PhD defence J.M.P. (Jos) Vroomans

Worldwide, ports haven been influenced by the same forces that can be traced back to increase in scale, containerization and globalization. These are dynamics that were responsible for a changing relationship between port and city. Spatially and functionally, one can observe a separatiopn between them. A separation that had an impact on city's welfare, (un)employment, abandoned former port areas and the way the port as an activity is making a contribution to the city's economic activity. At first sight, the way these forces were absorbed do not differ very much. A closer look reveals striking differences between them, even within a geographically rather limited and comparable region like North-West Europe. This research aims at describing and analyzing the developments that three most important port regions in Europe: Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, have experienced. Special attention is paid to the relationships between the most important actors within these port-city clusters. It is shown that differences in political economic systems help to explain why the same forces have led to different outcomes.

Due to corona, the PhD defences do not take place publicly in the usual way in the Senate Hall or in the Professor Andries Querido Room. The candidates will defend their dissertation either in a small group or online.