The Flemish diamond: Precious gem and virgin area

Abstract The new structure for Flanders marks a new direction in the practice of spatial planning. In order to provide Flanders with more adequate (spatial) instruments and structures in the fierce international competition, the urban network of the Flemish Diamond was conceived. The metaphor ‘Flemish Diamond’ is used to express issues and tasks that are at stake. They illustrate the potentials of the network but also the fact that purposeful action is needed to make full use of the potential of the network. Slowly the concept is becoming current in Flemish planning and is starting to find its way into supranational planning documents.