The National Landscapes were introduced by central government to improve landscape quality. It is doubtful whether this can be achieved because the boundaries have been drawn to exclude the main urban centres and planned developments, which are therefore not subject to the restrictive policies. Provincial and local authorities are also slow to revise their regional and local plans.

Twenty National Landscapes have been designated in which the fundamental policy principle is the conservation, sustainable management and, where possible, strengthening of landscape quality. Central government has defined several ‘core qualities’, such as ‘openness’, that are typical for each of these National Landscapes. The Government has instructed the provincial councils to translate the often broad definitions of these core qualities into more precise descriptions. In the National Landscapes house building is permitted only to meet demand arising from the natural growth of the local population.

The provincial and municipal councils were responsible for determining the precise boundaries of the National Landscapes. However, because these boundaries have been drawn to exclude most of the main urban centres and planned developments, the protection provided the National Landscape policies is effectively limited. In some cases, plans are being prepared for developments on sites just outside the boundary of a National Landscape which will have a major impact on its core quality of ‘openness’. Moreover, the descriptions of the core qualities drawn up by the provincial councils are still not specified in very concrete terms. Because of this, the core qualities cannot yet be used as criteria for evaluating proposed spatial developments.  

It will certainly take some time before the level of protection intended by the designation of the National Landscapes can be provided because many of the provincial and local authorities are slow to make the necessary revisions to their regional and local plans. In the absence of relevant provisions in regional and local plans, conflicting claims surrounding plans to build in National Landscapes are reviewed directly against the policies contained in the National Spatial Strategy. As a result, some building plans have been put on hold by the courts.

Keeping land allocations for future housing extensions outside the boundaries of National Landscapes increases the permitted area for urban growth within the boundaries. (Sources: Utrecht, Gelderland, Zeeland and Noord-Brabant provincial councils, 2007, Statistics Netherlands, 2003)

• See also: Practice underlines need for integrated planning