Hilde Bloemers wint NTs-scriptieprijs 2025
On Saturday 22 November, the Dutch Garden Foundation (NTs) presented its thesis prize for the second time during a festive gathering in Het Park in Rotterdam.
Hilde Bloemers, who graduated with a master’s degree in Architectural History from VU University Amsterdam, was announced as the winner with her thesis Ontworpen spontaniteit (Designed Spontaneity). A study of the approach to ecology in the practice of Dutch landscape design in urban areas in the 1970s and 1980s. The jury was enthusiastic about the interesting angle and readability of the thesis. Bloemers’ narrative is beautifully rounded and she has emphatically included the all-important human dimension. Moreover, the thesis contributes to the current discussion on Post 65 heritage, in which the NTs is also involved.
The prize consists of a sum of £1,500 to be spent as the winner sees fit. The winner will also be interviewed for Tuinjournaal, the NTs’ magazine for friends.
About the NTs
Under the motto “Green history, green future”, the Dutch Garden Foundation (NTs) has been promoting the interests of Dutch garden culture in gardens, parks, public green spaces and landscapes since 1980. Its aim is to make people aware of the special values of green heritage and to help preserve, protect and develop it.
About the NTs thesis prize
In 2022, the NTs took the initiative to award a biennial prize to the best thesis in its field of work: the preservation and future of green heritage in the Netherlands. This includes gardens, parks, public green spaces and cultural landscapes that are of cultural-historical value and social significance. For example, due to their architecture, design, layout or planting, their location or ensemble value in conjunction with other objects, such as buildings.
This results in a richly varied palette of topics. For example, several other theses submitted for the NTs Thesis Prize 2025 dealt with the criteria for determining the monumental value of trees, the connection and future-proofing of the landscape and the walking network at the Oostvaardersplassen, and the balance between nature and burial functions at Dutch natural burial grounds. Research theses and design studies at both university and higher professional education level are eligible for the prize.
The jury for the NTs Thesis Award 2025 consisted of: Johan Carel Bierens de Haan (former chair of the Cascade Garden History Society, among other things), Joost Emmerik (garden and landscape architect and head of the Master’s programme in Landscape Architecture at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture), Heilien Tonckens (green designer, garden and landscape consultant), Anne Wolff (lecturer in Garden History and Designed Landscape History and project leader at the Landscape Knowledge Centre at the University of Groningen) and Willemijn ter Hart-Koopal (head of the NVTL agency and winner of the previous edition of the NTs Thesis Award).
More information, including the winning thesis and the rules, can be found on the NTs website.
