Delta Urbanism and Maritime Cities: Dutch Experiences and Insights
TAI Yuting, Han MEYER, WANG Shifu, LIU Zheng
Abstract：
As a renowned scholar focused on port research and a pioneer and practitioner of Delta Urbanism, Professor Han Meyer has led the Delta Urbanism research group—rooted in Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands—to study urban development patterns in coastal and delta regions around the world. Delta Urbanism emphasizes the interaction between distinctive natural environments and socio-economic activities, with particular attention to the roles of water bodies, soil, and ecosystems in urban development. This theory advocates for an interdisciplinary research approach that integrates engineering, planning, design, and scientific governance to achieve a dynamic balance between ecological, economic, and social outcomes. Based on interviews with Professor Meyer, this paper explores the theoretical framework of Delta Urbanism and its application in guiding the transformation of port cities into maritime cities. It analyzes Rotterdam’s successful experiences in addressing climate change and water management, and discusses the implications of the Dutch experience for the development of modern maritime cities in China. Drawing on the development practices of Dutch port cities, Chinese maritime cities should seek a balance between economic growth and ecological protection, highlighting the importance of sediment management and eco-hydraulic engineering to achieve sustainable development. In the face of complex port-city relationships and natural dynamics, regional design can serve as a strategic planning tool to address future uncertainties related to climate change and socio-economic development.