Space per capita in the Netherlands, 1900-2000

The sharp increase in the Dutch population means that the available space per capita has fallen by approximately 65% since 1900.

Developments in space per capita

Between 1900 and 2000, the Dutch population increased from 5.1 million to 15.9 million. This sharp growth is the main reason for the fall in the total space available per person by nearly two-thirds over the 20th century. The largest reduction was in the amount of nature and forest areas per capita. This development is accentuated by the concurrent decrease in the area of nature and forest.

Relevance

The amount of green space in people's immediate vicinity is an important factor in the quality of the living environment in urban areas and is generally considered to be important. Public green spaces in the vicinity have a beneficial effect on the physical and mental health of urban inhabitants (WHO, 1997; Alterra jaarboek, 2000). Furthermore, they also have a social function as meeting places.

• More information about this subject can be found in Available urban green spaces in the Netherlands.

References

• CBS (2003a). Statline. Bodemgebruik in Nederland. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
• CBS (2003b). Statline. Statistiek van de Nederlandse bevolking. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
• Visser, H. (2000). Bodemgebruik in Nederland. Kwartaalbericht Milieustatistieken 2000/2. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Dutch population and number of households, 1980-2002
• Introduction Space: use, spatial policy and the consequences for nature and landscape in the Netherlands
• Land use in the Netherlands, 1977-2000
• Land use map of the Netherlands, 2000
• Urban areas in the Netherlands, 1970-2000
• Available urban green spaces in the Netherlands

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• More information about land use can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).