Architecture

Four protected titles

The professional titles of architect, urban planner, interior architect, and garden and landscape architect have been protected by the Architects Title Act (WAT) since 1988. The Architects Register implements the Act and manages the official registration of architects. By setting educational requirements upon registration in the register – and also after registration – the professional competence of spatial designers is established in the register. monitoredSince 2015, in addition to a Master's degree in one of the four disciplines, successful completion of the Professional Experience Period (BEP) is also a condition for registration in the register. During the Professional Experience Period, graduate master's students over a period of two years of work experience in the chosen discipline. The introduction of the BEP aimed to bridge the gap between education and professional practice.

At the end of 2024, the Architects Register counted a total of 13.977 registrations. More than three-quarters of these are for the title of architect (Architects Register 2025). Only a small proportion (3 percent) of the registered designers are registered under more than one discipline. However, the Architects Register observes that interest in a dual title is increasing, as a result of the increased interdisciplinarity within the field.

In 2024, a total of 475 designers were newly registered. Due to 458 deregistrations and a number of corrections, the total number of registered individuals increased by 1 registration compared to the previous year. Unlike in other disciplines, the number of deregistrations among interior architects has exceeded the number of registrations for several years, causing the number of registrations within this discipline to decrease slightly.

Development of the field of work

In the first quarter of 2026, Statistics Netherlands counted 6.840 design agencies (CBS 2026) within the SBI code for Architectural Firms and Interior Architects (SBI 7111). Over the past ten years, the number of companies grew by an average of 0,6 percent per year. Whereas one in three architectural firms had two or more employees in 2010, this share has remained stable at around 21 percent of firms over the past ten years.

As a result of the 2008 financial crisis, the labor market of the architecture sector was characterized by contraction and extensive fragmentation: a years-long decline in the number of jobs at architectural firms, coupled with a strong increase in the number of self-employed entrepreneurs without employees (CRa 2021). The vulnerability of independent architects, both in economic terms and in terms of innovative capacity, led to a shift in the (power) relations within the construction chain and the manner in which competition takes place in the market (Koetsenruijter 2018; CRa 2020).

The trend of fragmentation appears to be gradually reversing in recent years. The number of employees at architectural firms (SBI7111) increased by 29 percent over the past ten years: from 8.570 employees in 2015 to 11.080 employees in 2024 (CBS 2025). At the same time, we see a decline in the number of independent architects: from 4.980 in 2015 to 4.240 in 2024 (a decrease of 15 percent).

These developments show that the situation in the professional field appears to be steadily stabilizing. However, this does not mean that vulnerabilities within this professional group, particularly for the self-employed, have decreased. Nearly two out of ten workers at architectural firms are still self-employed entrepreneurs, whereas in 2010 this was approximately a quarter (CBS 2025). 

The development of companies and workers in the disciplines of Urban Planning and Garden and Landscape Architecture is more difficult to map, because firms with these disciplines as their main activity fall under the broader sector of Engineers (SBI 7112). Figures from Statistics Netherlands (2023) show that in 2021 this concerned three out of ten registered urban planners (30 percent) and 43 percent of registered garden and landscape architects. A significant proportion of these professional groups work for municipalities or other government bodies: 42 percent of urban planners and 33 percent of garden and landscape architects. For reference: 7 percent of structural architects and 3 percent of interior architects worked for the government in 2021. Additionally, interior architects work relatively often in retail (17 percent) and education (13 percent).

This affects the level of the average hourly wage per discipline. Urban planners and garden and landscape architects earn the highest average hourly wage (36 euros per hour). This may be due to better employment conditions within the public sector. The hourly wage for interior architects is significantly lower (27 euros per hour), while the hourly wage for architects falls in between (31 euros per hour). In most cases, this latter group falls under the Collective Labour Agreement for Architectural Firms.

In 2025, Statistics Netherlands will have a renewed layout a classification of sectors has been introduced. In this classification, the disciplines of Urban Planning and Garden and Landscape Architecture are grouped together with architectural design under a single SBI code (SBI71111). The activities of interior architects retain their own category in the new classification (SBI71112), as do interior designers (SBI74130). The new figures will therefore provide broader information, particularly regarding architects, urban planners, and garden and landscape architects.

