Landscape 1:1. A study for designs for leisure in the Dutch countryside

The study deals with landscape design approaches concerning leisure, recreation and tourism in the countryside. Landscape designs from five periods with different planning and policy contexts between the 1920s and present time were studied. The designs represent a variety of Dutch landscapes: the coastal zone and the marine clay polders of the Zeeland Delta, the river plains of the Gelderse Poort, the peat meadow landscapes of the Venen and the sandy uplands of the Drentsche Aa Stream Valley. The analyses revealed how landscape designers have been dealing with leisure in the context of the Dutch design tradition concerning rural landscapes. Dominant leisure approaches were reconstructed and related to contemporary theoretical insights and to the Dutch design tradition concerning rural landscapes. The reconstructed leisure approaches were reviewed to what extent they are still relevant and suitable in the contemporary, changing context, with new leisure demands and new landscape challenges. The study revealed a stable design tradition of a comprehensive landscape approach and persisting conceptualisations of leisure. Recent designs show different approaches. This suggests structural changes; it is likely that landscape design for leisure in the countryside is in transition. With regard to observed continuities and changes in leisure, leisure environments and landscape design practices, the reconstructed design tradition shows that great achievements have been made, but it also displays also some apparent shortcomings. These were discussed from an academic and from a practical point of view.