Land use; all categories, municipalities

Land use; all categories, municipalities

Regions Periods Built-up area Built-up area total (ha) Built-up area Residential (ha) Built-up area Retail trade, hotel and catering (ha) Built-up area Public institutions (ha) Built-up area Socio-cultural facilities (ha) Built-up area Industrial area and offices (ha) Semi built-up area Semi built-up area total (ha) Semi built-up area Dumping site (ha) Semi built-up area Car wreck site (ha) Semi built-up area Cemetery (ha) Semi built-up area Mining area (ha) Semi built-up area Building site (ha) Semi built-up area Other semi built-up area (ha) Recreation Area for daytrips (ha) Woodland and nature Dry natural open area (ha) Woodland and nature Wet natural open area (ha) Inland water Area for storing industrial water (ha)
The Netherlands 2017 370,140 241,408 12,028 12,057 16,463 88,184 39,221 1,930 429 4,540 3,147 25,046 4,129 11,526 93,780 67,035 484
Noord-Nederland (LD) 2017 50,836 34,558 1,484 1,788 2,163 10,844 6,993 429 75 922 1,207 3,591 770 1,598 26,241 27,022 68
Oost-Nederland (LD) 2017 84,515 55,387 2,662 2,825 4,263 19,379 9,292 637 116 1,148 671 6,039 681 2,791 26,948 13,551 99
West-Nederland (LD) 2017 140,605 90,409 5,311 4,153 6,013 34,719 14,933 488 135 1,667 108 10,184 2,352 4,951 28,954 17,904 192
Zuid-Nederland (LD) 2017 94,183 61,054 2,571 3,291 4,024 23,242 8,002 376 104 802 1,161 5,233 326 2,186 11,637 8,557 125
Groningen (PV) 2017 16,700 11,269 454 733 717 3,527 3,161 173 27 361 555 1,767 279 518 2,686 5,064 43
Fryslân (PV) 2017 18,423 12,434 592 432 713 4,252 2,139 124 28 264 220 1,013 490 663 14,583 16,328 1
Drenthe (PV) 2017 15,713 10,855 438 622 734 3,065 1,693 132 20 298 432 811 0 417 8,972 5,629 24
Overijssel (PV) 2017 26,699 17,562 893 538 1,146 6,560 2,798 206 56 395 227 1,873 41 396 4,275 7,793 37
Flevoland (PV) 2017 9,067 5,687 283 413 470 2,214 2,357 91 6 56 20 1,782 401 916 2,226 3,588 59
Gelderland (PV) 2017 48,750 32,137 1,486 1,874 2,647 10,605 4,137 340 54 697 424 2,383 239 1,478 20,447 2,170 3
Utrecht (PV) 2017 23,465 15,731 840 985 1,498 4,410 1,465 44 10 293 4 1,086 27 492 1,858 1,009 4
Noord-Holland (PV) 2017 46,322 30,894 1,953 1,523 1,894 10,058 4,691 207 71 532 54 3,291 537 1,936 14,759 3,614 14
Zuid-Holland (PV) 2017 58,654 36,447 2,123 1,290 2,335 16,458 5,819 179 40 634 50 4,270 645 2,237 8,378 6,857 165
Zeeland (PV) 2017 12,165 7,338 395 355 286 3,792 2,958 57 13 207 0 1,537 1,143 286 3,958 6,424 9
Noord-Brabant (PV) 2017 63,628 40,787 1,763 2,287 2,654 16,136 4,774 266 80 462 158 3,567 241 1,404 8,656 7,032 121
Limburg (PV) 2017 30,555 20,267 808 1,004 1,370 7,106 3,228 110 24 341 1,003 1,666 85 782 2,981 1,525 5
Oost-Groningen (CR) 2017 5,432 3,897 116 140 183 1,096 848 54 7 111 248 406 21 190 80 1,372 17
Delfzijl en omgeving (CR) 2017 1,803 1,115 49 61 64 514 500 24 0 54 52 260 109 11 13 464 2
Overig Groningen (CR) 2017 9,465 6,256 289 532 470 1,917 1,814 94 20 195 255 1,101 149 317 2,593 3,228 24
Noord-Friesland (CR) 2017 9,095 6,207 251 307 365 1,966 1,044 49 9 127 116 485 259 316 13,006 10,815 0
Zuidwest-Friesland (CR) 2017 3,854 2,578 146 54 113 963 542 16 4 58 5 227 231 216 77 2,208 1
Zuidoost-Friesland (CR) 2017 5,474 3,649 196 72 235 1,323 553 59 16 79 99 300 0 131 1,500 3,305 0
Noord-Drenthe (CR) 2017 6,079 4,260 139 333 418 929 701 117 3 125 203 252 0 145 3,605 3,815 8
Zuidoost-Drenthe (CR) 2017 6,038 4,253 167 181 147 1,290 694 12 12 100 162 408 0 229 2,116 682 16
Zuidwest-Drenthe (CR) 2017 3,596 2,342 132 108 168 846 298 3 5 73 66 151 0 43 3,251 1,132 0
Noord-Overijssel (CR) 2017 8,721 5,407 279 243 392 2,401 1,242 36 12 133 120 920 20 171 1,117 6,153 37
Zuidwest-Overijssel (CR) 2017 3,219 2,152 94 74 193 706 274 2 6 48 14 183 21 6 62 155 0
Twente (CR) 2017 14,758 10,003 519 221 561 3,453 1,282 167 38 215 92 770 0 219 3,097 1,486 0
