Board of Advisors discusses NVTL’s direction for 2026–2027
On 20 November, the NVTL Advisory Board met at Karres en Brands in Hilversum. Twenty representatives from agencies, government bodies, educational institutions and various specialists from the field exchanged insights on the state of the profession and the association’s course for 2026-2027.
After a welcome by Lieneke van Campen, chairman Joeri de Bekker opened the meeting with a round of introductions, in which all those present shared what they are proud of and what their concerns are. It became clear that the social relevance of landscape architecture is widely felt and that the position of the profession is growing stronger, both nationally and internationally. At the same time, it was pointed out that design decisions are still too often made by policy makers without design expertise, leading to problems. Issues such as the wages of junior staff, the lack of a collective labour agreement, the wide variation between offices, the role of municipalities and the difficulties surrounding commissioning were also discussed.
Several participants pointed out the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the involvement of international knowledge. Others emphasised the growing complexity of social issues, which require designers who can provide direction and a better integration of urban planning, architecture, technology, policy, management and maintenance. In addition, the accessibility of archives, the importance of internships for students, the pressure on education programmes due to demographic decline and the need to give students a realistic picture of the professional field were discussed.
During the announcements, it was reported that the book Een Vereniging van Tuinkunstenaars (An Association of Garden Artists), about the founders of the BNT, has been published and has been enthusiastically received. The upcoming changes in chairmanship were announced: Joeri de Bekker has begun his final term as chair of the NVTL this spring, Stijn van de Ven will become a board member for Professional Development next year, and Mellanie Righard will take over as chair of Young NVTL in 2026. The association is also looking for new board members, including one for the education portfolio.
The main topic of discussion during the evening revolved around the course for 2026–2027, during which possible themes were discussed that will be used to guide activities. The emancipation of the profession was recognised as necessary in terms of content, but was not considered suitable as a theme. Community was a recurring keyword that, according to those present, ties in with current challenges such as area-based working, participation, strengthening resilience and inclusivity, and the role of landscape architects as connectors in complex spatial processes with professionals from other disciplines.
When asked about the needs of participants in which the NVTL could play a role, current issues emerged, such as the updated DNR2025, the importance of copyright and licences, more attention to entrepreneurship, and the need to highlight this in NVTL activities. There is a need for another survey on market-based rates. Attention was also drawn to the spatial integration of transformer stations and other structures, the brown network, good competitions and the role of designers in area processes. Attention to better links between designers, clients and implementation services is desired. Furthermore, attention was drawn to the NVTL’s Tender Desk, where members can obtain advice on legal questions about tenders within 24 hours.
In the coming period, the NVTL will be involved in various consultations, including the Spatial Planning Policy Document and Room for the River 2.0, and is collaborating on guidelines for designers on machine and mechanical paving. Several activities are already planned for 2026, such as the New Year’s reception at NDSM, the NVTL Awards, the Dag van de Ontwerpkracht (Design Power Day) in collaboration with Platform Ontwerp NL, the Landschapstriënnale (Landscape Triennial) from 10 to 20 September in Arnhem and the ECLAS conference organised by DSL at Delft University of Technology from 16 to 19 September. Other activities will be tailored to the theme to be chosen.
The advisory board meeting identified clear areas of focus on which we as an association can take action. It was emphasised that a theme requires a sharp strategy and a convincing narrative with which the NVTL can strengthen the position of the profession and make it more visible to clients, policymakers, residents and other stakeholders.
