Dutch Transport Innovation Study Tour
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We have developed an immersive study tour for transport and land use planners interested in translating Dutch transport innovation into their local context.
A curated week of field trips and engaging lectures showcase the successes (and occasional failures) that have made the Netherlands a hotbed of transport innovation.
Dutch transport is about more than just the bicycle
Our study tours look at the Dutch transport and land use system as a whole, with a focus on lessons that can be translated into other, more car-dependent contexts. Whilst it is impossible to ignore cycling in the Netherlands, our study tours take a broader view, encompassing the full set of transport options in the Netherlands.
3 Highlights
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Take a tour through recent streetscape enhancement projects on key Amsterdam streets – led by their head designer. Hear how these projects have improved active and public transport, as well as retail vitality.
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Visit the HQ of one of the world’s most innovative rail operators. Learn about network development, innovations for optimising the user experience, managing peak demand, the future of ticketing pricing and technology.
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Sustainable transport integration in Greenfield sites – take a bike tour through innovative new suburbs.
Dutch transport innovation in action
A great example of Dutch transport innovation can be seen in this short video, capturing an intersection in Utrecht which carries over 100,000 people per day. No private motor vehicle access is allowed. It is the busiest bicycle route in the Netherlands and one of the most important bus routes. Its a great example of the space efficiency of public transport, cycling and walking. Take a look!
I highly recommend this tour to all involved in local government. The information and networking that you receive is invaluable, practical and applicable.
The Study Tour was a great opportunity to learn from and engage with experts, while seeing firsthand the transport and land use outcomes in the Netherlands. Throughout the week, content revolved around what went well, what didn’t go so well, and how these learnings can be applied to the Australian context. It was also valuable to meet and develop relationships with representatives from across Australia, and share each of our own experiences.
The Study Tour was thoroughly enjoyable and all efforts were made to ensure the group got the most out of the course.
Topics
Dutch planning history, policy and practice
Understand the factors that have played a pivotal role over the centuries to form the transport and land use practices evident in Dutch cities today.
Transport and land use integration
Gain insights into how the planning system works to encourage mixed use development, integrated with multi-modal transport options.
Transport safety
Learn how the Dutch have developed a culture of continuous improvement in the safety of their transport system, to become one of the safest places in the world.
The future of paying for car use
Examining options for using price signals in car parking and roadway use ($/km) to achieve strategic transport outcomes, and wider city objectives.
Bicycle network design principles and practice
Learn from leading Dutch experts in bicycle planning to discover the elements that help make the Netherlands the bicycle capital of the world.
Electric vehicles
Showcasing Dutch policies and practice for boosting adoption of plug in electric vehicles and implications for other countries.
Innovations in car park policy
Understand how the Dutch have used parking policy as part of a wider objective to enhance the productivity and vibrancy of their cities and towns.
Public transport in the Netherlands
Learn from Dutch railway operators on enhancing the user experience, managing peak loading challenges and Dutch plans for enhancing the rail experience in the future.
Innovations in shopping street design
Practitioner led tours of Dutch streets that have benefited from dramatic re-designs to maximise productivity, vibrancy, safety and sustainability.
Re-thinking the residential street
Re-imagine the function and design of the residential street through expert led walk throughs of some great examples of innovative residential streets that balance accessibility with liveability.
Innovations in shared mobility
The Dutch have been leaders in shared transport well before it became a hot topic. Gain insights into the latest trends in shared mobility and the implications for the future of travel.
Integration of cycling and public transport
Up to 70% of train journeys in the Netherlands start with a bike trip. Learn from the undisputed leaders in integrating cycling with public transport.
Policy failure
Not all Dutch transport initiatives go to plan. Learn from experts on what has not worked, and why, in order to avoid future mistakes.
Speakers (provisional)
Professor Bert van Wee
Delft University of Technology
Bert van Wee is Professor of Transport Policy and is well known in the Netherlands as one of the most respected authorities on transport and land use planning. He regularly advises Ministers and local government politicians on transport issues and it is his depth of knowledge in Dutch transport planning that makes Bert such an important speaker for this study tour.
