The Blind Spot in Our Public Space

“We tend to think public space is neutral,” James says, “but it isn’t. The design is often not equitable.” James began asking herself why people in Southern European cities relax and hang out in public squares, while the same behaviour- think of the term hangjongeren (“loitering youth”)—carries a negative connotation in the Netherlands. What stood out to her most was who wasn’t hanging out: teenage girls. Through her own research, James concluded that girls often feel these spaces aren’t meant for them. This insight led to her graduation project, in which she created a new design for the then-problematic Sumatraplantsoen in Amsterdam. Later, she and her students designed a “safe space” on Reguliersbreestraat.

Time for Systemic Change

Since her research, Blinde Vlek (Blind Spot, 2020), some progress has been made in the Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam. The proposal Gastvrije Openbare Ruimte (Hospitable Public Space) was adopted there, requiring explicit consideration of the “female scale” in the design of public spaces. Pilots have begun for various squares, and a review team now assesses whether plans are inclusive enough.

“But these kinds of initiatives are still fragmented,” James says. “What we need is systemic change. Inclusive design must be anchored in policy. Lived experience is very different from what the statistics show.”

The Role of Design Choices

According to James, design choices have a direct impact on which groups feel welcome. A square filled with kiosks and terraces may be attractive, but if those spaces are only for paying customers, a portion of residents is implicitly excluded. An alternative is furniture that everyone can use—or even move—so people can shape the space to their needs. In Paris, for example, in the Luxembourg Gardens, this is already possible. Barbecue areas or shared facilities can also encourage social encounters, provided they remain accessible to non-dominant groups.

Examples From Abroad

In James’s view, the Netherlands still lacks inspiring examples. “We’re lagging behind. We often think we’re progressive, but in reality, we’re quite conservative.”

A few examples James highlights from other countries:

• Vienna has a Frauenbüro (“Women’s Office”) that systematically evaluates equality in public space, sometimes at the scale of entire neighborhoods.
• Umeå, Sweden, implements a policy based on differences in usage. For instance, sidewalks are cleared of snow first, because women use them more frequently and therefore face a disproportionately higher risk of injuries.
• Paris and Barcelona, both led by female mayors, have established guidelines to make public spaces more inclusive, with an emphasis on lighting, social safety, and the diversity of use.
  
  

Tips for Municipalities

Investigations by organizations such as Pointer show that many women feel uncomfortable in public space—not just in major cities but in smaller municipalities as well. James emphasizes that transitional areas—those between city centers and suburbs—often receive insufficient attention. “Many young people live in these areas, but their experiences aren’t adequately reflected in design and policy.”

For municipalities wanting to make their public spaces more inclusive and safer, James offers several recommendations:

Embed inclusivity in policy
Make attention to gender and diversity a permanent part of spatial policy documents and design criteria. This prevents efforts from remaining isolated, allowing pilots to collaborate.

Engage the right voices
Go out into the streets with women, teenage girls, and older adults. Ask about their experiences and use those insights as the starting point. Statistics are valuable, but they don’t tell the whole story.

Design for the invisible groups
A space that is welcoming to teenage girls or older adults naturally becomes more accessible to a broader audience. This prevents exclusion and strengthens social cohesion.

Keep spaces flexible
Think of movable furniture, accessible gathering spots, or amenities everyone can use. This gives residents a sense of ownership over the space.

Learn from international examples
Study cities that have structurally implemented inclusive design principles. Vienna and Umeå demonstrate that it can be done; Paris and Barcelona show how crucial political choices are in the process.

Hospitable Public Space

Public space is where residents meet, relax, and move through their communities. Municipalities that invest in this are not only improving livability but also building social equity. “It’s about making sure everyone feels seen and welcome,” James says. “You don’t achieve that through accidental good decisions, but through policies and designs that are consciously inclusive.”

The challenge for Dutch municipalities is clear: turn isolated initiatives into a coherent, long-term strategy. Because a hospitable public space for women ultimately becomes a hospitable public space for everyone.

More info on researcher Eva James: https://www.inholland.nl/onderzoek/personen/onderzoek-eva-james