Veluwe (CR) 2017 16,206 10,341 529 1,047 1,072 3,217 1,299 110 16 253 4 872 42 472 17,066 494 0
Achterhoek (CR) 2017 10,172 6,838 329 222 460 2,322 897 107 15 166 58 528 23 191 352 526 0
Arnhem/Nijmegen (CR) 2017 15,857 10,962 459 489 922 3,023 1,170 86 19 187 199 594 85 515 2,921 554 0
Zuidwest-Gelderland (CR) 2017 6,515 3,995 168 116 193 2,043 771 38 4 90 162 389 90 300 108 596 3
Utrecht (CR) 2017 23,465 15,731 840 985 1,498 4,410 1,465 44 10 293 4 1,086 27 492 1,858 1,009 4
Kop van Noord-Holland (CR) 2017 8,789 5,978 339 558 261 1,654 1,175 81 13 83 20 619 359 278 4,931 1,152 0
Alkmaar en omgeving (CR) 2017 4,971 3,638 212 92 217 812 546 32 11 40 17 441 5 125 2,736 230 0
IJmond (CR) 2017 4,045 2,305 170 203 113 1,254 210 3 3 71 12 67 55 312 2,252 142 9
Agglomeratie Haarlem (CR) 2017 3,270 2,557 123 73 204 313 193 5 2 52 0 132 2 89 3,865 101 4
Zaanstreek (CR) 2017 2,660 1,741 129 43 81 667 207 70 0 21 0 111 5 39 0 324 0
Groot-Amsterdam (CR) 2017 17,572 10,756 832 395 758 4,831 2,020 9 38 179 5 1,686 102 934 21 1,031 1
Het Gooi en Vechtstreek (CR) 2017 5,015 3,919 148 159 259 529 339 7 2 85 0 235 9 159 954 633 0
Agglomeratie Leiden en Bollenstreek (CR) 2017 6,500 4,479 245 102 438 1,236 435 6 2 55 5 367 1 251 2,220 51 0
Agglomeratie 's-Gravenhage (CR) 2017 9,768 7,203 511 248 485 1,320 445 0 0 107 1 326 11 303 2,372 75 0
Delft en Westland (CR) 2017 3,436 2,052 143 93 190 957 305 0 3 39 5 257 0 87 426 168 0
Oost-Zuid-Holland (CR) 2017 5,634 3,768 155 107 201 1,403 476 3 1 61 0 392 19 181 1 939 0
Groot-Rijnmond (CR) 2017 25,896 14,201 877 600 774 9,444 3,492 84 29 287 39 2,535 519 1,111 3,354 4,350 165
Zuidoost-Zuid-Holland (CR) 2017 7,420 4,744 192 140 247 2,098 666 86 7 85 0 393 96 304 4 1,273 0
Zeeuwsch-Vlaanderen (CR) 2017 4,001 2,367 136 115 83 1,301 895 19 2 56 0 625 193 24 478 2,895 9
Overig Zeeland (CR) 2017 8,164 4,971 259 240 203 2,491 2,063 39 12 151 0 912 949 261 3,480 3,529 0
West-Noord-Brabant (CR) 2017 16,448 9,582 474 639 561 5,192 1,514 103 36 126 10 1,078 161 223 909 3,027 116
Midden-Noord-Brabant (CR) 2017 11,188 7,114 310 439 467 2,858 859 89 17 88 23 595 48 410 1,091 1,662 0
Noordoost-Noord-Brabant (CR) 2017 16,563 10,929 436 596 835 3,767 1,218 55 22 121 64 932 24 501 1,360 502 0
Zuidoost-Noord-Brabant (CR) 2017 19,429 13,163 543 613 792 4,318 1,183 19 5 127 62 962 9 269 5,296 1,842 5
Noord-Limburg (CR) 2017 8,232 4,928 177 377 418 2,332 989 10 5 101 297 532 44 197 1,653 672 1
Midden-Limburg (CR) 2017 7,296 4,811 197 329 311 1,649 666 36 17 66 95 415 37 323 1,057 796 3
Zuid-Limburg (CR) 2017 15,027 10,528 433 299 641 3,125 1,574 64 2 174 611 718 4 262 272 56 0
Flevoland (CR) 2017 9,067 5,687 283 413 470 2,214 2,357 91 6 56 20 1,782 401 916 2,226 3,588 59
No urban region (SG) 2017
Groningen (SG) 2017
Leeuwarden (SG) 2017
Zwolle (SG) 2017
Enschede (SG) 2017
Apeldoorn (SG) 2017
Arnhem (SG) 2017
Nijmegen (SG) 2017
Amersfoort (SG) 2017
Utrecht (SG) 2017
Amsterdam (SG) 2017
Haarlem (SG) 2017
Leiden (SG) 2017
's-Gravenhage (SG) 2017
Rotterdam (SG) 2017
Dordrecht (SG) 2017
Breda (SG) 2017
Tilburg (SG) 2017
's-Hertogenbosch (SG) 2017
Eindhoven (SG) 2017
Geleen/Sittard (SG) 2017
Heerlen (SG) 2017
Maastricht (SG) 2017
No metropolitan agglomeration (GA) 2017
Groningen (GA) 2017
Leeuwarden (GA) 2017
Zwolle (GA) 2017
Enschede (GA) 2017
Apeldoorn (GA) 2017
Arnhem (GA) 2017
Nijmegen (GA) 2017
Amersfoort (GA) 2017
Utrecht (GA) 2017
Amsterdam (GA) 2017
Haarlem (GA) 2017
Leiden (GA) 2017
's-Gravenhage (GA) 2017
Rotterdam (GA) 2017
Dordrecht (GA) 2017
Breda (GA) 2017
Tilburg (GA) 2017
's-Hertogenbosch (GA) 2017
Eindhoven (GA) 2017
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table provides information about the land use of the area of the Netherlands and the changes in land use.

