Renée Jones-Bos, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United States, spoke about water, infrastructure, planning, ports, and cost-benefit analysis as the closing keynote speaker at the 2012 APA National Convention in Los Angeles.
Renée Jones-Bos, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United States, spoke as the closing keynote speaker at the 2012 APA National Convention in Los Angeles. In case you left a bit early to beat the rush to LAX, The Planning Report has a transcript of her comments.
Her remarks center on the partnerships formed between the Netherlands and the US, particularly in lieu of Dutch expertise on climate change and sea level rising. As Ambassador Jones-Bos notes, the Dutch have been forced to approach large infrastructure and planning projects head on, given that 60% of the country's population lives below sea level. Today, Dutch engineers and planners are known worldwide for their expertise on ports and sea level, and their efforts in New Orleans, in particular, indicate that American municipalities can benefit from reaching out internationally for partnerships and learning.
American cities may learn from their ally's proactive embrace of cost-benefit analysis. Ambassador Jones-Bos offers examples of large infrastructure projects that the Dutch have tackled directly, despite their enormous capital costs. This approach requires an honest measurement of a project's social and economic benefits. She notes, "Another part of Dutch DNA is found at the entrance to the old port of Amsterdam – close to the Amsterdam Stock Exchange: 'De cost gaet voor de baet uyt'. That means 'The cost comes before the benefit'."
Thanks to Kevin Madden
FULL STORY: Dutch Ambassador Renée Jones-Bos: 'The Cost Comes Before the Benefit'

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience
Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action
As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts
Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service