Landscape typology

The landscapes of the Netherlands can be classified into nine types, on the basis of their characteristics.

Characteristics

Landscapes can be subdivided into different types on the basis of their characteristics. A landscape type is a spatial unit in which the physiography (relief, soil and water), the reclamation history and/or the characteristic spatial ranking of landscape elements are the same. Characteristics like these contribute importantly to a landscape's identity and attractiveness.

The classification shown here, which is based on physical geography, is the one used in the Dutch government's Second Structure Plan for the Rural Areas in the Netherlands (SGR2). Using historical landscape information and distinguishing between natural landscapes and cultivated landscapes, this somewhat coarse classification has been further refined (see Farjon et al., 2001). The refined classification is based on the reclamation history.

Technical note

The main typology is taken from the Dutch government's Memorandum on Landscape (Nota Landschap). It has been refined using Alterra's HISTLAND historical landscape information system and the national land use database (LGN3). As a result, some of the boundaries between landscape types do not tally with those on the SGR2 map. On the revised landscape map the term "hoogveenontginningsgebied" has been replaced by "veenkoloniën" (= peat settlements).

References

Barends, S., J. Renes, T. Stol, J.C. van Triest, R.J. de Vries en F.J. van Woudenberg (red.) (1986). Het Nederlandse landschap. Een historisch-geografische benadering. Matrijs. Utrecht.

Farjon, J.M.J., G.H.P. Dirkx, A.J.M. Koomen, J.A.J. Vervloet en G.W. Lammers (2001). Neder-landschap Internationaal: Bouwstenen voor een selectie van gebieden landschapsbehoud. Rapport 358. Alterra. Wageningen.

LNV (1992). Nota Landschap. Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuurbeheer en Visserij. SDU. Den Haag.

LNV (2002). Structuurschema Groene Ruimte 2. Samen werken aan een groen Nederland. Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuurbeheer en Visserij. Den Haag

OC&W (1999). Nota Belvédère: Beleidsnota over de relatie cultuurhistorie en ruimtelijke inrichting. Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschappen. Den Haag.

Wit, A.J.W. de, T.G.C. van der Heijden en H.A.M. Thunnissen (1999). Vervaardiging en nauwkeurigheid van het LGN3-grondgebruiksbestand. Rapport 663. DLO-Staring Centrum. Wageningen.