Inholland University of Applied Sciences works with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, AMS Institute and GGD Kennemerland in the partnership Leren en Ontwikkelen, part of the Regio Deal MRA West – Beter in Balans. Across this region, many projects aim to improve the quality of life in vulnerable neighbourhoods by combining social and physical interventions — from creating greener public spaces to strengthening social cohesion and local health initiatives.
Our collaboration does not implement these interventions directly. Instead, we focus on applied action research: helping municipalities, local organisations and resident groups learn together, understand what works in their specific context, and build the skills and structures needed for long‑term collaboration. This includes facilitating monitoring, supporting reflection, and creating practical tools that enable resident‑led initiatives to measure their own impact.
Over the past year, we organised dialogue sessions in five municipalities — Haarlem, Zandvoort, Beverwijk, Velsen and Haarlemmermeer. These sessions mapped existing knowledge, surfaced local ambitions, and identified what partners need in order to strengthen their projects. The coming year, we will develop shared learning themes and follow several initiatives more closely to deepen understanding.
What makes this work distinctive is the commitment to bridging worlds: government, residents, local organisations and researchers working together — often across different languages, timeframes and organisational structures. By focusing on collaboration and context, this programme aims to support fairer, greener and more inclusive neighbourhoods, while helping partners build the confidence and capability to work in this integrated way.