Gentrification as a governmental strategy: social control and social cohesion in Hoogvliet, Rotterdam.

In the Netherlands the state actors and housing associations ambitiously pursue a project of state led gentrification in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The state induces housing associations and seduces private developers to invest in the construction of middleclass, owner-occupied housing in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods with many low-cost social rented dwellings.  Even though Dutch housing policy is subject to constant revision, it is clear that, over the next two decades, hundreds of neighborhoods will experience such restructuring. First of all, this means that the share of social rented housing in the neighborhoods designated for restructuring will decline from around 62% in the year 2000 to 45% in the year 2010.

The national and local state agencies together with housing associations are responsible for urban restructuring that aims to improve the economic appeal as well as the livability of designated neighborhoods and a policy should be livable neighborhood refers to a balanced neighborhood with a low level of crime and a sizeable share of middleclass households.