Zeeland Unveils Ambitious Plan to Save Its Countryside
Have you heard about the latest efforts in Zeeland to rescue its countryside? The province is facing serious challenges: water is often too salty or polluted, biodiversity is declining, and farmers are struggling under increasingly strict and unclear regulations. To address all of this, the province has launched a comprehensive plan called the Programma Landelijk Gebied, or PLG, which is open for public consultation until December 16.
Interestingly, while nature faces mounting pressure, some wildlife seems to ignore it entirely. For example, on Haringvretereiland in the Veerse Meer, a rapidly growing herd of fallow deer has become a major presence. Reports suggest their numbers may have reached 700, and they are impacting vegetation, disturbing nesting birds, and even swimming to the mainland.
The PLG is actually a continuation of the earlier Zeeuws Gebiedsprogramma, first introduced in 2023 to meet European and national targets for nature, nitrogen, water, and climate. After the National Program Landelijk Gebied was discontinued, Zeeland decided to create its own approach under a fresh name, emphasizing that this framework will guide all future actions in the rural areas. As Gedeputeerde Wilfried Nielen explained, the projects themselves won’t change—just the coordination and branding.
The challenges in Zeeland’s countryside can be grouped into five main areas. First, biodiversity is declining. Nature areas from the Verdronken Landen van Saeftinghe to the dunes near Westkapelle are losing plant and animal species, mainly due to drought, nitrogen emissions, and intensive farming. Not a single Natura 2000 area fully meets European standards.
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Second, water quality is a growing concern. Being a coastal province, Zeeland constantly battles salinization, while climate change brings long dry spells interrupted by heavy rainfall. Pollution from fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage overflows further contaminates canals and streams.
Third, farmers are under pressure from stricter regulations, high costs, and uncertain futures. Many are eager to adopt sustainable practices but lack guidance or financial support.
Fourth, climate change is hitting Zeeland hard. Rising sea levels, drought, salinity, and heavy rainfall require the countryside to become more resilient, greener, and better able to manage water and soil.
Finally, fragmented policies have slowed progress. Different agencies ran separate projects for water, nature, agriculture, and climate. The PLG aims to unify efforts, creating a single, coordinated strategy.
The solutions proposed are diverse. Nature will be restored, including existing and new habitats, hedges, small woods, and flower-rich meadows to boost biodiversity. Water management will be improved with small reservoirs, better irrigation, and stricter pollution controls. Farmers will have access to transition funds to adopt sustainable or organic practices, along with innovation projects like salt-tolerant crops and precision farming. Climate resilience measures include new forests, natural buffers for heavy rain, and permeable surfaces instead of asphalt.
All of this comes at a cost—around €260 million from 2025 to 2030, sourced from national, provincial, municipal, and European funds. About 55% will go to water management and nature, 30% to sustainable agriculture, and 15% to climate initiatives.
While ambitious, concerns remain. Some farmers worry about too many rules, environmental groups fear results may take too long, and everyone questions whether the funding will be enough. Until December 16, all Zeeland residents—from farmers to citizens—can review the plan and submit feedback, shaping the future of their countryside together.
The PLG is set to be finalized in mid-2026, marking a decisive step toward a healthier, more sustainable Zeeland countryside.
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