Urban sprawl is not just a natural process; governments play a big role in it. In Flanders, Belgium, and the Netherlands, government policies either encourage or discourage urban sprawl. The Netherlands has orderly and compact urban development, while Flanders is more haphazard and sprawled. Dutch planning is strong and national, with active local land policies, while Flanders lacks such coordination. Different government institutions in each country contribute to the varying levels of urban sprawl.