Series of columns: How do you see the future of the Dutch polder landscape?

5 - The Future of the Dutch Polder Landscape

J.J. de Graeff, Director of Natuurmonumenten

The Dutch polder landscape is unique. Unique for its broad panoramas amongst a sea of concrete. Unique for its large, rectilinear parcels of land. Unique for its marshland habitats, some of which are still of a high quality. Unique for its intricate network of water storage, whereby water flows upwards from below rather than vice versa. And finally, unique for its age: the Great Reclamation began some thousand years ago; thus many patterns in the landscape are literally age-old.

However, that which was built up over a millennium has been rapidly dismantled since the Second World War. Land consolidation, urban expansion and the growth of infrastructure, changes to agriculture and horticulture, the establishment of recreational areas and woodlands, all these have helped to kill off a beautiful and valuable landscape. I lament this as a former dike warden, as general director of Natuurmonumenten and as a Dutchman. Without the polders, the Netherlands loses part of its identity. This must be resisted.

That parts of this landscape have been designated protected areas offers some prospect, but not enough. Because the landscape belongs to everyone, and thus all too quickly to no one. What we need is a planning vision from the (provincial) government giving a clear vision of the areas where the polder landscape will be preserved. We need a more sensible vision of agriculture and in particular dairy farming. This industries, which are so important for the landscape, can only continue in their present form with the introduction of an effective government policy. We need the retention of visible patterns within the landscape, even if the spatial functions change. And we need money. The Council for the Rural Area (Raad voor het Landelijk Gebied) has recently stressed the need for this. Only a collective investment, in terms of attention, leadership and financing can save our polder landscape. It is not too late, but it is certainly the eleventh hour.

J.J. de Graeff