The downland area of south Limburg
The hilly area of south Limburg presents a very different landscape compared with the rest of the country. It is characterised by pronounced relief and by differences in scale. In recent decades there has been a sharp fall in the number of small landscape elements such as holloways.
 |
 |
Characteristics
This is one of the oldest landscapes in the Netherlands. Roughly speaking, it consists of fairly large plateaus, slopes and brook valleys. The characteristic landscape elements on the plateaus are arable fields and traditional orchards. The slopes and brook valleys form a smaller-scale landscape, where deciduous woodland alternates with grassland. Runoff created holloways on the slopes; to prevent these eroding further, shrubs and trees were planted. Similar plantings were done on the steep edges, called graften. In the valleys there are springs and meandering fast-flowing brooks and streams. Water mills and castles have been built here. Other very characteristic features of this downland area are hawthorn hedges, marl caves, wayside shrines and courtyard farmsteads.
Trends
The downland area of south Limburg is one of the least spoiled landscapes in the Netherlands, but from 1980-1990 it was the most rapidly changing agricultural landscape in the country. During that period, changes in agriculture led to the disappearance of field boundaries and landscape elements such as holloways, hedges, steep edges and traditional orchards. By 1990 there were only half as many holloways and traditional orchards as there had been in 1900 (see figure). Sixty percent of the water mills have disappeared and many of the typical courtyard farmsteads have been converted into apartment complexes. There have been few changes to the course of brooks and streams, but the water quality has greatly deteriorated.
Technical note
The data are from an analysis of the changes in the cultural landscape based on random samples from the 1x1 km grid squares of the 1:25 000 topographical map. The graphs have been indexed, using 1900 as the benchmark year (=100).
References
- Dijkstra, H., J.F. Coeterier, A. van der Haar, A.J.M. Koomen en W.L.C. Salden (1997). Veranderend cultuurlandschap. Signalering van landschapsveranderingen van 1900 tot 1990 voor de Natuurverkenning 1997. Rapport 544. DLO-Staring Centrum. Wageningen.
- Geertsema, W. (2002). Het belang van groenblauwe dooradering voor natuur en landschap. Achtergronddocument Natuurbalans 2002. Reeks 'Planbureau-werk in uitvoering', Werkdocument 2002/02. Natuurplanbureau/Alterra. Wageningen.
