How do we use our land?
The total surface area of the Netherlands is 4.2 million hectares, including both inland and open water. In 2015, about half of this surface area was used for agriculture, and about a third was nature, water or used for recreation. A relatively small part of our territory is earmarked for buildings and roads.
Of the total surface area of the Netherlands, 54 percent (2.2 million hectares) is used as farmland, and 13 percent (0.5 million hectares) is built-up areanoot1 and road surface. The built-up area consists mainly of living space and business parks. In addition, 34 percent is made up of nature and inland and open waternoot2, which includes 0.5 million hectares of forest and other types of natural land, such as heathland, beaches and dunes (12 percent of the country’s total surface area). Together with the Veluwe and the Biesbosch, Gelderland and Noord-Brabant have a relatively large area of natural land. The country’s various inland waters, such as the IJsselmeer and the rivers, account for 9 percent of its total surface area. The open waters, including the Wadden Sea, the coastal zone of the North Sea, the Western Scheldt and Eastern Scheldt, account for 10 percent of land use.
Flevoland and Fryslân have the largest share of natural areas
About half of the surface area of both Flevoland and Fryslân consists of nature, water and recreational areas. Overijssel has the smallest share of natural areas and water (19 percent), followed by Drenthe (21 percent). These two provinces have the largest proportion of farmland, at 70 percent. The share of farmland is lowest in North Holland and Flevoland, at around 40 percent. The share of built-up areas, semi-covered areas and road surface is highest in Zuid-Holland, Utrecht and Limburg, and lowest in Fryslân and Flevoland.
| Category | Natural, water and recreational area | Built-up area and road surface | Farmland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flevoland | 53 | 6.1 | 40.8 |
| Fryslân | 50.1 | 5.1 | 44.8 |
| Noord-Holland | 46.2 | 15.5 | 38.4 |
| Zeeland | 45.8 | 7.8 | 46.5 |
| Netherlands | 33.5 | 12.7 | 53.8 |
| Zuid-Holland | 29.6 | 22.7 | 47.6 |
| Gelderland | 28.5 | 13.4 | 58.1 |
| Groningen | 27.9 | 8.9 | 63.2 |
| Utrecht | 23.3 | 21.1 | 55.6 |
| Noord-Brabant | 23.1 | 17 | 59.9 |
| Limburg | 22.4 | 19 | 58.5 |
| Drenthe | 21.4 | 9.1 | 69.5 |
| Overijssel | 18.7 | 11.7 | 69.5 |
On average 500 metres to public green spaces
In 2015, most Dutch people did not have to travel far to public green spaces such as forests, parks and public gardens, and areas for day recreation such as zoos, amusement parks and playgrounds. The average distancenoot3 to public green was 0.5 kilometres. For residents of Vlieland this distance was the smallest at 0.1 kilometres, while in Littenseradiel it was the largest at 3.5 kilometres.
