies that stop there. In border regions like Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and South Limburg, living, working, learning, and daily life are all intertwined, while systems and regulations often end at the national border. This affects opportunities, accessibility, and mental well-being.
That is why we (together with our partners OnbegrensdZeeuwsVlaanderen, Kenniscentrum Zeeuwse Samenleving, and Neimed) investigated the housing issue for young people, first-time buyers, and future generations using intergenerational design.
Download de rapportageApproach
The border as a starting point
Housing is not an isolated issue; it is part of a larger whole. From a broad perspective of well-being (brede welvaart), we researched how living in a border region relates to mental health, social networks, education, work, and accessibility.
Together with partners from research, policy, and practice, we explored the border region as a single living area. We spoke with young people, visited local villages, analyzed existing plans, and gathered perspectives from experts and stakeholders on both sides of the border. This created a rich picture of daily life and the structural patterns that often remain invisible. The results (including border maps, future scenarios, and in-depth insights) have been compiled into a report
Process
From listening to visualizing
These insights have been translated into border maps and three possible future scenarios for Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. These scenarios help broaden the conversation about the region’s future and provide direction for policy choices. They connect living, working, learning, and life in a border region that is constantly changing.
The scenarios explore different paths:
- Shrinkage as Strength focuses on strengthening nature and the landscape, with room for recreation and ecology.
- Energy as an Engine focuses on sustainable energy, new industry, and technical innovation as drivers of economic growth and urbanization.
- Temporality as a Foundation explores flexible housing forms and facilities that adapt to the changing needs of residents.
Conclusion
A starting point for the next step
Border Residents brought imagination and depth to a complex issue. The design-led research exposed current challenges and made potential futures discussable.
In the second phase, these three future scenarios will serve as the starting point for further collaboration with young people, experts, and policymakers to develop concrete next steps for the border regions of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and South Limburg. This project is supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL (Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie).
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