Jeen Kootstra
Urban Planner, City of Utrecht
Jeen Kootstra works on one of the Netherland’s largest greenfield residential developments, in Leidsche Rijn on the western edge of Utrecht. He works to integrate sustainable mobility into new town development and has a focus on increasing the vibrancy of new developments.
Ruwan Aluvihare
Landscape Architect, City of Amsterdam
Ruwan is one of the leading urban landscape architects in the Netherlands. As the Chief Urban Designer/Landscape Architect for the City of Amsterdam, Ruwan has been instrumental in the redevelopment of landmark streets in Amsterdam.
Hillie Talens
CROW (technical advisor to local governments on transport)
Hillie Talens is a leading transport engineer with over 30 years of experience in both public and private sector. Ms Talens career has focused on improving the role of the bicycle in the transport system, parking policies and the optimization of the use of parking facilities. Hillie expertise is increasingly sought after by governments interested in achieving a healthier mix of modes, safer streets and a more sustainable transport system that integrates modes more effectively.
Marco te Brömmelstroet
University of Amsterdam
Marco te Brömmelstroet holds the Chair on Urban Mobility Futures. The chair is sponsored by BAM Infra and supervised by an independent curatorium. His teaching focuses on courses around land use and mobility in the Bachelor and Master programs on Urban Planning. Marco is the founding academic director of the Urban Cycling Institute that is a part of the Centre for Urban Studies. The Institute leads research into the reciprocal relations between cycling, society and cities and is also actively involved in international dissemination of Dutch cycling knowledge.
Meredith Glaser
University of Amsterdam
Meredith is an urban mobility researcher and lecturer, based in the Netherlands since 2010. Her work focuses on policy innovation, knowledge transfer, and capacity building for accelerated implementation of sustainable transport goals. In addition to research, she is one of the world’s most experienced educators for students and professionals seeking to learn Dutch transport planning policies and practices. She is also a member of the board at CROW, a Dutch knowledge platform for bicycle policy. She received her PhD in urban planning from the University of Amsterdam.
Mark Wagenbuur
Dutch transport commentator
Mark Wagenbuur is recognised as one of the most insightful commentators on Dutch transport innovation, with a particular interest in how streets can be adapted to encourage sustainable transport use. His field trip tours of Dutch streets take a multi-modal approach and offer practical insights into the decision making processes that have enabled the Dutch to become world leaders in city design.
Dr Elliot Fishman
Director, Transport Innovation, Institute for Sensible Transport
Dr Fishman is a widely recognised authority on strategic transport innovation in Australia. He has advised the Prime Minister’s Office on sustainable mobility policy, the NYC Department of Transportation and Transport for London. He undertook his PostDoc at Utrecht University and works with many Australian local and state governments on transport planning projects.
Lot van Hooijdonk
Vice Mayor, City of Utrecht
Lot van Hooijdonk is a vice mayor (Dutch Green party) at the municipality of Utrecht with a focus on mobility, sustainability and energy transition. She was deputy director of Utrecht’s Federation for Nature and Environment and worked as a consultant at the national government for Transport. She studied Political Science at Florida University in the US and History at the University of Utrecht.
Karin van der Weele
Urban Planner, City of Utrecht
Karin van der Weele has been instrumental in the development of new, large-scale residential development and works to inject sustainability and liveability principles into her projects. She has worked on Leidsche Rijn, the biggest new development in the Netherlands since the beginning, over 20 years ago. Her current focus is on improving the connection between this new town, and the old centre of Utrecht. Her experience is invaluable for those working to boost the sustainability of new areas in cities.
Who is this for?
This study tour has been developed for professionals interested in learning how cities can be made to work better.
