Available urban green spaces in the Netherlands

For the everyday use of green spaces (playing, relaxation and sport), it is important to have public green areas (parks, forests, nature reserves and recreational sites) close to housing. How many green areas are there in Dutch towns?

Urban green spaces: preferably close to housing

For the everyday use of green spaces (playing, relaxation and sport), it is important to have public green areas (parks, forests, nature reserves and recreational sites) within 500 metres of housing. Semi-public green areas such as sports fields, allotment gardens and cemeteries can also be used in this way if they are open and provide adequate facilities. This is expected to happen more and more often in the future.

• To the interactive atlas 'Available urban green spaces'

Policy for urban green spaces

Municipalities are responsible for urban green spaces. The state encourages the construction of new parks and the improvement of links and existing parks through the Investeringsregeling Stedelijke Vernieuwing (Urban Renewal Investment Scheme). A total of EUR 45.5 million has been earmarked for this purpose for 2000-2004.
The most widespread standard for the amount of public green spaces and semi-public green spaces per home is 75 m² (Middelkoop et al, 2001).

Interactive atlas green areas in and around towns

You can consult the information in the Environmental and Nature Data Compendium about green areas in and around towns interactively using a digital atlas. To help you, we have selected two maps:

• The average amount of public green spaces per home in built-up areas per municipality (urban green spaces).
• The average numbers recreational locations per capita per municipality (green around towns).

You can consult other maps yourself using the atlas.

References

• Middelkoop et al. (2002). Rood en groen in balans; een verkenning van groennormen en alternatieve benaderingen. Stichting Recreatie, Kennis en Innovatiecentrum, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Availability of green spaces around towns in the Netherlands
• Green infrastructure in the Netherlands: robust and coordinated
• Environmental pressure: distribution across socio-economic groups
  Is there a link between income and the quality of the living environment, such as noise levels, proximity of green spaces, building density and environmental pressure?
• Space per capita in the Netherlands, 1900-2000

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• Jansen, S. (2001). Natuur in en om de stad. Alterra, werkdocument 2001/01, Wageningen.
• LNV (1999). Grote Stedenbeleid en Groenimpuls, Groen in en om de stad. Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, The Hague.
• LNV (2001). Structuurschema Groene Ruimte 2: samen werken aan groen Nederland. Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, The Hague.
• LNV (2002). Structuurschema Groene Ruimte 2, PKB 1. Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, The Hague.
• Middelkoop, M. van, E.J. Bruls and A.J. van Golen (2001). Rood en groen in balans; een verkenning van groennormen en alternatieve benaderingen. Stichting Recreatie, Kennis en Innovatiecentrum, The Hague.
• RIVM (2002). Environmental Balance 2002. Kluwer, Alphen aan den Rijn.
• Vries, S. de and J. Bulens (2001). Rapportage project "Explicitering 300.000 ha", fasen 1 en 2. Alterra, Wageningen.
• VROM (1999). De twaalf prestatievelden uit het Beleidskader Stedelijke Vernieuwing. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.