The Intermediate Level of Territorial Administration in the Netherlands. The Provisional Outcome of Controversial Reforms

Since the 19th century, the country’ administrative organisation has been based on municipalities, provinces and the state. The number of municipalities has gradually declined, and problems have been encountered in organising major conurbations. There have been longstanding efforts to establish suitable administrative structures for such conurbations, especially for the Randstad area, and to reduce the number of the provinces. However, this has not been possible due to constitutional and political obstacles. The latest reform, in 2014, leaves the 12 provinces in place and abolishes compulsory intercommunal structures, although it created the metropolitan region of Rotterdam, the Hague and the region of Amsterdam, which is linked with neighbouring provinces through informal modes of operation