| Municipality | Distance to public green spaces |
|---|---|
| Vlieland | 0.1 |
| Muiden | 0.2 |
| Rozendaal | 0.2 |
| Alblasserdam | 0.3 |
| Albrandswaard | 0.3 |
| Almere | 0.3 |
| Arnhem | 0.3 |
| Baarn | 0.3 |
| Bergen (NH.) | 0.3 |
| Blaricum | 0.3 |
| Castricum | 0.3 |
| Culemborg | 0.3 |
| Diemen | 0.3 |
| Doesburg | 0.3 |
| Edam-Volendam | 0.3 |
| Enkhuizen | 0.3 |
| Groningen | 0.3 |
| Harderwijk | 0.3 |
| Heemskerk | 0.3 |
| Heerlen | 0.3 |
| Hellevoetsluis | 0.3 |
| Huizen | 0.3 |
| Kerkrade | 0.3 |
| Krimpen aan den IJssel | 0.3 |
| Landsmeer | 0.3 |
| Leiderdorp | 0.3 |
| Lelystad | 0.3 |
| Maassluis | 0.3 |
| Nieuwegein | 0.3 |
| Nissewaard | 0.3 |
| Oegstgeest | 0.3 |
| Renkum | 0.3 |
| Rijswijk (ZH.) | 0.3 |
| Schiedam | 0.3 |
| Sliedrecht | 0.3 |
| Stede Broec | 0.3 |
| Utrecht | 0.3 |
| Utrechtse Heuvelrug | 0.3 |
| Velsen | 0.3 |
| Vlaardingen | 0.3 |
| Voorschoten | 0.3 |
| Wassenaar | 0.3 |
| Westervoort | 0.3 |
| Wijk bij Duurstede | 0.3 |
| Zandvoort | 0.3 |
| Zeewolde | 0.3 |
| Zeist | 0.3 |
| Zoetermeer | 0.3 |
| Zutphen | 0.3 |
| Zwijndrecht | 0.3 |
| Alkmaar | 0.4 |
| Almelo | 0.4 |
| Amersfoort | 0.4 |
| Amstelveen | 0.4 |
| Amsterdam | 0.4 |
| Apeldoorn | 0.4 |
| Assen | 0.4 |
| Barendrecht | 0.4 |
| Bellingwedde | 0.4 |
| Bergeijk | 0.4 |
| Bergen (L.) | 0.4 |
| Bergen op Zoom | 0.4 |
| Beverwijk | 0.4 |
| De Bilt | 0.4 |
| Bloemendaal | 0.4 |
| Brielle | 0.4 |
| Brummen | 0.4 |
| Brunssum | 0.4 |
| Capelle aan den IJssel | 0.4 |
| Delfzijl | 0.4 |
| Deventer | 0.4 |
| Doetinchem | 0.4 |
| Dordrecht | 0.4 |
| Dronten | 0.4 |
| Eersel | 0.4 |
| Eindhoven | 0.4 |
| Elburg | 0.4 |
| Enschede | 0.4 |
| Ermelo | 0.4 |
| Etten-Leur | 0.4 |
| Geertruidenberg | 0.4 |
| Geldrop-Mierlo | 0.4 |
| Goirle | 0.4 |
| Gorinchem | 0.4 |
| Gouda | 0.4 |
| Grave | 0.4 |
| Haarlem | 0.4 |
| Haarlemmermeer | 0.4 |
| Haren | 0.4 |
| Hattem | 0.4 |
| Heerenveen | 0.4 |
| Heeze-Leende | 0.4 |
| Heiloo | 0.4 |
| Hellendoorn | 0.4 |
| Helmond | 0.4 |
| Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht | 0.4 |
| 's-Hertogenbosch | 0.4 |
| Hoogeveen | 0.4 |
| Hoogezand-Sappemeer | 0.4 |
| Hoorn | 0.4 |
| Houten | 0.4 |
| IJsselstein | 0.4 |
| Laren (NH.) | 0.4 |
| Leiden | 0.4 |
| Leidschendam-Voorburg | 0.4 |
| Maasgouw | 0.4 |
| Maastricht | 0.4 |
| Meppel | 0.4 |
| Midden-Drenthe | 0.4 |
| Mill en Sint Hubert | 0.4 |
| Mook en Middelaar | 0.4 |
| Naarden | 0.4 |
| Nijmegen | 0.4 |
| Noordwijk | 0.4 |
| Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten | 0.4 |
| Oisterwijk | 0.4 |
| Oldambt | 0.4 |
| Ommen | 0.4 |
| Oost Gelre | 0.4 |
| Oosterhout | 0.4 |
| Oud-Beijerland | 0.4 |
| Papendrecht | 0.4 |
| Purmerend | 0.4 |
| Putten | 0.4 |
| Rheden | 0.4 |
| Ridderkerk | 0.4 |