Parties in the field

Within each of the disciplines within spatial design, there is a union or professional association active: the Royal Association of Dutch Architectural Firms (BNA), Professional Association of Dutch Urban Planners and Spatial Planners ( )BNSP), Professional Association of Dutch Interior Architects ( )BNI) and the Dutch Association for Garden and Landscape Architecture (NVTL). The professional associations advocate for the interests of the field and safeguard the quality of the profession. In addition, they promote collaboration among their members and support firms with knowledge and information. For example, the BNA opened a Legal and Procurement Desk for members in 2025 (BNA 2025). The NVTL introduced a similar option for its members in 2025 (NVTL 2025). The BNA and the professional associations collaborate within the connection van Platform Design NL to put the importance of design and design research on the agenda and to promote discussion about the spatial quality of the Netherlands.

The Foundation Fund for Architectural Firms (SFAThe BNA supports employees of architectural firms with terms of employment, pension, and working conditions. Architectural firms affiliated with the BNA are automatically covered by the Collective Labour Agreement for Architectural Firms; for employers affiliated with professional associations (BNSP, BNI, and NVTL), it is customary to follow this CLA, but it is not mandatory. The BNA is the only union with a formal position in the negotiations regarding the CLA, as a representative of the employers.

Policy regarding architecture and spatial design is shaped by the Ministries of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) and Education, Culture and Science (OCW). The frameworks for spatial policy in the Netherlands are laid down in the Draft Spatial Planning Memorandum 2050, containing the National Spatial Planning Vision. With this spatial planning vision, the central government is taking control of spatial developments in the Netherlands to a greater extent than in recent years (Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, 2025).

An important partner in shaping spatial policy in the Netherlands is the Executive Council of the Government and Government Advisors (CRa). The CRa operates from the Studio of the Chief Government Architect and Government Advisors and consists of Chief Government Architect Francesco Veenstra (2021-present, architect), Government Advisor for the Physical Living Environment Noël van Dooren (2025-present, landscape architect), and Government Advisor for the Physical Living Environment Thijs van Spaandonk (2025-present, urban planning). The CRa operates from an independent position and advises the Central Government, both solicited and unsolicited, on issues relating to spatial quality, but is also responsible for selecting architects for assignments from the Central Government (CRa 2025a).

In the calendar Shared Land For 2025-2029, the CRa emphasizes that the Netherlands faces many challenges that place demands on space. For instance, the CRa is developing a vision on, among other things, housing and resident resilience, land, nature and nature-inclusive thinking, energy and food supply, mobility and the economy of the future, and the expanding deployment of defence (CRa 2025b).

At the regional and local levels, designers are also increasingly being appointed as advisors to promote the quality of spatial developments and to strengthen knowledge regarding the creation of high-quality living environments. For instance, more and more cities have a (city) master builder, and provinces are appointing a PARK (provincial advisor on spatial quality). These officials with a design background can oversee the various spatial developments and safeguard integral quality. For this reason, in 2021 – alongside the city master builder – the Municipality of Groningen appointed architect Dianne Maas as Master Builder for Reinforcement, who focuses on challenges in the reinforcement area (within the Municipality of Groningen). In 2023, the National Coordinator Groningen (NCG) appointed Enno Zuidema as Regional Master Builder.

The program Creative Industries Fund NL is the national cultural fund for design, architecture, and digital culture. The fund gives professionals within these disciplines space to experiment, research, and create in order to enhance the quality of design practice, strengthen the sector as a whole, and connect design languages ​​to other disciplines and sectors (Stimuleringsfonds zd). Via two arrangements Within the Architecture programme line, the stimulus fund focuses on supporting the development of individual architectural practices on the one hand, while on the other hand, it regularly stimulates innovations through thematic Open Calls. In addition to being the national museum for architecture, design, and digital culture, Het Nieuwe Instituut is also an agency focused on collaboration and knowledge exchange at local, national, and international levels. Het Nieuwe Instituut also issues calls to architects, such as the Open Call: Exchange in Practice 2026 in which architects address the existing system and regulations (Het Nieuwe Instituut, n.d.). The Stimuleringsfonds and Het Nieuwe Instituut organize the Prix de Rome Architecture once every four years: this identifies promising talent in architecture, supports designers in their professional development, and fuels the debate on the role of architecture in society (Stimuleringsfonds 2026).

