What U.S. cities can learn from the Netherlands about equity and healthy places

Dr. Treasure Shepherd described participating in the Urban Land Institute's Building Healthy Places initiative and a convening in the Netherlands, where delegates met local governments, nonprofits and residents in Amsterdam and Rotterdam to study policies that support healthier cities.

Shepherd highlighted lessons around biking infrastructure and targeted efforts for marginalized groups, noting that refugee placement and economic status shaped health outcomes in specific neighborhoods. "They tend to, not flock to certain places, but be placed in certain areas or regions," she said, and Dutch planners have studied how housing, services and language access affect diabetes and mental-health differences between nearby neighborhoods.

Shepherd framed the ULI work as transferable: identifying clear goals for health and tailoring interventions to local contexts, with an emphasis on avoiding displacement while upgrading housing and amenities.