Looking from the open-cast mining landscapes of the Rhineland and the rolling hills of the Dutch Heuvelland to the River Meuse, you can see a diverse region in transition. But the starting points for these changes could hardly be more different—from the pressure to grow along the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia to the structural changes brought about by the phasing out of lignite and the redevelopment of a border region at the heart of Europe. Questions arise not only about the future of Europe’s largest landscape construction site, but also about the power of the national border and the necessity for cross-border planning. The book uses numerous maps to provide an overview of the current situation and links this to innovative concepts and ideas for shaping the transformation processes. In addition to highlighting the different potentials and challenges of the different sub-areas, the book also illustrates the underlying processes. Operating at the increasingly important regional level, these ideas offer a glimpse into the distant future without losing sight of the here and now. Provides a comprehensive cartographic overview of the Rhine-Meuse region Proposes fundamental guidelines and examples for informal regional development and cross-border planning Suggests innovative strategies and concepts for urban and regional development
