Rli starts advisory report Land for sustainable choices in rural areas

8 may 2025

The Netherlands faces major challenges in the areas of housing, agriculture, nature, biodiversity, water quality, sustainable energy, national security, mobility, circular economy and climate adaptation. Many of these challenges differ in the type of land use they require and lead to an additional demand for land. And this at a time when land prices have risen sharply. In this advisory process, Rli looks at how developments in the land market and sustainable choices about the future of rural areas influence each other.

The central question addressed in the advisory report is:

What roles do the land market and the government play in finding coherent solutions for environmental challenges in rural areas?

The central question includes the following sub-questions: How can the various functions and tasks be more facilitated in rural areas? How can multiple agricultural land uses contribute to environmental goals (nature, water, soil, climate) as well as to the preservation of sufficient agricultural land? And, lastly, what could be the contribution of new perspectives on land-use planning instruments, land ownership, land use and site management and the functioning of the land market?

Publication of the advisory report is expected in the autumn of 2025.

Read more about the advisory report ‘Land for sustainable choices in rural areas’.

For more information on the programme or if you wish to respond, please contact project leader Douwe Wielenga, douwe.wielenga@rli.nl, T +31 (0)6 21 24 08 09.