Work is also being done at the local and regional levels on the CoLA Foundation (Coordination of Local Architecture Initiatives) is a network organization uniting more than forty local and regional architecture centers and initiatives. Through these centers, dialogue regarding spatial challenges is organized close to residents and communities. These insights at the local level are linked by CoLA to national spatial agendas. In addition, CoLA coordinates the annual Day of Architecture, thereby increasing the visibility of and engagement with Dutch architecture and urban planning (CoLA nd).

Turnover and diversity of working methods 

Based on a survey of BNA members, the association estimates the total turnover of architectural firms at 1.055 million euros in 2022 (Panteia 2023). This is based on an average turnover per firm of 502.000 euros per year. The largest share of the turnover came from residential construction (48 percent), followed by commissions for offices (12 percent), healthcare (9 percent), and other projects (9 percent). Larger firms show a more varied portfolio of assignments, while smaller firms focus primarily on residential projects.

Spatial design challenges in the Netherlands occur at every scale: from renovations to buildings, from urban planning schemes for residential areas to regional landscape designs. There are many different clients involved: private individuals, project developers, housing associations, municipalities, construction companies, and consortiums. For instance, project developers sometimes incorporate corporate assignments into their developments, and some architects develop projects themselves. Thus, the design sector is characterized by a great diversity of working methods. Research by the BNA shows that the majority of clients for architectural firms in 2022 were private individuals (29 percent), followed by project developers (19 percent) and companies (18 percent). Of all commissions, over three-quarters (76 percent) were not obtained through competition (Panteia 2023).

Assignments can be awarded directly, with or without the help of a consultancy firm, or via a design competition or tender. The range of tasks varies per assignment: from design research and design advice (for example in the case of building maintenance) to the design of (parts of) a building to a total design and projects that also include construction, financing, operation and maintenance.

Often a separation is made between the design and the technical elaboration/realization of a project. Although design assignments do not follow a fixed pattern, it works  The New Regulation (DNR) – a standard contract form with task descriptions – is indeed disciplinary. This contract form has been applied to the majority of projects since 2008, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of revenue (Panteia 2023)
 Due to uncertainties in the market, the exact tasks included in the design assignment are often left open.

Urban and landscape design commissions are usually commissioned by public clients and generally have a much longer duration than architectural projects. Larger government projects are often handled via European tenders, so-called tenders.

Tender culture and framework agreements

One goal of tenders is to stimulate competition among design firms and to give parties an equal opportunity to acquire commissions. Additionally, this selection process allows the client to obtain a competitive price. There are design firms that successfully secure commissions in this way, but there is also criticism from within the sector (Hannema 2023; Teerds 2024; Architectuur Lokaal 2016). This criticism primarily concerns the formulation of the design brief; consultancy firms are often involved in this process, but not always a spatial expert. This complicates the pursuit of spatial quality, including when evaluating submissions; the evaluation committee typically does not include a designer (Schaatsbergen 2025).

The regulations governing tenders do not permit changes to the assignment description. If designers see an opportunity to achieve additional quality by reformulating the task, they are still disqualified. Consequently, overly strict descriptions of the assignment lead to a restriction of creativity (Thomas 2024a).

Another point of criticism concerns the fees in tenders. These are (too) low and disproportionate to the required investments that can be gained from them (CRa 2020). BNA board member Jan Peter Wingender calculated in 2024 that the average tendered design assignment in the Netherlands amounts to around 160.000 euros, and that a design firm easily spends 40.000 euros on a submission (Architectenweb 2024). After an initial selection round, five firms compete; one wins the assignment, while four retain the incurred costs on their balance sheets. This can lead to financially unhealthy business operations and deters firms from participating in tenders (CRa 2020).

There is a significant difference between small and large design firms regarding their participation in selection procedures for design assignments (Koetsenruijter 2018; Panteia 2023). This stems from the tender culture, where strict requirements are typically imposed regarding references and turnover. A designer must have previously designed a specific type of building to be considered for the assignment. As a result, specialized firms emerge that consistently secure certain assignments, while smaller firms are excluded. This means that emerging firms, in particular, do not get a chance to enter the market through tenders.

