The regions of the MRA

The metropolitan region of Amsterdam is divided into 7 regions. Namely; Amsterdam, the Zuid-Kennermerland, the Zaanstreek-Waterland region, the Amstelland-Meerland region, Flevoland region, IJmond region and the Gooi en Vechtsreken region. The cities and towns of these regions are very diverse. Both in their historic trajectory, in the number of inhabitants and economic activities. The smallest municipality has slightly over 9000 inhabitants, whereas Amsterdam has over 850.000 inhabitants (CBS, 2019). In the following section, the economic performance, the number of inhabitants and the path of the regions will be discussed. Amsterdam and the number of inhabitants per municipality in 2018

The central region consists of the city of Amsterdam and is, unlike the other regions, not composed of several municipalities. Amsterdam has the most inhabitants with over 850.000 inhabitants and the city also has the largest economic share of the region. With 48,8% of the gross regional product, the city of Amsterdam dominates the economy of the MRA to a great extent. The city is the cultural centre of the region and is the economic engine of growth (MRA, 2018). The representative of the MRA stated that Amsterdam is the pull factor of the area (PC, 2019). The economic department of Amsterdam sees it as a core task to provide a strong economy that is internationally compatible and that creates welfare and jobs for the entire metropolitan region. The economic vision and policy of the municipality of Amsterdam is clearly focused on the metropolitan region on many aspects. They argue that Amsterdam

needs the MRA for the space, but also to be international competitive (Gemeente Amsterdam, 2019).

Amstelland-Meerlanden and the number of inhabitants per municipality in 2018

Amstelland-Meerland is located south from Amsterdam. The gross regional product of the region is 21.6% (MRA, 2018). The region houses Schiphol and the agriculture sector in Aalsmeer which makes it one of the strongest economic regions of the Netherlands. The economic size of the region and the growth is dominated by wholesale, logistics and transport due to Schiphol and the Greenport of Aalsmeer. Schiphol provides over 60.000 jobs for the region and many international companies (PC, 2019). The municipalities of the Amstelland- Meerland region see the proximity of Amsterdam and the other cities and towns of the MRA as an important positive asset of the region. MRA (Haarlemmermeer,2012; Aalsmeer,2016; Amstelveen, 2016). A representative from Haarlemmermeer argued that the importance of the proximity of Amsterdam does differ per town and inhabitants. Some places have a strong connection with the city, while other are more rurally focussed. The same can be argued for the inhabitants of the region. Some inhabitants see the proximity of Amsterdam as very important, while others are focussed on the rural areas.

Gooi en Vechtstreken and the number of inhabitants per municipality in 2018

The Gooi and Vechtstreken region is located east of Amsterdam. The region has a high living and working quality. Many of these municipalities are characterized by high household income levels and expensive living costs (CBS, 2018). The region is mainly focused on ICT sector, the wholesale sector and the health sector. The gross regional product of the Gooi and Vechtstreken is 7,5% (MRA, 2018). Hilversum is known as the media city of the Netherlands and almost all TV and Radio stations are situated in this city. The municipality of Gooise meren provides a place of quietness in the hectic metropolitan area and states that the municipality is an attractive living area (Gooise meren, 2017). Hilversum sees that the location of Hilversum between Amsterdam, Utrecht, Almere and Amersfoort as an important characteristic of the area. They specifically name both Amsterdam and Utrecht as important partners. The city wants to enlarge its tourism sector and wants to profit from the large number of tourists that visit Amsterdam (Hilversum, 2018). In 2018, the inhabitants of Weesp were able to choose between merging with Amsterdam or Gooise meren. They made the decision to merge with Amsterdam in 2022 (Weesp.nl, 2019).

