Sustainable development and protected landscapes: the case of The Netherlands

In 2004, the Dutch government published a policy paper on spatial planning that sets out a framework for the designation of so-called 'National Landscapes, large areas of inhabited Countryside with specific historic elements, geomorphology, natural character and openness. This represents the latest attempt to introduce IUCN Category V protected areas into the Netherlands. National Landscapes are of international importance because they are either unique to the Netherlands or are seldom found elsewhere. The main policy goal is to preserve the existing landscape quality while, at the same time, stimulating social and economic development of the designated area. This article is intended to provide insight into the best ways of sustainable landscape protection in National Landscapes. In order to do so, the Dutch landscape policy is put into a European perspective by comparing National Landscapes with similar large protected landscape areas in Great Britain, France and Germany. In contrast to these well-known European examples, Dutch National Landscapes do not fully acknowledge the new conservation paradigm that protected landscapes combine social, economic and ecological objectives. Although, in theory, National Landscapes could support regional Sustainable development, they currently fall short as test beds for all integrated landscape philosophy. It is argued that policy reform is needed to improve the policy for National Landscapes through more rigorous enforcement of sustainable development goals. A further collaboration and exchange of landscape protection systems across EU countries could support this reform.