| Rijnwaarden | 0.4 |
| Rijssen-Holten | 0.4 |
| Roermond | 0.4 |
| Roosendaal | 0.4 |
| Rotterdam | 0.4 |
| Schiermonnikoog | 0.4 |
| Sint-Oedenrode | 0.4 |
| Soest | 0.4 |
| Terschelling | 0.4 |
| Tiel | 0.4 |
| Tilburg | 0.4 |
| Tynaarlo | 0.4 |
| Uden | 0.4 |
| Uitgeest | 0.4 |
| Uithoorn | 0.4 |
| Urk | 0.4 |
| Valkenburg aan de Geul | 0.4 |
| Valkenswaard | 0.4 |
| Veendam | 0.4 |
| Veenendaal | 0.4 |
| Veldhoven | 0.4 |
| Venlo | 0.4 |
| Vught | 0.4 |
| Waalre | 0.4 |
| Weert | 0.4 |
| Wijchen | 0.4 |
| Wijdemeren | 0.4 |
| Woudenberg | 0.4 |
| Zaanstad | 0.4 |
| Zwolle | 0.4 |
| Aa en Hunze | 0.5 |
| Aalten | 0.5 |
| Alphen aan den Rijn | 0.5 |
| Asten | 0.5 |
| Best | 0.5 |
| Beuningen | 0.5 |
| Bladel | 0.5 |
| Borne | 0.5 |
| Boxtel | 0.5 |
| Breda | 0.5 |
| Bussum | 0.5 |
| Coevorden | 0.5 |
| Cuijk | 0.5 |
| Delft | 0.5 |
| Dongen | 0.5 |
| Druten | 0.5 |
| Duiven | 0.5 |
| Emmen | 0.5 |
| Gilze en Rijen | 0.5 |
| s-Gravenhage | 0.5 |
| Haaksbergen | 0.5 |
| Hardinxveld-Giessendam | 0.5 |
| Harlingen | 0.5 |
| Heemstede | 0.5 |
| Heerhugowaard | 0.5 |
| Den Helder | 0.5 |
| Heumen | 0.5 |
| Heusden | 0.5 |
| Hillegom | 0.5 |
| Hilversum | 0.5 |
| Hulst | 0.5 |
| Kampen | 0.5 |
| Katwijk | 0.5 |
| Landgraaf | 0.5 |
| Lansingerland | 0.5 |
| Leeuwarderadeel | 0.5 |
| Leusden | 0.5 |
| Lingewaal | 0.5 |
| Lisse | 0.5 |
| Lochem | 0.5 |
| Loon op Zand | 0.5 |
| Meerssen | 0.5 |
| Menterwolde | 0.5 |
| Middelburg (Z.) | 0.5 |
| Midden-Delfland | 0.5 |
| Noordenveld | 0.5 |
| Noordoostpolder | 0.5 |
| Noordwijkerhout | 0.5 |
| Nunspeet | 0.5 |
| Oirschot | 0.5 |
| Oldenzaal | 0.5 |
| Ooststellingwerf | 0.5 |
| Oostzaan | 0.5 |
| Opsterland | 0.5 |
| Oss | 0.5 |
| Ouder-Amstel | 0.5 |
| Pekela | 0.5 |
| Scherpenzeel | 0.5 |
| Schijndel | 0.5 |
| Schinnen | 0.5 |
| Schouwen-Duiveland | 0.5 |
| Sittard-Geleen | 0.5 |
| Smallingerland | 0.5 |
| Son en Breugel | 0.5 |
| Steenwijkerland | 0.5 |
| Teylingen | 0.5 |
| Vaals | 0.5 |
| Veghel | 0.5 |
| Vianen | 0.5 |
| Vlissingen | 0.5 |
| Waddinxveen | 0.5 |
| Wageningen | 0.5 |
| Weesp | 0.5 |
| Weststellingwerf | 0.5 |
| Westvoorne | 0.5 |
| Winterswijk | 0.5 |
| Woensdrecht | 0.5 |
| Woerden | 0.5 |
| Wormerland | 0.5 |
| Zevenaar | 0.5 |
| Zwartewaterland | 0.5 |
| Baarle-Nassau | 0.6 |
| Barneveld | 0.6 |
| Bedum | 0.6 |
| Beesel | 0.6 |
| Berkelland | 0.6 |
| Binnenmaas | 0.6 |
| Boekel | 0.6 |
| Borger-Odoorn | 0.6 |
| Boxmeer | 0.6 |
| Bronckhorst | 0.6 |
| Cranendonck | 0.6 |
| Dantumadiel | 0.6 |
| Deurne | 0.6 |
| Dinkelland | 0.6 |
| Dongeradeel | 0.6 |
| Ede | 0.6 |
| Epe | 0.6 |
| Franekeradeel | 0.6 |
| De Friese Meren | 0.6 |
| Gemert-Bakel | 0.6 |
| Gennep | 0.6 |
| Goeree-Overflakkee | 0.6 |
| Goes | 0.6 |
