Ecosystem extent; ecosystem types; region

Ecosystem extent; ecosystem types; region

Region Periods Settlements and other artificial areas Total settlements and other artificial a (km2) Settlements and other artificial areas Settlement areas (km2) Settlements and other artificial areas Infrastructure (km2) Urban greenspace and recreation sites Total urban greenspace and recreation si (km2) Urban greenspace and recreation sites Urban greenspace (km2) Urban greenspace and recreation sites Sports and recreation sites (km2) Cropland Total cropland (km2) Cropland Annual cropland (km2) Cropland Permanent cropland (km2) Cropland (Semi-)natural cropland (km2) Cropland Unspecified cropland (km2) Grassland Total grassland (km2)
The Netherlands 2024* 6,894 5,257 1,636 871 272 599 10,597 9,852 341 72 331 10,237
Flevoland (PV) 2024* 201 139 62 29 12 17 838 807 14 4 13 160
Gelderland (PV) 2024* 970 740 229 122 32 90 1,040 903 85 8 44 1,627
Noord-Holland (PV) 2024* 741 577 164 114 44 70 760 720 10 3 27 741
Zuid-Holland (PV) 2024* 922 756 165 112 46 67 546 501 11 4 31 899
Zeeland (PV) 2024* 293 185 108 46 8 38 1,080 1,002 47 3 27 261
Noord-Nederland (LD) 2024* 1,135 808 327 139 37 102 2,819 2,712 8 18 80 3,168
Oost-Nederland (LD) 2024* 1,754 1,317 437 216 60 156 2,702 2,502 108 19 74 3,122
West-Nederland 2024* 2,320 1,806 514 322 116 206 2,548 2,350 91 14 93 2,581
Zuid-Nederland 2024* 1,685 1,326 358 194 59 135 2,527 2,288 134 22 83 1,366
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


The numbers in this table represent the surface area of various ecosystems in the Netherlands, such as forests, agricultural lands, lakes, and parks. Each ecosystem is distinguished by specific biotic and abiotic elements, and their interactions. The table presents the ecosystem extent, with data organized based on the surface area in square kilometers per ecosystem type and per province.

Data available from: 2016

Status of the figures:
The figures are provisional.

Changes as of May 2024:
Data for 2024 have been added. Data for previous years are adjusted according to the revision policy (see: Status of the figures).

When will new figures be available?
New figures are published annually in June.

Description topics

Settlements and other artificial areas
This class represents ecosystems charactarized by buildings and other man-made structures, including residential, industrial, commercial, and transport areas. It excludes green ecosystems in the urban environmen, which area classified under 'Urban green and recreation'.
Total settlements and other artificial a
Total area of the main group 'Settlements and other artificial areas'.
Settlement areas
Includes residential, commercial and industrial areas and adjacent (small) roads, properties and front- and backyards.
Infrastructure
Includes land used for transport infrastructure, such as major roads, railways, airports and ports, including associated green areas (such as road verges). Includes extraction sites and dump areas.
Urban greenspace and recreation sites
This class represents urban greenspace such as public parks and other vegetated areas, as well as areas used for recreation and leisure activities such as sports and camping grounds.
Total urban greenspace and recreation si
Total area of the main group 'Urban greenspace and recreation sites'.
Urban greenspace
Includes areas with vegetation within or partly embraced within urban areas. This includes public parks and other public or private green space, including associated infrastructure such as bicycle and walking trails.
Sports and recreation sites
Includes areas used for recreation purposes. Includes among others cemeteries, zoos, theme parks, historical and botanical gardens, community gardens, sports grounds, camping grounds and leisure parks..
Cropland
This class represents areable land including intensively and extensively managed cropland, and temporary grasslands used for crop rotation.
Total cropland
Total area of the main group 'Cropland'.
Annual cropland
Includes cropland planted for annually or regularly harvested crops. They include arable land for potatoes, vegetables, cereals, industrial crops, pulses, floriculture and horticulture. Fallow land is also included in this category.
Permanent cropland
Includes areas with perennial crops. Mainly plantations of woody crops, vineyards, fruit and berry plantations, christmas tree plantations and nurseries.
(Semi-)natural cropland
Includes cropland with natural and semi-natural elements, such as strip cultivation and arable field margins.
Unspecified cropland
Includes agricultural land for which no specific crop has been identified. This category mainly comprises field margins or parts of agricultural parcels.
Grassland
This class represents permanent grassland, including managed pastures used for agriculture and (semi-)natural grasslands. Temporary grasslands are excluded, which are classified under 'Cropland'.
Total grassland
Total area of the main group 'Grassland'.