Cherish and maintain our attractive and humane cities

Knowledge is and remains the key to success for the Dutch economy. Human capital and knowledge are essential to gain technological progress and to achieve and maintain a competitive edge in the globalizing world. The knowledge economy is concentrated in the cities. Cities attract highly educated people who benefit from a stimulating environment and from face to face contact. With Information Technology’s advanced breakthroughs, physical presence has become far less important. Production is, in principle, independent of location and time. The quality of the location, especially the live/work quality, will determine the future of the knowledge economy.

Cities should continue to function well through unpredictable changes in the future. This places demands on the infrastructure and the flexibility and changeability of buildings. But human emotion is also crucial for economic development. It is therefore important to look to the future from a human perspective. So, because the future is unpredictable, analyse the fixed values of people, values that are universal; for example, values that are also important to the knowledge migrants which we seek to attract and retain. People make choices for the future based on reason and emotion.

Take my own work environment as an example.  A small knowledge economy of 80 to 90 people: an interdisciplinary, international team, founded 30 years ago by TU Delft students. The team is comprised of people from 25 countries. Some have a double passport because, for example, they are children of earlier European migrants who went to Australia, New Zealand or Canada, and have now returned to Europe. What their religious beliefs are, or if they are even religious, is not an issue; 40% are female.
The office is bilingual: English and Dutch. All together, eleven languages are spoken. We live in Delft, Rotterdam, The Hague, Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht and Haarlem. Our spouses and partners usually work in a different city. Because of our efficient infrastructure, this is possible. In our thirty years of practice, over 600 people have worked at Mecanoo. This means friends around the world and an international network. 40% of our work is now abroad.

The knowledge migrants are enthusiastic about the Netherlands; there is interesting and international work, good universities, pleasant, humane cities, good public transport, and they are extremely pleased with the fact that they can cycle around. There is much to see: culture, nature and water. Europe and the world are within reach. They don’t feel foreign living here.
The Netherlands is an open country, language is no problem. Every Dutchman understands English, even at the bakery and the supermarket, unlike in countries such as France, Italy and Spain. The cities are comfortable and safe. And do not forget another emotional motivation for good talent: a good marriage market. They meet interesting people.

There are knowledge migrants who settle here permanently, buying a house, having their kids grow up here. There is good and affordable primary and higher education that is increasingly bilingual. Recent studies show that we are the country with the happiest children in Europe.
Doesn’t this emotional value also contribute to attracting knowledge migrants to the Netherlands? Shouldn’t we use this as a strategy for the future? Let people know you’re good! Branding; that is something we can learn from American universities and is essential for the success of the Dutch knowledge economy.

Francine Houben
Financieele Dagblad
March 21, 2011