Westerveld tightens rules for high-pesticide ornamental horticulture to protect residents
New regulations in Westerveld aim to reduce health risks from pesticide use in ornamental horticulture. Residents near high-pesticide farms may see stricter distance rules, while growers gain clarity on future operations. The changes target new cultivation sites only.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Westerveld (Drenthe) |
| Targeted Sector | Ornamental horticulture with high pesticide use (>20 kg/ha/year) |
| New Distance Rule | 50-meter buffer from homes, schools, and care facilities |
| Exceptions | Organic farms and plots within De Drentse Lelie |
| Effective Date | March 17, 2026 (replaces 2025 decision) |
| Next Steps | Stakeholder consultations; potential covenant with growers |
| Impact on Existing Farms | No changes; rules apply only to new cultivation sites |
The Westerveld municipal council is responsible for local environmental policy, including regulating agricultural practices to balance economic interests with public health. This decision reflects its role in enforcing provincial and national frameworks on pesticide use while engaging with local stakeholders.
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Adjusted preparatory decision for ornamental horticulture in Westerveld
The Westerveld municipal council adopted new policy frameworks on February 17, 2026, to regulate ornamental horticulture. The aim is to establish clear rules to limit the impact of crop protection agents used in ornamental horticulture on public health and to provide clarity for growers.
The municipality is working on two initiatives:
- Developing amendments to the environmental plan.
- Drafting a covenant with ornamental horticulture businesses in Westerveld.
New preparatory decision to replace 2025 decision
On December 16, 2025, the municipal executive adopted a preparatory decision that immediately prohibited the start of new ornamental horticulture in locations where it had not previously occurred.
On March 17, 2026, the executive adopted an adjusted preparatory decision. This replaces the 2025 decision and incorporates the frameworks set by the municipal council.
Strict rules only for high-pesticide cultivation
The adjusted rules apply exclusively to ornamental horticulture with high pesticide use, provisionally defined as more than 20 kilograms per hectare per year. Additionally, a distance requirement applies: high-pesticide ornamental horticulture must maintain a minimum distance of 50 meters from the plot boundary of ornamental horticulture-sensitive functions. These include, among others: residential homes, schools, daycare centers, nursing homes, and recreational areas with overnight accommodations. Exceptions apply to:
- Plots that are part of De Drentse Lelie.
- Plots where organic cultivation is practiced.
This amended preparatory decision has no consequences for ongoing cultivation. Planned cultivation activities may proceed as usual. The decision focuses on new situations.
Next steps: participation and potential covenant
Over the coming months, further consultations with stakeholders will take place. This may result in the final rules differing slightly from the current provisions. The possibility of a covenant between the municipality and growers is also being explored.
The intention is to submit both the amended environmental plan and a potential covenant to the municipal council for decision-making.