Data available from: 1996.

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are final.

Changes as of 26 April 2023:
Addition of 2017 figures.

This table is based on the Bestand Bodemgebruik (BBG), which literally translates as the ‘land use file’. For intervening base years without a BBG, this table just presents total area statistics for the presented regions.

Previously published base years in this table are never revised for corrections established when a newer BBG-edition is produced. Such corrections consist of corrections of earlier misinterpretations and of improved interpretations based on new sources. The corrections are recorded in the so-called Mutatiebestand (the mutations file) which is a digital map, being a part of each BBG publication. See Bestand Bodemgebruik for further information on correction of the land use statistics and for available publications.

As of reporting year 2016, Statistics Netherlands no longer publishes data on metropolitan agglomerations and urban regions. Various social developments have rendered the philosophy and methodology underlying the delineation outdated. It furthermore appears that other agencies are using a different classification of metropolitan agglomerations and urban regions depending on the area of application. This means there is no longer a consensus on which standard applies.
The metropolitan agglomerations and urban regions will not be published anymore from 2015 onwards as a default regional figure.

When will new figures be published?
After the addition of the 2017 land use figures all updates to this table will be stopped.

The methodology of the land use statistics, as it has been in use up to the 2017-edition, is being redesigned. See for further information on this redesign and the availability of land use statistics based on the new methodology the web page Bestand Bodemgebruik.

Description topics

Built-up area
Area in use for residents, work, shopping, cultural facilities and public amenities.
Built-up area total
Total area of the main group ‘Built-on area’.
Residential
Area mainly used for residents, including primary amenities.

Including
- housing areas;
- primary amenities e.g. (local) shops, primary schools;
- local offices of e.g. banks;
- green areas smaller than 1 hectare;
- streets and local parking areas;
- courtyards, gardens;
- playing grounds;
- trailer camp (excluding wreckage areas larger than 0,1 hectare).

If residential areas are inside woodland, the total area is assignated as residential if a street pattern can be recognized.
Retail trade, hotel and catering
Area in use for concentrated retail trade and catering activities.

Including
- shopping centre, often with a pedestrian zone (even if above the shops there are residents);
- markets of goods;
- area with companies in the hotel and catering industry;
- associated parking areas.
Public institutions
Area in use of general use, like community homes, police offices and utility services.

