Noise exposure in the Netherlands in noise abatement zones and the national ecological network of protected areas (EHS), 2002

The number of places in noise abatement zones and in the national ecological network of protected areas (EHS) where people can enjoy peace and quiet is continuing to fall. Causes are increasing mobility and the spread of buildings and infrastructure.

Less and less peace and quiet in the Netherlands

The number of places where people can enjoy peace and quiet continues to fall. Causes are increasing mobility and the spread of buildings and infrastructure. The total area where natural noise predominates is shrinking. The periods in which natural sounds alone can be heard are also getting shorter.

What are noise abatement zones?

Under the Environmental Management Act, provincial authorities can designate areas where the quality of one or more environmental aspects requires special protection. Examples are the noise abatement zones. In 2002, approximately 500,000 million hectares of the Netherlands were designated as noise abatement zones.

Noise abatement zones in the Netherlands, 2002

The national ecological network of protected areas (EHS)

The national ecological network of protected areas (EHS) is the cornerstone of the nature policy. The objective of the EHS is to create a linked network of high-quality nature areas with an integrated approach to area protection. Noise exposure is one factor that determines the quality of the EHS.

Designation of the National Ecological Network (terrestrial)

EHS policy standard not clear

The fourth National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP4) includes noise objectives for the EHS (VROM, 2001). This is an area with a total area of approximately 750,000 hectares. These objectives imply that noise quality in the EHS should not be worse in 2010 than in 2000. Good noise quality by 2030 is the requirement for the EHS. The NEPP4 does not state precise standards that noise quality in the EHS has to meet. If we assume the noise standard of 40 dB(A) stated in NEPP3 for noise abatement zones, noise quality is unsatisfactory in a large part of the area.

Technical note

Noise exposure is expressed as L_Aeq, 24 hours. The L_Aeq, 24 hours is a noise unit used to assess noise abatement zones. It "averages out" all noise levels during a period of 24 hours. The levels in the evening and at night have the same weighting as daytime levels. This assumes that people present in natural areas in the evening (and at night) do not find noise (in particular, human noise) more of a nuisance than during the day.

References

RIVM (2004). Cijfers gebaseerd op gegevens van NLR, AVV, AEA Rail Technology, en Alterra bewerkt door het Milieu- en Natuurplanbureau. RIVM, Bilthoven.
VROM (2001). Fourth National Environmental Policy Plan. Working on sustainability: Where there's a will there's a world. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

Berg, G.P. van den (2002). Op zoek naar stilte. Natuurkunde winkel, University of Groningen, report NWU-107, Groningen.
Borst, J. (2001). Ruris en het beleid rond stiltegebieden. Geluid nr. 5.
Cleij, J.F. and D.J. Sanders (2001). Monitoring Stiltegebieden provincie Gelderland, DGMR rapport nr. C.99.0577.A.
Dassen, A.G.M., J. Jabben P.H.M. Jansen (2001). Uitbouw en optimalisatie van het Landelijk Beeld van Verstoring; Partiële validatie en gevoeligheidsanalyse, RIVM (rapportnr. 725 401 001), Bilthoven.
Jabben, J., Odijk, M. Duijvenboden, W. (2002). Geluidbelasting in het landelijk gebied. RIVM (report no. 718 401 001). Bilthoven.
Schotten (1994). Schotten, C.G.J. Stiltegebieden, een eerste landelijke inventarisatie. RIVM (report no. 715 101 001), Bilthoven.
Schotten (2003). Schotten, C.G.J., et al. Gebiedenatlas 2003. MNP-RIVM (report no. 408651002), Bilthoven.