European City of the Year Awarded to Amersfoort in the Netherlands
The 'European City of the Year' award has been granted to the relatively small Dutch city of Amersfoort, situated in the province of Utrecht, home to approximately 160,000 people.
The winner was acknowledged for its quality of life and innovative urban planning, as reported by the award's website.
The 'European City of the Year' title is highly prestigious and was conferred by the Academy of Urbanism in London, comprising scholars, policymakers, and urban development experts.
In September, the Academy dispatched a delegation to Amersfoort to assess the city's resilience, urban planning, and governance efficiency.
Despite its small size, Amersfoort is regarded as quite advanced in terms of urban development. The city received high praise for its achievements in innovative design, heritage preservation, and high living standards. These were accomplished by limiting car usage and offering widely accessible housing.
With all these functional and ecological advantages, along with its whimsical medieval streets, beautiful canals, and vibrant squares, this award seems entirely deserved.
The winner is notably recognized for its well-preserved medieval old town and iconic city gates. It serves as a splendid alternative to the bustling Amsterdam for those seeking to enjoy the canals in a Dutch city.
When it was built in the 10th century, it was also considered the official central point of the country, clearly indicated by the tower of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe church.
John Phipps, one of the city assessors, remarked, 'Amersfoort benefits from a shared long-term vision for the city that prioritizes enhancing citizens' quality of life. Well-resourced teams for forward planning, development control, and regeneration are executing this vision through detailed policies and impressive new infrastructure, all while preserving its unique heritage and character. The welfare and happiness of all citizens are undoubtedly at the forefront, from relocations and limitations on car access to the historic city center to providing diverse and quality affordable housing.'
Other finalists in the 'European City of the Year 2023' competition included Estepona in Spain and Exeter in England.