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The position of agricultural land among municipalities is remarkably high
Municipalities in the south of the Netherlands have a striking amount of agricultural land, according to a data analysis by Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Governments jointly own 10% of all agricultural land, with mainly the municipalities in the South of the Netherlands sometimes owning up to half of all agricultural land within their borders.
Municipal authorities in Limburg and North Brabant often have a substantial land position, the WUR researchers conclude. The Limburg municipalities of Bergen, Echt-Susteren and Horst aan de Maas own between 63% and 41% of all agricultural land in their municipality. This position is partly due to the construction of new residential areas or industry, for which municipalities purchase agricultural land.
Provinces have a modest position
In general, the land position of the provinces can be said to be relatively small. North and South Holland, Overijssel, North Brabant and Drenthe own between 2.000 and 2.700 hectares. In the other provinces this is less than 2.000 hectares. Flevoland is at the bottom with only 150 hectares. Nowhere in the Netherlands does a province own more than a fifth of all land, while in individual municipalities this is sometimes considerably more.
The government body that owns the most land is Staatsbosbeheer. They own 53.000 hectares of agricultural land. However, this is usually land with a primary nature function and secondary agriculture. For example, for grazing cattle. Together with 46.000 hectares, the municipalities are the second largest. The Central Government Real Estate Agency comes in third with 43.000 hectares, although the agency itself communicates a figure of 41.000 hectares. This makes it approximately the same size as investor ASR, which claims to own and manage 43.000 hectares.
11% in government ownership
Of the total agricultural land area, 190.000 hectares are owned by government services. That is 11% of the total, the researchers calculate. Provinces own 21.000 hectares and water boards own 11.000 hectares. This mainly concerns dikes that are grazed.
Niels van der Boom
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