Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supply

Nature Conservation Act

In Article 8.3 of the Nature Conservation Act (Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Security, 2023), it is stated that an area is designated as a national park only if it meets the following criteria.

Size 
It concerns a contiguous area with a surface of at least 1000 hectares.

Quality Requirements

• The park contains one or more ecosystems that are not significantly affected by human use, or
• The park contains animal and plant species, geomorphological locations, and habitats that represent significant scientific, educational, and recreational interest, or
• The park includes a natural landscape of great beauty.

Protection 
The preservation of essential characteristics of the area is ensured.

Accessibility
The area is open to visitors for educational, cultural, and recreational purposes, provided that conditions and restrictions may be imposed to preserve the essential characteristics of the area.

Uniqueness 
The area is clearly distinguished from previously designated national parks.

Policy Programme National Parks 2024-2030

The Policy Programme National Parks 2024-2030 outlines how park organizations, provinces, the national government, and partners aim to shape the development of national parks into robust, high-quality nature and landscape areas in the coming years. The policy programme sets the joint ambitions and goals for the future of the national parks in the Netherlands and indicates the direction for all national parks. The proposed approach honors the quality of the (international) National Park label and combines it with opportunities to make the national park valuable for urgent challenges in rural areas.

Read the Policy Programme National Parks 2024-2030 here.