The Province of North Holland is changing the boundaries of several so-called operational areas of the Environmental Regulation North Holland 2022 (OV NH2022).
The environmental regulation contains all the rules regarding the organization of space in the province. The operational areas indicate which rules apply where in the province, which activities are possible, and under what conditions. This makes it clear what is or isnt allowed in a specific area.
Proposed Adjustments
The boundary changes affect 38 locations in North Holland. All adjustments can be found on the digital map Opens an external link (viewer). Sometimes it is a correction because the map deviates from the actual situation. This is the case, for example, with the provincial monument Uitgeesterbroek in Uitgeest.
In other cases, it involves adjusting the boundaries of the Silence Areas so that they coincide with existing boundaries of nature areas. This reduces fragmentation and makes the rules clearer. An example of this is the merging of the areas Vechtplassen and -polders, the Wijde Blik, and the Loenderveensche Plas into one silence area. The new name is Vechtplassen.
The boundaries of the search areas for solar and wind energy are also being changed following the recalibration of the Regional Energy Strategies (RES). This recalibration has been developed jointly with municipalities and water boards and contributes to the national agreements from the Climate Agreement of 2019.
Responding to Proposed Changes
The proposed changes are available for public inspection from Tuesday, September 9, to Monday, October 20 for public review. Everyone can respond to the changes during this period. The received responses will be answered and, where applicable, taken into account in the final decision. The province is expected to finalize the modified operational areas in early 2026 so that they take effect from February 1. More information can be found at www.noord-holland.nl/environmental-regulation.