Burgerspeelt

Burgerspeelt is a term used in Dutch-language discourse to describe a method of civic engagement that uses playful, participatory techniques to involve residents in urban decision-making and community projects. The word combines burger (citizen) and speelt (plays). The concept is informal and lacks a single formal definition, varying by project and organization.

Origins and usage: The term appears in local government pilots, NGO programs, and design consultancy materials from the late 2010s onward, particularly in the Netherlands and Flanders. It is often framed as a way to soften formal consultations, encourage broad participation, and surface tacit local knowledge through play.

Approach and methods: Common activities include design games, co-creation workshops, cardboard prototyping, pop-up installations, temporary street experiments, and storytelling. Facilitators guide participants through playful exercises to elicit preferences, values, and concerns; outcomes can be physical artifacts, maps, or concept notes used to inform policy or planning.

Impact and outcomes: Burgerspeelt aims to increase resident ownership of urban projects, broaden participation beyond traditional stakeholders, and test ideas in low-risk environments before formal approval. It can lead to new insights and more acceptable designs, but effects depend on facilitation quality and institutional support.

Criticism and challenges: Not all projects scale, there is a risk of tokenism or exclusion of marginalized groups, and it requires time and resources. Projects must align with safety, legal, and procurement frameworks.

See also: Participatory planning, co-creation, urban play, design thinking, citizen science.