The Netherlands officially counts 22 national parks starting today. The latest addition, Hollandse Duinen National Park, is now recognized as a full-fledged national park. We warmly congratulate the national park on this special milestone.
Minister Van Essen of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) granted the official status based on a revised application from the province of South Holland, submitted on behalf of more than sixty collaborating partners. This makes it the first national park located entirely in South Holland.
Protect and develop
The park covers an extensive coastal strip from Hoek van Holland to Hillegom. The cooperation area of Hollandse Duinen National Park covers the wide coastal strip from Hoek van Holland to Hillegom and encompasses 453 km2. It consists of dunes, beaches, estates, forests, green parks, peat meadows, bulb fields, villages, and cities. The area with the national park status is located within the cooperation area and is 183 km2 in size, encompassing the main nature cores and waters. With more than 7,000 species of plants and animals, the area is exceptionally rich in biodiversity. The status as a national park signifies recognition of these natural values and simultaneously provides an impetus to further protect and develop the area.
Continued collaboration
The designation signifies a culmination of years of collaboration but mainly motivates parties to continue this collaboration. The collaborating partners view the park as a model region where nature and humans reinforce each other. Parties remain committed to a healthier and more livable area, where nature development goes hand in hand with recreation, cultural history, coastal protection, and drinking water supply. Through intensive collaboration, the area continues to develop into a place where biodiversity, livability, and economic activities are in balance.