Almere-Lelystad and the number of inhabitants per municipality in 2018

The region of Almere-Lelystad is located in a different province, namely the province of Flevoland. Flevoland is an artificial province in the Ijsselmeer in the centre of the Netherlands that was created in the 1940’s. The government institution of the Rijksdienst Ijsselmeer Polders (RIJP) designed and realized the cities of Almere and Lelystad. Both are suburban towns that were designed for the ordinary Dutch family (Reijndorp et al., 2012). Today, Almere is the fastest growing municipality of the Netherlands in absolute terms of Inhabitants. Almere is striving to become the fifth city of the Netherlands (Gemeente Almere, 2018). In 2030, they want to be a complete city that is connected to Amsterdam, but also has its own city dynamics (PC, 2019). Both cities acknowledge the importance of the proximity of Amsterdam (Gemeente Lelystad, 2011). However, Lelystad is lacking behind and is not experiencing high growth levels (MRA, 2018). The municipality acknowledges that the economy of the municipality is not very resilient and needs to acquire an economic identity (Gemeente Lelystad, 2011). Many inhabitants of Almere-Lelystad work in the MRA and especially in Amsterdam. Economically, the region is very connected to Amsterdam. The region itself has a gross regional product of 6,5% and is mainly dependent on other business services, wholesale and governmental services.

IJmond and the number of inhabitants per municipality in 2018

The IJmond region is located north-east from Amsterdam, next to the sea. The sea is an important aspect of the region and this has resulted in a large industrial sector. Velsen derives its origin from the harbour and the industry that needs to be close to the sea. Harbour workers and fishermen settled down in Velsen and towns like IJmuiden came to exist (PC, 2019). One of the largest steel factories of Europe, Tatasteel, is located in the region. The factory is spread out over all the coastal municipalities of the IJmond region (Tatasteel, 2019). These municipalities work together in a cooperation platform. These municipalities are intertwined economically and therefore work together strongly. The gross regional product of the region is 4,4% and this is strongly dependent on Tatasteel. Apart from Tatasteel, the economy of IJmond is quite small. Many inhabitants of the region are therefore dependent on work in the rest of the MRA. The activities in the seaside area are strongly linked to Amsterdam because the harbour activities need the proximity of Amsterdam (Gemeente Velsen, 2015).

Zuid-Kennermerland and the number of inhabitants per municipality in 2018

The Zuid-Kennermerland region has over 220.000 inhabitants. Haarlem is its central city that also has an important regional administrative function because it is the capital of the province of North-Holland. Haarlem also has an historical and creative character and it attracts a relatively large number of tourists. With a gross regional product of 4,8%, the region mainly has a residential function. The dominant economic sectors are those that are focussed on the local population. Each day, 73.000 people go elsewhere in the MRA and the Netherlands for work. There is a high living-working relation with Amsterdam and Amsterdam-Meerlanden (MRA, 2018). Haarlem argues that the relation with Amsterdam is of great importance to the city. Mainly because many inhabitants work in Amsterdam or the region, but also because it wants to profit from the tourists that visit Amsterdam (Gemeente Haarlem, 2014). The tourism industry in Zandvoort also profits from the proximity of Amsterdam. It is even marketed as ‘Amsterdam Beach’ (Gemeente Zandvoort, 2019).

Zaanstreek-Waterland and the number of inhabitants per municipality in 2018

Zaanstreek Waterland is situated North of Amsterdam. The cities and towns of Zaanstreek- Waterland are diverse. While Zaandam is highly urbanized, cities like Oostzaan and Landsmeer are very rural. The region has an industrial and agricultural history and used to be one of the most important industrial regions of Europe. Today, the region still has a relatively big industrial sector that is combined with wholesale and logistics. But with a gross regional product of 6,2%, the region does not have a primary position in the economy of the MRA anymore (MRA, 2018). The population of the region is relatively low educated compared to the other regions of the MRA. This can be linked to the industrial history of the region (Diesfeldt, 2016). In 2040, the municipality of Zaanstad wants to be grown to Amsterdam and currently separated neighbouring areas need to be connected (Gemeente Zaanstad, 2016). They need Amsterdam, but Amsterdam also needs them they argue. Amsterdam offers the region more economic possibilities, but the physical connection should be improved in some areas. The channel between Zaanstad and Amsterdam is often perceived as a large barrier (PC, 2019). The inhabitants of Purmerend often have strong ties with Amsterdam. Over 30% of the inhabitants of Purmerend have their roots in Amsterdam (Bosatlas Amsterdam, 2015). The municipality Edam-Volendam has strong ties with Amsterdam in a different manner. Many tourists that visit Amsterdam take a trip to the traditional harbour of Volendam. Therefor, it can be argued that the economy of Volendam is partially dependent on the number of tourists that visit Amsterdam.