Abstract: Similar resource constraints and government positioning make Dutch spatial planning experience a strong reference for China's territorial spatial planning practice. Based on a brief review of the evolution of the Dutch spatial planning system, this paper attempts to systematically examine the system positioning, content, institutional arrangements, and specific implementation of spatial planning in Dutch cities and towns, and further explain the inspiration of practice of Dutch spatial planning on China's spatial planning. It is pointed out that the spatial planning practice of Chinese local governments cannot copy the pragmatic approach of the Dutch municipal governments. Instead, they should focus on improving laws and regulations and strengthen law enforcement. In the planning system, the central government cannot blindly concentrate or decentralize planning power. The balance of centralization and decentralization should be maintained in accordance with changes in specific socio-economic conditions; finally, it is pointed out that the premise of ‘multiple plans merging into one’ should be ‘multiple laws merging into one’.