Including
- administration buildings;
- municipal offices (stadskantoor), office public works;
- border post (customs etc);
- provincial office;
- police offices, fire brigades, courts, jails;
- utility services (gas, water, electricity, central city heating and central areal parts-constructions) including the associated area;
- water treatment plant and incinerators, including the storage buildings;
- storage areas for the administration, excluding the ones for maintenance of roads;
- militair objects, like depots of ammunition, barracs, mobilisation complexes, radar posts and shooting ranges;
- fort (former);
- associated parking areas and forest- or shrublines.

Public services are mainly limited on the map by a fence. As the limit of the object, the location of the fence is used.
Socio-cultural facilities
Area in use by social and cultural facilities as hospitals, universities and musea.

Including
- secondary schools and schools of applied science;
- boarding school;
- conference centre;
- hospital, sanatorium, nursing home, psychiatrist hospital etc.;
- church, cloister, museum (including castles that are open to the public), excluding open air museum;
- theatre, cinema, concert- and congress hall;
- cultural centre;
- community centre, club house, youth association;
- sheltered workshop;
- associated parking areas and forest- or shrublines.

Social and cultural facilities are mainly limited on the map by a fence. As the limit of the object, the location of the fence is used.
Industrial area and offices
Area in use for industry, retail and business services.

Including
- industrial area;
- harbour area;
- auction area;
- exhibition area;
- cattle market (including covered areas);
- wholesale business area;
- area with banks, insurance companies etc.;
- associated storage areas and parking areas;
- garages (including parking areas);
- garage of bus companies;
- offices;
- associated parking areas.

Excluding included non-used areas or areas not yet ready for building or construction, these are assigned to building sites.
Semi built-up area
Area with a certain amount of paving, not in use as traffic area or built-up area.
Semi built-up area total
Total area of the main group ‘Semi built-up area’.
Dumping site
Area for the storage of waste.

Including
- dumping site;
- associated parking areas and forest- or shrublines.

Car wreck site
Area for the storage and scrapping of carwrecks.

Including
- area for the storage and scrapping of carwrecks;
- scrapyard;
- associated parking areas and forest- or shrublines.

Excluding
- area of the scrapping industry.

Minimum size of 0,1 hectare.
Cemetery
Area in use for cemeteries and cremations.

Including
- area for the burial of people or animals;
- crematorium;
- associated buildings, parking areas, gardens and forest- or shrublines.

Minimum size of 0,1 hectare.
Mining area
Area for winning materials from the bottom or soil.

Including
- area for deep- and shallow extraction of raw materials;
- associated buildings, parking areas, storage areas of extracted materials and waste.

Raw materials include
- natural gas;
- petroleum;
- stone;
- gravel;
- clay;
- loam;
- marl;
- peat;
- sand;
- salt.

Mining areas of natural gas and petroleum are mainly limited on the map by a fence. As the limit of the object, the location of the fence is used.

Minimum size of 0,5 hectare.
Building site
Area in use for construction.

including
- area of construction or with preparing traces;
- fallow land on industrial- and office areas.
Other semi built-up area
Area of other use with a certain amount of pavement.

including
- a dyke that is not overgrown with grass;
- pier above sea;
- fallow land that can not be recognized as building site;
- railway out of use.

For longitudinal piers and embankments that are connected to the land, the minimum size is 0,1 hectare.
Recreation
Area in use for recreation.
Area for daytrips
Area in use for daytrips like zoos, open air musea and attraction parks.

Including
- camping for only day use;
- zoo and safaripark;
- fairypark;
- amusement park;
- open air museum;
- yacht-basin excluding the water, but including the area of associated industry with a minimum size of 0,1 hectare;
- associated parking areas and forest- or shrublines.
- natural area with grass or shrubs (not for agriculture and not dry natural open area), designed with footpaths or bikelanes and recreational objects like seats.

Including the categories if they do not belong to park or public garden:
- playing grounds;
- picknick areas;
- deerpark;
- children’s farm;
- miniature golf;
- playing field.

Minimum size for yacht-basins (the land part) of 0,1 hectare.
Woodland and nature
Area with forest or natural open area.
Dry natural open area
Open area with a dry surface, mainly nature.

Including
- dry heather;
- grasslike natural area (not for agricultural use);
- dunes;
- sand drift;
- sandbar;
- beach.
Wet natural open area
Open area with a wet surface, mainly nature.

Including
- wet heather;
- reed and rush (including cultivations);
- salt marsh (not innundated at normal high tides);
- tidal soil, if barren;
- bluegrass land.

Excluding
- osier bed;
- wet woodland.
Inland water
Inland water in use as waterway, recreational water, mining area, sewage or sludge farm, water reservoir, including IJsselmeer.
Area for storing industrial water
Area for separing water and sediments, or for storage of (polluted) harboursludge.

Including
- storage area of the segregation of water and sediment;
- storage area of (polluted) harboursludge.