Spatial conditions for a sustainable agriculture: Regional differentiation in the Netherlands

Abstract

Agricultural land use in the Netherlands, compared with that in other countries in Europe, is very intensive and labour productivity is high. However, there have been important regional differences in agricultural development in recent decades. Analysing these differences from a spatial perspective, three zones can be distinguished within the Netherlands: a central zone, a peripheral zone and an intermediate zone. The spatial problems are most pronounced in the central zone (urban-agrarian congestion) and in the periphery (problems of regional development). Another striking feature is the difference between the higher and the lower parts of the country. The greatest spatial problems occur in the higher parts of the Netherlands and particularly in the sandy areas, but within both the lower and the higher parts, there are still many differences in the relationship between agriculture and spatial organization. Within the higher parts of the Netherlands, the northern sandy area occupies a relatively favourable position. From a trend survey, it appears that future developments are surrounded by considerable uncertainties. In this situation, the elaboration of alternative directions seems necessary. Sustainability can be defined in different ways, and depending on this definition, the spatial conditions for a sustainable agricultural development vary. On the basis of a risk-avoiding attitude towards the environment and nature, regions with a less intensive agriculture which have had less environmental decay are a favourable starting point for a sustainable agricultural development. This holds especially for the North of the country.