Wijkgericht

Wijkgericht is a Dutch term meaning neighborhood-oriented or district-focused. In policy and practice, wijkgericht describes an approach in which the planning, delivery of services, and decision-making are anchored in the characteristics and needs of specific neighborhoods rather than in the city as a whole.

The approach is used across sectors such as urban planning, housing, public health, safety, education and social care. Core elements include place-based analysis of local conditions, co-creation with residents and local organizations, integrated services, and governance arrangements that empower local partnerships to plan and implement interventions. Budgets, staffing and indicators are often organized at the wijk level to ensure attention to local priorities.

Implementation often involves collaboration among municipalities, housing associations, care providers, schools, and residents associations. It may use neighborhood profiles, local coalitions, and pilot projects to test interventions, with monitoring and evaluation at the wijk level to adapt strategies.

Benefits include increased relevance, better alignment with local needs, and stronger social cohesion. Challenges include coordination across sectors, boundary issues when neighborhoods are not neatly delimited, risk of unequal attention between wards, and complexity in measuring impact.

See also: gebiedsgericht werken, place-based policy, community development.