Ecosystem extent; ecosystem types; region

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Region Total area (km2) 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)
The Netherlands 41,543 6,894 5,257 1,636 871 272 599 10,597 9,852 341
Groningen (PV) 2,955 358 259 98 36 15 21 1,125 1,078 3
Fryslân (PV) 5,753 421 295 126 48 11 36 644 626 1
Drenthe (PV) 2,680 356 253 102 55 11 44 1,051 1,008 5
Overijssel (PV) 3,421 583 438 146 66 17 48 824 791 9
Flevoland (PV) 2,412 201 139 62 29 12 17 838 807 14
Gelderland (PV) 5,136 970 740 229 122 32 90 1,040 903 85
Utrecht (PV) 1,560 365 288 77 50 18 32 162 128 23
Noord-Holland (PV) 4,092 741 577 164 114 44 70 760 720 10
Zuid-Holland (PV) 3,308 922 756 165 112 46 67 546 501 11
Zeeland (PV) 2,933 293 185 108 46 8 38 1,080 1,002 47
Noord-Brabant (PV) 5,082 1,144 903 241 129 39 90 1,772 1,608 95
Limburg (PV) 2,210 541 423 117 65 21 44 756 680 39
Noord-Nederland (LD) 11,389 1,135 808 327 139 37 102 2,819 2,712 8
Oost-Nederland (LD) 10,969 1,754 1,317 437 216 60 156 2,702 2,502 108
West-Nederland 11,893 2,320 1,806 514 322 116 206 2,548 2,350 91
Zuid-Nederland 7,292 1,685 1,326 358 194 59 135 2,527 2,288 134
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

Total area
Total area
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.