The Hague, the governmental city of The Netherlands. Having read interesting news and research, I wrote this summary, which you will hopefully find useful!

The Hague has been growing during the past decades. The city is home to more than 500.00 people and facilitates network between work, home, beaches and other tourist attractions for many more (Den Haag Groeit, 2011). The effect of the growing population brings environmental concerns, namely the exhausts of cars and emissions of households that contribute to a deterioration of the atmosphere. The Hague seeks a balance between the accessibility of its functions and the inconvenience caused for citizens. Clearly, this is a trade off, as accessibility benefits citizens, however creates more emissions and endangers their healthy surroundings.

Government policies attempt to reduce negative externalities to the environment and its inhabitants. The public transport network has been improved over the years; tunnels for trams and buses have decreased the travel time within the city and trams have been introduced directly linking cities in the Randstad. As such, people are encouraged to leave their car at home, reducing external threats to the milieu. In addition, in the centre of The Hague, private transport has been prohibited. This has been done for gentrification, which includes enhancing accessibility, fewer exhausts and quieter areas. As such, the government ensures safer surroundings. This, with the creation of more one-way roads, the nuisance to citizens, as well as to the environment is reduced. Many constructions have improved the train station in The Hague, and have facilitated pavements to enjoyably walk to the centre. As such, people are in no need to take public transport, and enjoy the nice surrounding.

In addition, the accessibility of The Hague is an essential point. Due to its geographical location at the coast, it is impossible to create a road surrounding the city. Therefore, three main access roads have been built; one to Amsterdam, one to Utrecht and one to Rotterdam. Improvements have been made over time by the creation of tunnels. This decreases travel time of commuters as traffic lights are no longer necessary and it reduces annoyances of noise to citizens. As such, the government has fought for the accessibility while creating cleaner and healthier neighbourhoods.

The city must remain its economic attractiveness while sustaining the environment. As such the government has implemented many ways in which the accessibility is enhanced and the environment is preserved. The Hague, in particular Scheveningen and Kijkduin, is known for its recreational beaches. As such, the city has to deal with many people travelling not only to work, but also to the coast. To minimize exhausts and maximize the status of The Hague with respect to the living quality and the environmental quality, they have introduced effective measures. These include more roads and tunnels, a safer centre and a quick public transport system.

Copyright Morgen - M.P. van Roeden