Framework agreements also play a major role for urban planning and landscape architecture firms. Under these agreements, government bodies (particularly municipalities) make arrangements with a number of firms regarding the awarding of contracts for the coming years. For each project, the selected firms are subsequently asked to submit a plan. However, discussions with the field reveal that, within these agreements, the lowest price can still invariably be chosen, causing the quality criteria on which the firms were selected to fade into the background. Consequently, such an agreement is no guarantee of fair competition.

Good client management and development Open Call

Much depends on the client role and the knowledge possessed by clients to ensure the right conditions for a good design process. In 1993, Stichting Architectuur Lokaal was established to stimulate good client management through providing information to clients and assisting in organizing design competitions (Architectuur Lokaal 2019; Schipper 2023). Because the foundation ceased operations in 2023, a void has been created. The College of National Advisors will start in 2026, following the example of the Flemish Open Call an Open Call (OO) pilot project in which public clients are assisted by the Atelier Rijksbouwmeester in recruiting, selecting, and awarding commissions to spatial designers. In this way, the Atelier Rijksbouwmeester can leverage its expertise to promote good client management among other government bodies and give designers with less experience in public commissions a fairer chance.
(CRa 2025c).

The Open Call aims to level the playing field for design agencies with varying levels of experience and to place design quality at the center of the relationship between clients and designers. There are also examples of Open Calls in the Netherlands. For instance, the Stimuleringsfonds allowed, via the Open Call for Collective Knowledge Development in Architecture Individual designers and small agencies (up to 5 employees) join forces to collectivize knowledge and expertise in the field of societal issues. In 2024, an Open Call was issued for – self-initiated – projects, in which agencies collaborate by subject. In this way, 10 collaborations were supported (Stimuleringsfonds, 2025).

Another example is the work of the Mevrouw Meijer Foundation. They support clients in the education sector with the renovation of school buildings using design research. For this purpose, designers are invited who have not previously built a school. In this way, new firms—with a fresh perspective on school construction—are given the opportunity to enter the school building market (Hannema, 2024).

In 2025, the Atelier Rijksbouwmeester invited firms from all design disciplines interested in government commissions to register for the Architectenindex. For modest government contracts this index can be used to make a good match between design agencies and client (CRa, 2025d).

Societal challenges and design research

The major challenges facing the Netherlands – housing construction, nitrogen problems, climate adaptation, soil quality – have a direct relationship with the organization of the – scarce – space, and place heavy demands on the expertise of designers. At the same time, the accumulation of spatial issues places increasing pressure on designers; they must find combined solutions and commit more to safeguarding environmental quality. To solve spatial issues with a view to the long term, the College of Government Advisors (CRa) is the program Future workshopNL2100 started. Through design and design research, possible future scenarios are mapped out, as well as the factors influencing them. The CRa does this in collaboration with a broad selection of experts and stakeholders. According to research by the Design Innovation Group (Design Innovation Group 2022), design research should become a fixed component of the design brief. Additionally, there should be a learning program for clients, more knowledge sharing, and extra attention to reflection within the design process.

Ambitions regarding the strengthening of spatial design and, increasingly, design research are set out in the Spatial Design Action Program (ARO). The current program (2026-2028) focuses on strengthening the spatial design field and increasing the use of design research in addressing the major spatial challenges facing the Netherlands. Specific attention is paid to translating large-scale developments into the local and regional context, and a bridge is built between designers, governments, clients, and citizens (Keijzer & Moes 2025).

The Stimuleringsfonds is one of the implementation partners of the ARO and promotes the use of spatial design in addressing the complex spatial challenges and transitions facing the Netherlands. It does this through, among other things, Open Calls and flanking activities. For instance, in the past period, the fund invited designers to work on projects related to sustainable and inclusive housing (Working differently on housing), agricultural and energy transition (Beautiful production landscapes), soil and water quality in urbanization (Building from the ground up), mobility for the benefit of broad prosperity (Paths to well-being), just transitions (Space for justice) and spatial challenges in border areas (Beyond borders).

There are many differences in the way local government shapes design tasks. Firstly, because the nature of the task differs per municipality: from densification and greening in cities to the sustainability of agriculture in rural areas and the reinforcement task in the Groningen earthquake area. Secondly, because municipalities set different requirements with regard to sustainability, architectural quality and construction costs. Political choices and personal commitment of administrators, project leaders and city/village architects play an important role in this.

