Multi-level governance challenges in the Netherlands

The aim of this chapter is to investigate the role of the subnational government structure in the Netherlands paying particular attention to the subnational government reform which is taking place. This reform has two main components which are closely interconnected: a decentralisation reform and a territorial reform. These are the two sides of the same coin, as the second one is partly driven by the first one. It entails a major overhaul of the administrative tiers and their functions, with a decentralisation of additional functions to municipalities, complete elimination of the city-regions and transfer of their competences to provinces whose competences have been strengthened in recent years. The decentralisation process is combined with efforts to consolidate both the provincial and municipal governments through voluntary mergers (up-scaling) or cooperation (trans-scaling).