South Holland tightens environmental rules to protect green spaces and limit urban sprawl
Residents of South Holland will face stricter building rules as the province prioritizes green spaces and quality of life over expansion. The new policy limits urban growth, protects meadow birds, and adjusts wind energy plans—impacting housing, agriculture, and energy projects.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Province | Zuid-Holland (South Holland) |
| Policy Focus | Environmental protection, housing density, wind/solar energy, meadow birds |
| Urban Expansion | Halted; rural areas protected, urban growth limited to existing built-up zones |
| Minimum Building Density | 33 homes per hectare |
| Wind Energy Adjustments | Primary search areas reduced from 9 to 3; solar energy alternatives expanded |
| Meadow Bird Protection | New areas added to environmental bylaw to prevent population decline |
| Public Consultation Responses | Over 800 responses received; adjustments made to wind energy and growth plans |
| Next Steps | Provincial Council review: April 10 (hearing), June 3 (planned adoption) |
The Province of South Holland is responsible for spatial planning and environmental policy within its jurisdiction. It oversees the balance between urban development, nature conservation, and infrastructure, ensuring sustainable growth while addressing the needs of residents, businesses, and ecosystems.
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Province makes tough choices in new environmental policy
The province of South Holland faces a major challenge: balancing numerous ambitions within a limited amount of space. Housing, work, nature, agriculture, and energy generation all require space in the Netherlands' most densely populated province. For this reason, the Provincial Executive has established new Environmental Policy, featuring clear and sometimes far-reaching choices about what can and cannot be done where.
Careful choices in a crowded province
The new Environmental Policy was developed in close consultation with municipalities, residents, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders. Over 800 responses were received to the proposal published for public inspection in November. These have been addressed and, where possible, incorporated into the final proposal now adopted by the Provincial Executive.
Arno Bonte, Deputy for Environmental Policy coordination, reflects on the past and looks ahead: “We have tried to do justice to as many responses as possible, knowing that we can never fully satisfy everyone. Over the past 50 years, urban areas in South Holland have doubled while rural areas have halved. We are now putting a stop to that development. We will better protect the green buffer zones in the interest of livability in cities and villages. Not everything is possible anymore. We prioritize quality over quantity.”
Protecting and utilizing: focus on broad prosperity
The strong protection of undeveloped areas is the biggest change in the Environmental Policy. Large-scale expansions outside existing built-up areas are, in principle, excluded. However, at the request of smaller municipalities, limited growth is allowed when towns or village centers wish to revitalize, such as adding an extra street or small business. The policy also includes a minimum building density of 33 homes per hectare to ensure careful and efficient use of available space. Another key addition is the principle of broad prosperity, meaning attention to quality of life, now and in the future.
Wind energy and adjustments based on responses
The majority of responses received concerned wind energy targets. In response, a new placement vision for wind energy has been developed, search areas have been adjusted, and the number of primary search areas has been reduced.
After consultation with the regions of Midden-Holland and Holland Rijnland, the number of primary search areas has been reduced from nine to three. Both regions are working on plans to generate more solar energy locally, reducing the need for wind turbines. At the request of Midden-Holland, a strip along the A12 has been added to a search area for wind turbines. Additionally, opportunities for small wind turbines on farmyards have been expanded.
At the same time, the green-blue network will be better protected by considering the preservation and, where possible, enhancement of ecological, recreational, and landscape values in new spatial developments. More space will also be made available for meadow birds. Promising meadow bird areas will be added to the environmental bylaw to prevent further decline in meadow bird populations and promote recovery.
Next steps: review by the Provincial Council
Now it is up to the Provincial Council to review the revision. The schedule is as follows:
- April 10 – Public hearing on the revision of the environmental policy
- May 13 – Discussion in the Spatial Planning and Environment Committee
- June 3 – Planned adoption by the Provincial Council
With this revision, South Holland takes another step in carefully balancing ambitions within the province’s limited space. The new policy aims to ensure a future-proof balance between housing, work, nature, agriculture, and energy generation. Read more about the 2025 Revision.