The ARO focuses on widely disseminating good examples regarding the application of design research to spatial challenges at the local and regional levels (Keijzer & Moes 2025). This is done, among others, by the CoLA Foundation (Coordination of Local Architecture Initiatives), which works through five regional networks on spatial challenges relevant to those regions. In doing so, collaboration between designers, policymakers, and citizens takes place through design research. In this way, local knowledge regarding design research is collected, interpreted, and translated into application within the broad field of spatial design (CoLA 2026).

Architectural culture and the importance of recognition

Although the Netherlands faces major spatial challenges, designers are not automatically involved; their added value is not evident to all clients. More knowledge about the work of designers is therefore important. Appreciation for design is latently present; everyone encounters design in their immediate living environment, and many people value their home, neighborhood, and city (Platform Ontwerp NL 2024). However, few realize that designers are involved in this process.

In 2024, the partnership is Architecture Everywhere founded to the connection between architecture, society and to strengthen politicallyIn a time of major spatial challenges, a strong architectural culture is essential to achieve results expeditiously while maintaining the quality of the living environment. This initiative by Het Nieuwe Instituut joins forces with existing architectural initiatives such as the BNA, the CoLA Foundation, the Stimuleringsfonds, the International Architecture Biennial Rotterdam, the Deltametropool Association, and the magazine VOLUME. Together, the organizations aim to work towards greater mutual coordination and highlight the importance of architecture in new developments (Het Nieuwe Instituut 2024). The initiative also focuses on strengthening local architecture centers and events. Approximately 40 initiatives have united within the CoLA Foundation. They stimulate local dialogue between designers, government authorities, and citizens regarding the quality of the living environment. Moreover, these initiatives are essential to highlight and celebrate the cultural value of architecture and spatial design.

Moreover, greater appreciation and recognition for the profession leads to a stronger position for architects, urban planners, and other spatial designers, thereby increasing the chances of negotiating better commission terms.

Even when it comes to the demolition of buildings, the architectural value is often not recognized. By making people aware of this and involving them in their immediate surroundings, greater appreciation for the work of designers can be generated. An example is the brochure. The Spotlight on Schools which the Mevrouw Meijer Foundation produced together with heritage association Heemschut, about demolished post-war schools (Heemschut 2024). A challenge for the design sector is to make clear to people outside the industry—without resorting to jargon—what it does and how that is relevant to the everyday living environment. Events such as Open Monument Days offer the opportunity to inform and inspire laypeople. This is also important for the preservation of young heritage (built after 1965). Many of these buildings face demolition, partly because their appreciation is limited.

Due to urban densification and the sustainability of neighborhoods, residents are increasingly confronted with construction projects in their immediate vicinity. This frequently elicits resistance, which delays or hinders projects. By involving residents in the planning process at an early stage, shared support can be created. It offers designers the opportunity to utilize the knowledge, skills, and stories of residents in the design, ensuring the design better aligns with local residents' needs and the project enjoys greater support. environmental code which was introduced in 2024, appoints participation as a fixed component of construction projects by government organizations. This also requires extra efforts from spatial designers, both in communicating with citizens and in combining different wishes and interests in the design.

A more sustainable living environment

When making the living environment more sustainable, regulations such as MPG (Environmental Performance of Buildings) and BENG (Nearly Zero Energy Buildings) play a crucial role; this forces construction parties to take measurable measures in the field of sustainability. Although the rules are being tightened further and further, research shows that with current calculation methods, the climate targets of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement will not be met (Copper8 et al. 2024). This is partly because the calculations focus on CO₂²-emissions during the use phase of the building, while the CO² released during the production of building materials is not taken into account. There is still much work to be done for government and clients to set stricter requirements in this area in contracts.

Partly because the material-related CO2 emissions are now not or hardly included in sustainability calculations, demolition-new construction is emerging as a more sustainable option than renovation. However, the demolition of buildings also costs energy, and a lot of fine dust, waste and CO² at free. Partly due to research by architectural firms into Carbon-based design, awareness of this is growing (Raaij 2023). Stichting Mevrouw Meijer also plays a role in this development, which published the book 'Better than Demolition' (2025) was written, commissioned by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (Mevrouw Meijer Foundation 2024). The book demonstrates how choosing reuse over demolition can make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions from construction. It also includes a calculation method to compare demolition and new construction with renovation, in which material-related CO2 is taken into account. Using example projects, it is shown that renovation leads to both lower CO2 emissions and lower construction costs.