Those with any of the following job titles are especially suitable candidates to attend this study tour:
- Urban planners
- Transport planners
- Place makers
- Councillors/Elected local government officials
- Road safety officers
- Urban and transport researchers
- Ministers and their advisors
- Infrastructure managers
Professionals whose role also include one or more of the following will also benefit from this study tour:
- Transport network design
- Motorway development and management
- Integrating urban redevelopment and large scale transport infrastructure
- Urban revitalisation and place making
- Strategic transport policy development
- Safe System approach to transport planning
- Local area traffic management, traffic calming and residential street traffic management
- Car parking policy, pricing and reform
- Bicycle planning
Study Tour Program
Day 1: Welcome boat tour and dinner
- Welcome, Muze Hotel, Utrecht
- Introduction to getting around safety on a bike in the Netherlands
- How to get the most out of your study tour
- Comparing historical and contemporary changes to Utrecht’s streets.Â
- Utrecht Canal Boat Tour with a guest speaker discussing the history of Dutch planning
- Welcome dinner at Blauw Restaurant, Utrecht
Day 2: Introduction to Dutch planning: theory & practice
- Short bike tour of central Utrecht. Led by Elliot Fishman
- Dutch Planning: An Overview of Principles and Practice, Professor Bert van Wee
- Cutting edge transport innovation at the local level: the case of Utrecht. Led by Deputy Mayor Lot van Hooijdonk, City of Utrecht
- Innovations in new residential developments: a case study in greenfield development
Day 3: Sustainable Safety, Bicycle Infrastructure, including the Hovenring, Eindhoven
- A short tour of newly pedestrianised city streets
- Sustainable safety: Understanding the fundamentals of world’s best practice road safety
- Field trip to Eindhoven to inspect the Hovenring, the world’s most spectacular example of bicycle infrastructure
Day 4: Electric vehicles, public transport and innovative street design for safety and sustainability
- Electric vehicle charging: Policy and practice, led by the City of Utrecht
- Dutch rail: Enhancing the user experience, featuring senior Dutch Railway experts
- Bicycle infrastructure network planning, led by Hillie Talens, author of the CROW Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic
Day 5: Amsterdam: Best practice examples of innovative street re-design
- Tour the world’s largest bicycle parking facility (Utrecht Centraal Station). Led by Elliot Fishman.
- Field trip: Amsterdam. Topics include:
- Best practice intersection design
- Corridor re-development project
- Complete Streets
- Re-allocation of road space
- Tram prioritisation projects
Several experts will guide you through some of the leading examples of place making and sustainable mobility prioritisation projects. Led by three noted experts: Ruwan Aluvihare, Landscape architect at the City of Amsterdam, Meredith Glaser, from the University of Amsterdam, an expert in helping international delegations get the most out of their study tours. Professor Marco te Brömmelstroet, of the University of Amsterdam.
- Reflections on transferability of Dutch transport innovation into the US/Australian city, led by Meredith Glaser.
Day 6: Translating best practice principles into car-dependent cities
- Field trip: Utrecht. Applying the principles of sustainable safety, road network design and Dutch traffic planning principles. This expert-led bike tour will showcase examples that have made the Netherlands a leader in sustainable mobility, safety and liveability. Led by Mark Wagenbuur.
- Translational practice: How to translate best practice into the car-dependent cities of Australia/US/NZ/UK. Led by Meredith Glaser.
- Translating the findings of a Dutch study tour into an auto-dependent city context. Facilitated by Meredith Glaser, Muze Hotel.
- Group dinner, Goestings Restaurant
Optional Side trip to Groningen
Contact us if you are interested in the side trip to Groningen.
Accomodation in Utrecht
Utrecht is a perfect base for a transport innovation study tour and there is no better place in Utrecht to stay than the Muze Hotel.
All delegates are provided with their own room in this small, independent hotel located right on the canal that borders the ancient city wall in the heart of Utrecht. The Muze Hotel is quiet and comfortable, yet at the centre of it all. Breakfast and bike hire are included.
Costs
$A8,400 + GST
USD$5,695
Study Tour
Expression of Interest
Please submit your application to be considered.
FAQ
Q: Can I apply even if I have not had funding approved by my employer?
A: Yes. Prospective applicants are encouraged to apply and will have an opportunity to withdraw their application should funding issues arise.
What is covered in this cost?
- Accommodation for 6 nights at the Muze Hotel in Utrecht
- Breakfast each morning
- Train tickets during the period of the study tour, including Schiphol Airport transfers to Utrecht
- Bike hire
- Refreshments during organised lectures
- Welcome dinner
- Closing dinner
- Creating great relationships with other professionals
What is not included?
- Air fare to/from Amsterdam
- Travel insurance
- Meals other than those identified above
- Any other costs incurred other than those stated as
covered above