| Groesbeek | 0.6 |
| Halderberge | 0.6 |
| Hardenberg | 0.6 |
| Heerde | 0.6 |
| Hengelo (O.) | 0.6 |
| Hof van Twente | 0.6 |
| Laarbeek | 0.6 |
| Leek | 0.6 |
| Leerdam | 0.6 |
| Leeuwarden | 0.6 |
| Leudal | 0.6 |
| Losser | 0.6 |
| Olst-Wijhe | 0.6 |
| Oude IJsselstreek | 0.6 |
| Pijnacker-Nootdorp | 0.6 |
| Raalte | 0.6 |
| Renswoude | 0.6 |
| Rhenen | 0.6 |
| Roerdalen | 0.6 |
| De Ronde Venen | 0.6 |
| Rucphen | 0.6 |
| Simpelveld | 0.6 |
| Slochteren | 0.6 |
| Someren | 0.6 |
| Stadskanaal | 0.6 |
| Stein (L.) | 0.6 |
| Stichtse Vecht | 0.6 |
| Terneuzen | 0.6 |
| Tytsjerksteradiel | 0.6 |
| Venray | 0.6 |
| Vlagtwedde | 0.6 |
| Voerendaal | 0.6 |
| Voorst | 0.6 |
| Werkendam | 0.6 |
| Westerveld | 0.6 |
| Woudrichem | 0.6 |
| Zeevang | 0.6 |
| Zuidplas | 0.6 |
| Ameland | 0.7 |
| Appingedam | 0.7 |
| Beek (L.) | 0.7 |
| Bunschoten | 0.7 |
| Echt-Susteren | 0.7 |
| Eemnes | 0.7 |
| Haaren | 0.7 |
| Hollands Kroon | 0.7 |
| Kapelle | 0.7 |
| Korendijk | 0.7 |
| Landerd | 0.7 |
| Langedijk | 0.7 |
| Lingewaard | 0.7 |
| Maasdriel | 0.7 |
| De Marne | 0.7 |
| Medemblik | 0.7 |
| Moerdijk | 0.7 |
| Montfoort | 0.7 |
| Neder-Betuwe | 0.7 |
| Nijkerk | 0.7 |
| Opmeer | 0.7 |
| Peel en Maas | 0.7 |
| Schagen | 0.7 |
| Sint-Michielsgestel | 0.7 |
| Sluis | 0.7 |
| Steenbergen | 0.7 |
| Tholen | 0.7 |
| Tubbergen | 0.7 |
| Veere | 0.7 |
| Waalwijk | 0.7 |
| De Wolden | 0.7 |
| Zaltbommel | 0.7 |
| Zoeterwoude | 0.7 |
| Aalsmeer | 0.8 |
| Bernheze | 0.8 |
| Borsele | 0.8 |
| Bunnik | 0.8 |
| Dalfsen | 0.8 |
| Eemsmond | 0.8 |
| Geldermalsen | 0.8 |
| Hilvarenbeek | 0.8 |
| Horst aan de Maas | 0.8 |
| Krimpenerwaard | 0.8 |
| Loppersum | 0.8 |
| Marum | 0.8 |
| Montferland | 0.8 |
| Oldebroek | 0.8 |
| Onderbanken | 0.8 |
| Oudewater | 0.8 |
| Staphorst | 0.8 |
| S�dwest-Frysl�n | 0.8 |
| Texel | 0.8 |
| Twenterand | 0.8 |
| West Maas en Waal | 0.8 |
| Westland | 0.8 |
| Bodegraven-Reeuwijk | 0.9 |
| Drimmelen | 0.9 |
| Eijsden-Margraten | 0.9 |
| Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude | 0.9 |
| Menameradiel | 0.9 |
| Neerijnen | 0.9 |
| Noord-Beveland | 0.9 |
| Nuth | 0.9 |
| Overbetuwe | 0.9 |
| Sint Anthonis | 0.9 |
| Waterland | 0.9 |
| Wierden | 0.9 |
| Zundert | 0.9 |
| Achtkarspelen | 1 |
| Alphen-Chaam | 1 |
| het Bildt | 1 |
| Buren | 1 |
| Drechterland | 1 |
| Gulpen-Wittem | 1 |
| Koggenland | 1 |
| Reusel-De Mierden | 1 |
| Strijen | 1 |
| Ten Boer | 1.1 |
| Grootegast | 1.1 |
| Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland | 1.1 |
| Nieuwkoop | 1.1 |
| Reimerswaal | 1.1 |
| Beemster | 1.2 |
| Giessenlanden | 1.2 |
| Kaag en Braassem | 1.2 |
| Lopik | 1.2 |
| Molenwaard | 1.2 |
| Winsum | 1.2 |
| Zederik | 1.2 |
| Ferwerderadiel | 1.3 |
| Nederweert | 1.7 |