The international HouseEurope Foundation!, founded by an international group of architects, is campaigning for new EU legislation that will require builders to include material-related CO2 emissions in sustainability calculations and will reduce VAT on renovation and reused materials.

Changing role of spatial designers

From the establishment of housing cooperatives to the sustainability of agriculture, from healthcare issues to climate adaptation; many societal issues have a spatial component or impact. Consequently, the role spatial designers play in solving socio-societal issues is becoming increasingly broad, and the need for knowledge beyond their own expertise is growing, particularly in the fields of ecology, sociology, and geriatrics. For instance, designing homes for elderly people with dementia requires insight into their living environment; consider the use of colors and daylight to help them recognize places and routes. When greening cities, there is an increasing focus on opportunities for biodiversity; this requires specific knowledge of plant and animal species.

For this reason, young designers in particular are increasingly seeking collaboration with people from other disciplines (Enneus, CRa & Architectenregister 2025). The number of participation processes or co-creation projects in which designers collaborate with local residents is also growing. As a result, the role of the spatial designer is gaining importance, also as a connector between parties.

These changing professional practices also require different skills that designers must master. In light of this, the Architects Register is having the attainment targets of the Professional Experience Period (BEP) evaluated and revised between 2025 and 2026 (Architects Register 2024; Design Innovation Group 2022).

The BEP was initially primarily aimed at architects; the program still requires better alignment with urban planners and landscape architects, and with the integrated approach often necessary in spatial challenges today. Current practice also calls for additional requirements regarding sustainability, such as knowledge of reuse, biodiversity, and bio-based construction. Among young designers who engage in social responsibility, there is a need to be better equipped to deal with administrative practice (Enneus, CRa & Architectenregister 2025). These are points of attention not only for the recalibration of the BEP but also for the revision of design degree programs. The use of design research should also be given a stronger position in this context (Design Innovation Group 2022).

Design education is an important source of innovation, for example in the fields of sustainability, digitalization, 3D printing technology, and social design. However, the knowledge that graduate designers bring to practice cannot always be applied by design firms, which often employ a specific way of working that cannot easily change. Moreover, regulations sometimes do not yet exist for new materials and building products, making clients hesitant to use them. The construction industry is considered a conservative sector, where processes are largely aimed at avoiding risks, with a preference for experienced firms and proven methods (Koetsenruijter 2018).

There are various initiatives from universities to develop knowledge and technologies together with construction companies, which can apply these in practice (Enneus, CRa & Architectenregister 2025). Selected participants in Open Calls from the Stimuleringsfonds together form a community of practice in which work is done on knowledge sharing, peer review, and strengthening design capacity. In doing so, the knowledge gained within, between, and across the projects becomes part of a collective knowledge base that has broader validity than the theme of the Open Call itself. On the platform the new space results are made public.

Since 2009, designers registered in the Architectenregister have been subject to a statutory obligation regarding continuing professional development. The primary objective is to maintain, strengthen, and/or expand knowledge, skills, and insight. This continuing professional development program is also due for revision (Architectenregister 2024). The quality of the educational offerings can be improved and should align more closely with the needs of existing practice; currently, no substantive requirements are set. Additionally, efforts are being made to provide extra information regarding the importance of continuing professional development for architects. The law does not provide for checks or sanctions; however, designers are required to inform clients about relevant expertise, including continuing professional development, when submitting a quotation.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and parametric design tools plays an increasingly important role in the development of spatial scenarios and designs. Research among BNA members shows that three-quarters of architectural firms use BIM software, 35 percent of architects use tools to visualize designs via virtual reality, and 23 percent occasionally apply parametric design tools during a project (Rutten 2021).

Slightly more than half of the firms work with AI, primarily to generate visual impressions and spatial solutions in a short time, tailored to constraints such as sunlight, building heights, and noise levels (Windesheim University of Applied Sciences 2025). In this way, AI can simplify parts of designers' work and save time that can be devoted to creative processes. Research is also being conducted into the possibilities of using AI to implement 'soft' values, such as space for meeting, in projects (Muis 2024). Because these values ​​are difficult to quantify, this has proven challenging for the time being.

