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How the City of Breda created a broadly supported Vision for Public Space 2040

To develop a vision for Breda’s public space in 2040, the City of Breda chose a different approach. Instead of starting from existing policies, systems, and data, the process began with everyday life and the real needs of residents. Because when you understand what truly matters to people, you make choices that last.

The process

Breda is growing. And as the city grows, so does the pressure on public space.

Breda is growing. And as the city grows, so does the pressure on public space. More residents, more demands, less space. How do you make decisions that do justice to all these different needs? And how do you create a vision for 2040 in which people feel seen and heard? That journey did not begin with policy, but with people.
What remained unseen?

Breda faces major spatial challenges. The city is expanding, but the available space is not. How do you develop a future vision that truly reflects the needs of residents in Breda and the surrounding villages, each with their own priorities? And how do you ensure broad support for a new vision?

This is where we came in: uncovering the deeper, often invisible needs that do not appear in existing data.

How did we approach this?

Nearly 4,000 residents, from all ages, backgrounds and neighbourhoods, described their ideal public space in their own words. What matters to them? What should be preserved? And what should change? We collected authentic, personal stories not just statistics or abstract numbers.

What did we uncover?

The result was a wealth of insights that went far beyond practical and functional issues such as broken streetlights, weeds or uneven pavements.

What emerged instead was a strong desire for places where children can grow up safely, where people of all ages can meet in their own way. Green, calm and easy to navigate while preserving the city’s historic character, which fosters pride and a sense of connection.

Creating movement

This approach shows that policymaking can be done differently: faster, grounded in deep insight, and with greater impact. The stories of nearly 4,000 residents formed a solid foundation for the vision: visible, credible and widely supported. That provided confidence in decision-making and made complex choices easier.

Instead of endless debates about numbers, the stories persuaded through their depth and authenticity. In this way, the Vision for 2040 became not just a policy document, but a guiding narrative in which residents can truly recognise themselves.

Aligning policy with everyday reality

New technology makes resident experience insightful

Many residents remain unseen. This whitepaper shows how to make their experiences and needs visible in a simple way and how to truly include their voices in your decisions. This is how you create policy that reflects real life.
Concise and impactful research
Insight into needs and emotions
Engagement and participation
Policy based on real stories
Download white paper
Download white paper
“I really enjoy working with Forum. The research helped us move forward in developing our vision for public space. The reports were very clear, visually strong and easy to read. The communication throughout the process was very pleasant.”
Municipality of Breda
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