The province of South Holland has a new Provincial Advisor for Spatial Quality (PARK) in the person of Edwin van Uum. He has an impressive track record and has been active for years in the fields of space, sustainability, and urbanization. As PARK, he will provide independent advice to maintain and improve the quality of the living environment in the province.

Deputy for Spatial Planning Anne Koning is proud of the appointment of Van Uum: “I am glad that we have Edwin again as someone with a wealth of knowledge as PARK. South Holland is the most densely populated province of South Holland, which means that all space is precious. We are happy to have an independent advisor who can help us manage that well. And who can and wants to think about how we deal with cities and municipalities that need more and more space.”

Collaborating with Imagination

Van Uum will provide broad advice on the quality of the living environment. He particularly does not want to be a distant visionary. “The time has come that one headstrong expert tells how it should be and the rest just has to follow. Much more effective is how you can connect parties so that a shared ownership is felt.” In this, he has a clear mission to scrutinize urbanization. We have many issues: housing, energy, mobility, nature, and climate. All these are interconnected. I want to help ensure that these issues are addressed with high quality in plans. Everyone uses ‘integral’ as a magic word, but I want to ensure that we maintain and realize that integral quality in collaboration.”

In his career, smart collaboration has been a common thread for Van Uum. He always tries to achieve a better result through interaction and co-creation.

“I focus on the process of collaboration and emphasize imagination and co-creation. By genuinely looking through each others glasses, you come to the best plans, which also leave enough room for parties that do not fully get their way. Making choices requires maintaining the connection.”

A New, Fresh Perspective

Van Uum is the first PARK without a background as a landscape architect. After attending the art academy, he graduated cum laude in spatial planning. He then worked at the Ministry of VROM in various policy positions. For over 15 years, he has worked from his own agency UUM | Unlimited Urban Management in collaboration with various provinces, urban regions, large municipalities, and universities.

The PARK is an independent advisor and provides advice to the Provincial Executive and Provincial States. These advices concern the quality of the living environment of South Holland and how to preserve and improve it. The PARK also inspires thinking about the living environment through lectures and meetings. Van Uum will start as an advisor on September 1, 2025, for a period of 2 years.