Architectural policy

The Board of Government Advisors (BGA, College van Rijksbouwmeester en Rijksadviseurs) develops the architectural policy (and places it on the agenda) together with the ministries, the professional field and local government. The BGA advises the central government base on an independent position.

The Board consists of the chief government architect (rijksbouwmeester) and two government advisers (a landscape architect and an urbanist). They collaborate in a multidisciplinary way within design studios on the major challenges for the future.

Architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture are fields that are connected to society, technology, the arts and the free market. The policy in this regard is therefore extremely fragmented across the various ministries. The Board of Government Advisors plays a central role herein and the ministries (and their duties) are subject to constant change. It is always interesting, therefore, to look at things more broadly instead of just considering a single ministry or government department.

• Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning
  This ministry is in charge of spatial policy, comes up with legislation and regulations regarding building, and is responsible for the housing policy. Many different aspects of architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture converge at this ministry. The Central Government Real Estate Agency also falls under the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning. This organisation manages the buildings and grounds of the central government and Ministry of Defence.
   
• Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
  This ministry is responsible for policy regarding mobility, airports, ports and motorways. It has a major influence on the spatial layout of our country and the connection with other countries. The Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) also falls under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Rijkswaterstaat is responsible for the motorways and waterways.
   
• Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
  The ministry is responsible, among other things, for the quality of education, and the arts and cultural policy. This also includes the creative industry. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is also responsible for the cultural subsidies to the cultural funds. The Creative Industries Fund NL is the most important one of these for the design disciplines. You can apply for grants from the Creative Industries Fund NL for special projects talent development, for example.
   
• Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature
  This ministry has a major influence and impact on the spatial layout of our country. Examples of this include nature conservation areas, production landscapes, environmental legislation, etc. 

Anyone who is going to build (or refurbish) needs to comply with the Buildings Decree (Bouwbesluit). This decree contains technical requirements relating to construction, safety, health, energy efficiency and the environment. You will find specific limit values in the Buildings Decree, such as the minimum dimensions for door heights, stairs and ceiling heights. You can consult the Buildings Decree online.

Building plans of architects are often assessed in terms of ‘building aesthetics’ (Welstandnota) by the Spatial Quality Committee (Commissie Ruimtelijke Kwaliteit). Every Dutch municipality has a policy regarding the external appearance of buildings, which is laid down in a policy document on planning regulations for the location and external appearance of buildings. The building aesthetics committee implements the requirements regarding the external appearance of buildings on behalf of the municipality. Buildings aesthetics committees assess the professionalism and meticulousness of architects based on local circumstances. Materialisation, dimensional ratios, details, facade and roof shapes, and the relationship with the surroundings and adjacent buildings are all important in this regard.