Sprawling cities swallow up farmland, threatening food security in the Netherlands.
Land-use change patterns in the Netherlands are influenced by a mix of human and environmental factors. By studying historic and recent changes, researchers found that past changes were mainly driven by the physical environment, while recent changes were linked to factors like accessibility, spatial policies, and neighborhood interactions. The most significant recent changes included expansions of residential, industrial/commercial, and recreational areas. These findings can help prioritize topics for further study and inform land-use planning policies.