less nature and forests in the Netherlands, more built-up areas

THE HAGUE (ANP) – The area of ​​nature and forest areas in the Netherlands has decreased by almost 2.5 percent in the period 2013 to 2022, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reports. This concerns a decrease of 158 square kilometers. At the same time, the amount of built-up area increased by 3.4 percent, 277 square kilometers. That is land for houses, factories, offices and infrastructure, for example.

The amount of agricultural area in the Netherlands also decreased, by 0.9 percent (178 square kilometers). Nature and forest areas mainly changed into built-up and agricultural areas. At the same time, new nature also emerged, mainly from agricultural areas.

In the period 2013-2022, 131 square kilometers of natural grassland, 36 square kilometers of forest area and 21 square kilometers of dune and coastal areas disappeared. The amount of heathland and drifting sand areas did increase, by 15 square kilometers. This also applies to swamp and peat areas.

According to CBS, the amount of nature that has disappeared varies nationally. The area of ​​nature and forest areas decreased the most in the provinces of South Holland (60 square kilometers) and Friesland (44 square kilometers). In Drenthe, Overijssel, North Brabant and Limburg, more nature and forest areas were added in the period 2013 to 2022.

In 2022, more than 45 percent of the surface of the Netherlands would be agricultural. In that year, a quarter of the Netherlands consisted of arable and horticultural areas. More than 20 percent of the Netherlands will be ‘built-up area’ in 2022. Nature and forest areas accounted for almost 16 percent of the surface area of ​​the Netherlands.