PhD position : Spatial challenges and socio-cultural relations between rural and urban areas

Your job

Are you interested in relations between the countryside and the city, spatial challenges and in particular the socio-cultural aspects within them? Then we are looking for you!

The cluster Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning is looking for a PhD researcher in the field of 'spatial challenges and socio-cultural relations between rural and urban', with a focus on spatial relations between urban and rural areas and on the socio-cultural meanings of 'the countryside' for both urban and rural people.

The PhD position is part of the NWO-funded research programme 'Fertile Soils', in which interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research is conducted into integral sustainability and improvement of the relationships between rural and urban areas. The project focuses in particular on the (spatial) matching of supply and demand and the (re)valuation of landscape services - such as drinking water, recreational space and biodiversity - in the region. Fertile Soils concentrates on five urban-rural regions: Zwolle, Groningen-Het Hogeland, Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague, Urban Region Breda Tilburg and Amsterdam Metropolitan Region.

In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion about the interactions between urban and rural areas, because rural and urban residents would have different understandings of the current problems and the associated solutions, for example with regard to nitrogen, biodiversity, or housing. These discussions let to a perceived gap between city and countryside.

In these discussions, the diversity between and within rural and urban communities is often overlooked. We also know little about the socio-cultural appreciation of landscape services by the different types of 'consumers' and about the role that landscape services can play in strengthening regional identities and place meanings. Within Fertile Soils, a team of two PhDs and their supervisors from the University of Groningen and Wageningen University will investigate this theme.

The PhD research 'spatial challenges and socio-cultural relations between rural and urban' is being carried out by Wageningen University. Central to the research are spatial interventions in the field of urban-rural areas, how these planning processes are related to spatial interactions between urban and rural areas and appreciation of areas and landscapes.

Many rural dwellers visit nearby towns on a daily or weekly basis, while for many city dwellers, the surrounding countryside is mainly a backdrop for  less frequent bike rides or walks in the woods. The aim is to explore how these interactions are part of planning processes and how solving spatial issues can contribute to the coherence between city and countryside. There is a specific focus on socio-cultural aspects such as identity and trust.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• setting up and carrying out the above-mentioned research, resulting in, among other things, a dissertation containing 3 to 4 international scientific publications, which will be defended in public;
• publishing and presenting the research and sub-research results in the Netherlands and at international scientific conferences;
• actively participating and contributing to the Fertile Soils project;
• maintaining and expanding contacts with internal and external partners;

You will work here
The research is embedded within the cluster Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, and part of the Fertile Soils project which is led by dr. ir. Jasper de Vries. You will be supervised by dr. ir. Jasper de Vries and dr. ir. Marlies Meijer (LSP cluster) and prof. Tialda Haartsen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen).

Your qualities

You are/ You have:

• completed a university degree at master's level in a relevant field, preferably urban planning, or a related spatial, geographical science;
• knowledge of, experience with, or demonstrable interest in the themes of rural-urban relations, socio-cultural meanings and valuation of areas and landscapes, place identities and the social side of spatial planning processes.
• the skills, or is willing to develop them, to collaborate interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary (with societal stakeholders) and to actively contribute to knowledge integration in the Fertile Soils project.
• an enthusiastic researcher with an affinity for both scientific and practice-oriented research;

You also posess:

• strong analytical skills and can work independently;
• an affinity with the use of qualitative research methods;
• strong communication skills, both in Dutch and in English;
• result-oriented, flexible and has perseverance;

For this position you are expected to command the Dutch language (B1), your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Prof Jasper de Vries, via jasper.devries@wur.nl

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, via noorien.abbas@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply until 2 May 2025. The first interviews are scheduled in the second week of May 2025. The intended starting date of the position is in September 2025.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!


We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.