Work pressure and attention to employment conditions

The broadening of the knowledge requirements and responsibilities of spatial designers within construction projects means that more is being demanded of them. At the same time, margins in the design sector are low, partly because more work is often invested in design competitions than is paid for. As a result, pressure on designers is increasing. Employees of architectural firms (SBI7111) work relatively long hours: 0,85 FTE per employee on average, compared to the average in the cultural and creative sector (0,78 FTE) or the Dutch average (0,76 FTE).

Young designers indicate that they perceive the current work culture and conditions as poor. They point to the hierarchical structures in the sector, high work pressure, and an imbalance between long working days and salary. Hourly rates are set in a generally applicable collective labor agreement for the architecture sector, meaning firms cannot directly compete with one another on labor costs. However, design firms employ interns relatively frequently: 5,8 percent of all employees at architectural firms (SBI 7111) are interns (CBS 2023). This is relatively high compared to other cultural and creative sectors (3 percent) or the Dutch average (1,5 percent). Interns regularly work without or for low internship allowances; it also occurs that recent graduates start as interns or are placed in a pay scale that is too low (Prins 2025).

Netherlands Angry Architects (NAA!) is a platform that, in collaboration with FNV, aims to improve working conditions in the sector and help designers gain more control over architecture, construction, and the design industry (Alkemade 2023). The Foundation for Architectural Firms organized the congress in 2024. Architect of your own work, about the problem of increasing work pressure. It emerged that both clients and design agencies should make efforts to alleviate this.

Representation of women in architecture

Dutch society is characterized by increasing pluralism. Cities and towns that house a diversity of people benefit from diversity in design teams that represent many voices (Boer 2021; Bedaux 2026). In practice, this is not yet the case.

Current discussions in the field of spatial design focus primarily on the unequal ratio of men and women (Hannema 2026). Of all registered designers in the Architects Register, only 30 percent were women in 2021 (CBS 2023). This is comparable to figures from 2018 (CBS 2019), when it was 29 percent. Within the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, and garden and landscape architecture, the proportion of women remains virtually unchanged (Enneus, CRa & Architectenregister 2025). Among interior architects, where the proportion of women is already relatively high, the proportion of women did increase further. Men are strongly overrepresented, particularly in the disciplines of architecture and urban planning. As a result, there are few female role models for the younger generation. Research among BNA members from 2022 shows that only 16 percent of the directors of affiliated architectural firms are women (BNA 2023). In this area, the Netherlands scores less well than other European countries.

In the future, this may change, because in the youngest generation, the male-female ratio is more or less equal – just like in design programs at universities. The difference in wages between men and women is also smaller in this group of young designers, who value an environment that focuses on diversity and inclusion.  

However, this is no guarantee of equal working conditions for women, as is also evident from the collected articles in the recently published edition. Ms. Architect 2.0. The magazine frequently discusses the leaky pipeline: the phenomenon whereby women 'leak away' from architectural practice after working for a number of years. This is a consequence of power structures in the sector that perpetuate fundamental inequality (Schrijver 2026). This inequality is increasingly being questioned, although thorough research is needed to substantiate the assumptions (Prins 2026). Moreover, women also end up in positions, for example in government, from which they can make a positive contribution to architecture and spatial design from a different role (van Spaandonk 2026).

Research among women working in the British architecture sector shows that half of the women experience bullying, two out of three women of color experience discrimination, and two out of three women with children indicate that parenthood had an impact on their career progression in the architecture sector (Fawcett Society 2025). Although the results cannot be directly translated to the Dutch context, it is clear that emancipation in the Dutch architecture sector also lags behind other sectors. This may also be related to the undervaluation of the field as a whole, both in terms of visibility and financially (Happel 2026).

There are various initiatives that aim to contribute to promoting emancipation in the design sector. For instance, publications and exhibitions are increasingly paying attention to the work of female designers, both now and in the past (Cardoso 2023; Hofland 2024). The initiative Buildings by Women celebrates the work of female spatial designers by providing an overview of realized projects designed by female architects, interior architects, urban planners, and garden and landscape architects. Such initiatives are important for diversity in the sector, but also for the representation of users; design is currently still often based on the average man (Thomas 2024b).