NGPS 2026: City’s Nightlife

The National Geography and Planning Symposium (NGPS) is an annual event that explores the challenges and key themes within the fields of Geography and Planning. Organized by five study associations from across the Netherlands; Genius Loci, Ibn Battuta, Mundus, Sarphati and V.U.G.S., the symposium aims to offer students fresh perspectives and valuable insights. Each year, the NGPS takes place in a different city. This year, Mundus will host the event in Nijmegen. The symposium was established in 2009 through the merger of the Planning Symposium (PRINS) and the Geography Symposium. The first edition was held in Groningen, and after 17 years, 17 successful editions have taken place. Through inviting speakers from both the private and public sectors, the symposium offers a wide range of perspectives on a central theme. And by connecting geography and planning students from different associations, we bring together experience, ideas, and knowledge to explore the theme in greater depth.

Each of the five associations is represented by two board members. The board of NGPS 2026 is constituted of the following members:

Chairman	Bonne Koolma
Vice Chairman	Janne Dekker
Secretary	Selim Birler
Treasurer	Sarah ten Dam
Commissioner Promotion	Julia Bökkerink
Commissioners Speakers	Stella Tonnaer & Nikita Groenendijk
Commissioners Acquisition	Brecht van de Poll
Commissioner Activity	Daan Kaya & Miriam Heins

On the following pages, the theoretical framework of the NGPS 2026 is presented including its theme.

What is the city’s nightlife?

The night starts when the light falls. Although the night is so much more than only the absence of daylight. Williams (2008) emphasised that when the night falls, specific practices and emotions emerge, creating a distinct atmosphere that enables activities ranging from romantic encounters and unconventional behaviour to rebellion or even criminal acts. This idea is supported by (Melbin, 1978), who found that nighttime produces a more relaxed and permissive social climate, offering relief from the pressures and anonymity associated with daytime urban life. So urban nightlife studies now warn against reducing the night to simply a matter of economics, like bars and clubs, but instead promote tunderstanding night as an affective and social atmosphere (Shaw, 2013).

Moreover, nightlife is not homogenous. A study of Dutch cities shows that nightlife consumption patterns vary significantly even within relatively similar urban contexts, depending on demographics, local culture, spatial configuration and social stratification (Brands et al., 2014).

The case in Nijmegen

Between the hours of 22:00 and 06:00 the bigger part of Nijmegen’s residents has gone to bed. A smaller part of the city will be found bringing the city center back to life after dark. These people bring life into the night of Nijmegen, by going out, chatting and possibly sharing a drink. Cultural programming, that distinguishes these spots from general nightlife, is what defines the ‘nightculture’ (‘nachtcultuur’ in Dutch). This happens in music venues, clubs, hospitality spots and at dancing festivals. For Nijmegen specifically, the municipality has a set vision (‘Nachtvisie’) for this nightculture, and the most recent version was published in 2024.

The character of Nijmegen’s night culture is often described as “cozy,” “accessible,” and “friendly”. It has a strong do-it-yourself theme, with many events run by passionate creators and organizers. Nijmegen also offers a rich history in house and techno music, with well-known venues like Doornroosje and Café De Plak playing a key role in the city’s musical identity. Popular bars in the well-known Molenstraat, invite a lot of students after dark. Some bars within the same area, like Café Samson, also invite a somewhat older crowd, who share a drink instead of partying.

The vulnerabilities of Nijmegen’s nightlife, is what the Nachtvisie aims to improve. One of the key challenges is the lack of affordable space for experimentation and creative development. Safety is another major concern. Around a third of visitors report feeling unsafe at times, with women and LGBTQI+ individuals particularly vulnerable to insecurity. The most common reasons for feelings of unsafety include sexual harassment, aggression, and the effects of alcohol and drugs. The normalization of substance use is also seen as a problematic trend, with organizers lacking the resources and strategies to effectively manage it. While the nightlife scene caters largely to younger crowds (especially students), there’s a growing demand for more diverse offerings for older age groups. Additionally, physical accessibility remains a challenge for those with disabilities, because of cramped spaces, steep stairs, and  inadequate facilities often making venues less welcoming.

As Nijmegen’s nightlife is widely appreciated, the Nachtvisie is a welcome vision. With goals for Spaceand Funding, Collaboration and Networking, Safety and Health and Accessibility, this vision is bringing Nijmegen’s nightlife to a next level, even though it was already high up there. (Gemeente Nijmegen, 2024)

Urban space, social and economic impact

Nightlife, and related nightly activities, often tend to generate economic activity in urban spaces. Despite this, those in positions of policymaking and governance face the dilemma between noise, safety, and satisfaction management. While many in the city, especially younger citizens and students, tend to enjoy the nightlife aspect of a city and spend their evenings outside, many in the city are also disturbed by the noise and loitering done at night by those same people who enjoy the nightlife. This creates a conflict for the planner, as they must maintain a balance. (Roberts & Eldridge, 2009)

Challenges and future trends

City’s nightlife is often overlooked in the planning of cities (Hjelm, 2024; van Liemt & van Aalst, 2012). Currently, none of the national recovery and resilience plans from European countries include the nightlife industry (Nofre & Garcia-Ruiz, 2023). Therefore, it will be a challenge for city’s nightlife to gain more attention in governance. Safety will remain another challenge for city’s nightlife. Especially because more surveillance can lead to some people feeling more secure, whilst for others it is the opposite way around (van Liemt & van Aalst, 2012). Furthermore, the European nightlife industry is dealing with an urban ecological transition. There need to be more studies done on a greener nightlife in cities (Nofre & Garcia-Ruiz, 2023). 

Conclusion

Urban nightlife is more than an economic activity; it is a cultural and emotional environment shaped by the freedoms and atmospheres that emerge after dark. Research shows that nighttime enables distinct forms of expression and social behaviour, varying widely across cities and demographic groups. Nijmegen illustrates how identity, creativity and musical heritage shape nightculture, while also revealing challenges related to safety, inclusivity, space and accessibility. The city’s Nachtvisie addresses these issues by improving funding, collaboration, safety and diverse programming. More broadly, nightlife faces tensions between enjoyment and disturbance, as well as limited recognition in governance. Integrating nightlife into urban planning will be essential for ensuring that the night remains vibrant, inclusive and safe.

Sources

Brands, J., Schwanen, T., & Van Aalst, I. (2014). Spatiotemporal variations in nightlife consumption: A comparison of students in two Dutch cities. Applied Geography, 54, 96–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2014.07.008

Melbin, M. (1978). Night as frontier. American Sociological Review, 43(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.2307/2094758

Shaw, R. (2013). Beyond night-time economy: Affective atmospheres of the urban night. Geoforum, 51, 87–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.10.005

Williams RW (2008) Night spaces: Darkness, deterritorialization, and social control. Space and Culture 11(4): 514–532.

Hjelm, O. (2024). The Night-time City: Exploring Nocturnal Perspectives in the Planning and Governance of Stockholm’s’ City’area. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1892910&dswid=-5766

Nofre, J., & Garcia-Ruiz, M. (2023). The urban ecological transition and the future of Europe’s nightlife industry. World Leisure Journal, 65(3), 327-342. https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2022.2162112

Van Liempt, I., & Van Aalst, I. (2012). Urban surveillance and the struggle between safe and exciting nightlife districts. Surveillance & Society, 9(3), 280-292. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v9i3.4270

https://nijmegen.bestuurlijkeinformatie.nl/Document/View/cbe49ea4-8e2a-40d0-b96a-61daeadacf14

Roberts, M., & Eldridge, A. (2009). Planning the Night-time City (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203609064