The demand for housing, work locations, recreational facilities and mobility is putting severe pressure on agricultural and nature conservation areas in certain parts of the Netherlands. The growing need to live, work and spend leisure time in attractive surroundings plays an important role in this context. The Social and Economic Council believes that the Netherlands’ policy on nature and landscape management should focus more than it has done in the past on the opportunities that these functions offer to enhance the natural environment and the landscape. One powerful strategy is to make multi-purpose use of space by combining functions. In its opinion paper on the Fifth Policy Document on Spatial Planning ( 2001/07 ), the Council looks more closely at this strategy.

The multifunctional use of space can be achieved by combining agriculture, rural nature and landscape management, water management and countryside-friendly recreational activities. In its advisory document Innovatie voor duurzaam voedsel en groen ( 2002/09 ) (English summary: Innovation for sustainable food production and nature management ), the Council considers the need to enhance the multifunctionality of agriculture.