Guidance The recognisability of the evolutionary history

Index section The recognisability of the evolutionary history

• Subsection The recognisability of valuable areas
• Subsection Characteristic landscape elements and patterns

Introduction

The Dutch landscape is an outstanding example of a cultural landscape. Humans have transformed the natural environment (water, soil and ecosystems) to create places where they can live and work.

Factors giving value to Dutch landscapes are national and international significance and very little disturbance. Their natural and cultural history can be read from features such as soil characteristics, landforms, reclamation patterns, constructions and ecological communities. As the landscape is being continuously modified to meet the changing demands of society, however, traces of the historical landscape are vanishing, though in various places some are still very apparent. The government is committed to maintaining and preserving this historical identity, as can be seen from its Fifth Memorandum on Spatial Planning and the Second Structure Plan for the Rural Areas in the Netherlands.