How close are Dutch cities to becoming 15-minute cities?

As the global population grows, 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas. According to estimates by the United Nations, the share of people living in urban areas will keep soaring, reaching 68% in 2050. The Netherlands aligns with both of these trends. 

Last year, the Dutch population passed the 18 million mark, growing by one million in six years. The Netherlands is the second most densely populated country in the European Union, with 526 inhabitants per km². Dutch statistics institute CBS forecasts a steady population growth in the coming years, adding another million in 2037. How can we keep cities liveable? In the past years, the concept of the 15-minute city has gained popularity. 

What is a 15-minute city?

In this urban planning model, residents can access all the services they need within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. Revived by the scientist Carlos Moreno, this concept fosters a human-centered approach to designing cities, emphasizing greenery, bike lanes, and walkways. Paris’ mayor Anne Hidalgo has embraced this vision, and Moreno has been hired to redesign the city. 

Using the latest CBS figures for 2022, we looked into how convenient it is to live in the different parts of the Netherlands. How close do Dutch people live to hospitals, train stations, and job opportunities? The dataset shows the average distance citizens need to travel to reach services in each municipality. 

How far from a train station do you live?

Although Dutch people love to complain about their trains, the Dutch rail network is dense and one of the most convenient ways to move around the country. As shown in the map below, most Dutch people live within 10 kilometers of a train station. In a significant part of the country–such as the Randstad, Gelderland, and North Brabant–citizens live 5 kilometers away from a train station. 

By contrast, most of the inhabitants of Zealand need to cross tens of kilometres before reaching a train station. Sluis’ inhabitants need to cover the longest distance: 48.5 km. Inhabitants of the northern provinces live further away from train stations, as do those living in some of North Brabant’s western towns. 

CBS also calculated the average distance Dutch citizens need to cover to reach a major transfer station. Inhabitants of the main cities–or living nearby–are inevitably closer than those living in Zeeland, the Frisian islands, and the country's east. 

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Proximity to care centers

Parallel to traveling, another essential service is healthcare. Bigger cities offer easier access to care, with citizens living a few kilometers away from hospitals. Moreover, every Dutch citizen can find a pharmacy less than 5 kilometers away anywhere. 

At the same time, having more care options that are easily accessible can be key for people who need continuous treatment. Once again, given the higher population density, people living in the Randstad area can access many more care options. Most hospitals and outpatient clinics are located in the Rotterdam area. The provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and Zealand are the most underserved.  

Job offer 

Alongside studying, one of the main reasons why more and more people decide to live in a bigger city is work. CBS figures also show the number of jobs available within a 10 km radius for each average citizen living in Dutch municipalities. The map below shows the average number of jobs for all residents of each municipality. 

The Amsterdam area stands out for its vast range of opportunities, as Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht trail. Overall, the main cities of each province are the hotspots where there is a higher choice of finding a job. 

Utrecht, the 15-minute city winner

Out of the major Dutch cities, Utrecht embraces the philosophy behind the 15–minute city concept and takes it further. In its vision for Utrecht in 2040, the municipality aims to become a 10-minute city, as by then, it will be home to around 450,000 residents. In doing so, the city is creating new green spaces and transport hubs and strengthening public transport.

According to research conducted on data from 2019 to 2021, nearly all of the Utrecht population can reach nine basic needs—including food, health care, education, and sports—within 15 minutes by bike.

Carlos Moreno previously told the DW that the whole idea behind his urban planning is to create "polycentric cities" to counteract the gentrification and segmentation phenomena many urban areas experience. Given its idea to add more greenery and water to the urban landscape,  the model can improve the climate resilience of cities, keeping them liveable even in the hottest months. As cities grow, and suffer from the urban heat island effect, that is certainly a pro of this concept. 

As Utrecht leads the way, will more Dutch follow on? 

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