| Zuidhorn | 1.9 |
| Cromstrijen | 2.1 |
| Aalburg | 2.4 |
| Littenseradiel | 3.5 |
Sources
StatLine – Land use by region
The questions
- How does CBS calculate the figures?
- How do we use our land?
- How fast is the population growing?
- How are the various animal species doing?
- What are our top concerns?
- Where do the emigrants go?
- Who use social media the most?
- How isolated do we feel?
- What are our favourite wedding dates? What about partnership registrations?
- How many under-18s are receiving youth assistance?
- What about cyber crime?
- What are the most popular majors?
- What are the major religions?
- How many overnight stays?
- How many people shop online? And the items they buy...
- Who are eligible to vote?
- What are young people doing online?
- How many adults smoke or have smoked?
- Where were people in the Caribbean Netherlands originally born?
- Where do Caribbean Dutch children live?
- How much internet usage in the Caribbean Netherlands?
- How many people (never) work from home?
- How many millionaires in the Netherlands?
- Has our purchasing power gone up or down?
- Which jobs have the highest levels of mental fatigue?
- How many employees are members of a trade union?
- How many passengers flying into and out of the Netherlands?
- How much nitrogen is emitted at livestock farms?
- How many dwellings in the Netherlands?
- How much is our average mileage in electric cars?
- What do we import from China?
- Which prices are up, which are down?
- What is our production of frozen fries?
- How many enterprises in the Netherlands?
- How much energy do we get from biomass?
- How much do we recycle?
- Which flower bulbs are most common?
- What is the impact of coronavirus?
Notes
Buildings
In this text this means built-up land and semi-covered land. Built-up areas are used for living, working, shopping, going out, culture and public facilities. A semi-covered area is (paved) land that is not used as road surface or for buildings. This includes dump sites, construction sites and cemeteries.
Inland and open water
The Dutch inland waterways consist mainly of the IJsselmeer and Markermeer, the Rhine and Meuse, and various other smaller rivers, canals and lakes. The Dutch open water consists of the Wadden Sea, Eems, Dollard, the Eastern Scheldt and Western Scheldt estuaries, and part of the North Sea.
Average distance
Distance calculated over the road (motorway) from a person’s home address to the nearest facility. This is therefore not necessarily the facility that people actually use. Municipal boundaries are not taken into account in the distance calculation, because a facility in a neighbouring municipality may be closer for people who live near a municipal boundary.