Testimonials
There is a clear link in the courses with the policy practice.
- Previous education
- BA Geografie, Planologie en Milieu
- Programme
- Planning, Land and Real Estate Development
- Study start date
Jory Verhagen is a Master's student Planning, Land and Real Estate Development.
'There are a couple of things about the Master’s in Spatial Planning that appeal to me. An important one is a clear link that is made in the courses with the policy practice. In my experience, this makes the courses more concrete, which makes them feel more useful than I sometimes felt during the Bachelor’s programme Geography, Spatial Planning and Environment. An example of a course of which the use is especially clear to me is Verdieping Recht en Institutes in Ruimtelijke Planning (Advanced Law and Institutions in Spatial Planning). This is a course in my specialisation in which the link between spatial planning and the legislation and regulation that comes with it is clearly made. One of the things I didn’t like in the Master’s is the limited courses of the Master’s programme. Besides the Master’s thesis, you get 36 ECTS of courses in the first part of the Master’s. It is sometimes more repeating of courses of the Bachelor’s Geography, Spatial Planning and Environment. These two things lead that it is less in-depth than I expected. The real challenge begins with the Master’s thesis. Besides I think the technical knowledge in the Master’s Spatial Planning fairly limited. Working with stakeholders is the main role of the Master’s, but processes like housing construction and housing development are treated to a limited extent.
The ambiance in the Master’s is comparable to the ambiance in the Bachelor’s Geography, Spatial Planning and Environment. In my experience, the relatively short duration of the plenary part of the Master’s made me make less contact than I would have in a longer study programme. Group work with other students takes place during the group assignments that are part of the courses (such as Urban Innovation Space and Institutional Perspectives). The (assistant) professors are easily approachable: during the breaks and after the lectures you can ask them for help. In addition, the email contact with most (assistant) professors is easily made.
In my year an internship is not required. However, most students do a graduation internship and so do I. I have done an internship at the province Noord-Holland at a department that is concerned with housing policy. The subjects that the department is engaged with are comparable to the ones that I encountered in my specialisation. As for your thesis, you have a broad range of options. I chose to write my thesis about the effect of plancapacity and housing programming on the number of new homes build. In my thesis I make use of statistical analysis and quantitative data, but a thesis with a more qualitative approach is certainly possible as well.
The layout of the available space in the Netherlands will certainly continue to play a big part. This is undoubtedly the case for my specialisation as well: (re)structuring of new and existing real estate plays an important part in the spatial use of cities and villages. Vacancy, population aging and population growth and decline produce new challenges for which solutions will have to be found in the coming decades. In this regard, it is important that there are professionals who can form a bridge between various parties, such as architects, engineers, construction firms, and citizens. Every party has their own interests and it is important that these interests are properly balanced. My plan, as soon as I have finished my Master’s, is to get started in public administration or at a consultancy firm that is concerned with spatial planning or housing. I also want to acquire some more technical knowledge, which is why I will take up some Geo-Information Science.'
It really appeals to me that we are left free in coming up with solutions for problems within our area of interest.
- Previous education
- BA Geografie, Planologie en Milieu - Radboud University
- Programme
- Planning, Land and Real Estate Development
- Study start date
- Study end date
Stijn Elders is a Master's student Planning, Land and Real Estate Development.
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
I like that we are working on the future of the Netherlands. Contemporary issues, such as housing, climate change and spatial planning that are relevant now, are always reflected in the subjects and we have projects in which we can come up with our own solutions. It really appeals to me that we are left free in coming up with solutions for problems within our area of interest.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
The atmosphere within the programme is good. Area development was considered boring by many within the Bachelor's, but in the Master's, you are only with people who are interested in the profession and all of them think along. I also like the overlap with other specialisations. Sometimes, you do projects with people who follow another Spatial planning specialisation and that way, you look at your research topic from other angles. The contact with lecturers is good, they have a lot of knowledge about the field and current developments. They use it well for their subjects and share their experiences with us.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The challenging but also nice part about this programme is that you have a lot of freedom with the assignments. You get to choose the problem you want to tackle and need to come up with creative solutions yourself.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
Last year, I did an internship at a company to get work experience before writing my thesis. At this company, I learned a lot about the field of expertise of a planning officer. Now, I am using that experience during my second internship at another company, at which I am also writing my thesis. The nice thing about writing a thesis in combination with an internship is that I can incorporate the theoretical knowledge from the university with the practical knowledge of this company.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
The housing crisis is in the news almost daily. The Netherlands has to build more than a million houses in the next 10 years. You can't just put those anywhere, you need people from our specialisation to think about it properly. The Master's specialisation is broad and thus, you learn to work together with students from other specialisations. After your studies, you can use this experience when you have to work together with the various parties involved in housing construction. People who have completed a Master's in Spatial Planning can think broadly about the current and future issues the Netherlands face. After my Master's, I would like to work at a company that helps solve the housing crisis.
The atmosphere in class is very professional and everyone is motivated to get the best results possible.
- Previous education
- Watermanagement - HZ University of Applied Sciences
- Programme
- Planning, Land and Real Estate Development
- Study start date
- Study end date
Rick Hartingsveld is a Master's student Planning, Land and Real Estate Development.
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
This Master's programme challenged me to think in a holistic way by acknowledging that everything related to planning and policy is connected in a system with stakeholders from all layers of society.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
The atmosphere in class is very professional and everyone is motivated to get the best results possible, which in my opinion, is a distinct difference with a Bachelor's. For this reason, the teachers treat you as equals and communicate with you like you are a colleague.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
Sometimes, I had difficulties relating certain theories to practice. Our field of study (spatial planning and real estate) is based on practical phenomena. Therefore, approaching this subject via a theoretical and sometimes philosophical angle can be challenging.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I am currently doing my thesis internship at RoyalHaskoningDHV, a large consultancy in urban planning. I decided to combine it with my thesis to get used to the working environment and apply my theoretical knowledge in the work field. My thesis is about redeveloping inner-city Brownfield sites into modern office spaces to facilitate the changing office demand from the post-COVID office user.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
Designing the urban environment to be as efficient, sustainable and livable as possible will remain to be a challenging task in the future of our society, especially with regard to climate change and the current housing shortage. City planners of today shape the urban environment of tomorrow. I would like to work for a consultancy or government authority with challenging projects in city planning and urban design. If possible, I would like to work on international projects as well.
Many of the things you learn are immediately applicable in real life.
- Previous education
- BSc Geografie, Planologie en Milieu - Radboud Universiteit
- Programme
- Planning, Land and Real Estate Development
- Study start date
- Study end date
Anna van Rossem is a Master's student Planning, Land and Real Estate Development.
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
I like the way it incorporates so many different fields. You learn about the theoretical and institutional side, but also the legal side. Many of the things you learn are also immediately applicable in real life. It really changes the way you look at your surroundings.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
I've always been happy to attend lectures and working groups. I appreciate that this Master's brings together students that are spatially interested, with this interest covering many different fields (water, infrastructure, housing, climate, etc.). This makes working together really fun and interesting.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The Master's demands a lot of group work, and even though this is fun and interesting, it can also be very time consuming. In addition, I wish there were more options to specialise. Despite the specialisations that this Master's offers, you are educated on a wide spectrum of topics, which can be both a blessing and a curse. You know a bit about everything, but you are not really specialised in anything.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
Currently, I am an intern at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations at the Spatial Development department. My research is about the intergovernmental and interdepartemental co-creation of the NOVEX processes.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
YES! I firmly believe spatial planning is really important. Especially when looking at the big (spatial) challenges that we have to face in the coming years. Water, Energy transition, housing shortage, etc. It is all spatially related.