Kleinschaligheidsinvesteringsaftrek

Kleinschaligheid is a concept used to describe activities and systems that operate on a relatively small scale, with limited production capacity, localized management, and frequent closer ties between producers and users. It emphasizes localized decision-making, adaptability, and often a lower environmental footprint per unit of output compared with large-scale equivalents. The term is applied across different sectors, including agriculture, energy, housing, and services.

In agriculture, kleinschaligheid refers to family farms and smallholders that rely on diverse crops, seasonal labor, and direct relationships with local markets. In energy and infrastructure, it appears in microgeneration and community-based projects such as rooftop solar, small hydropower, or local energy cooperatives. In housing and urban development, small-scale approaches include mixed-use or community-led housing projects and neighborhood-scale planning. In services, it encompasses independent shops, crafts, and microenterprises that serve local demand with limited staff and resources.

The rationale for promoting kleinschaligheid includes increased resilience, local employment, reduced transportation requirements, and stronger social ties within communities. Small-scale systems can foster innovation through direct feedback loops and preserve cultural or ecological diversity. However, challenges include higher per-unit costs, limited access to finance, regulatory barriers, and difficulties achieving consistent market access or economies of scale.

Policy and practice often aim to support kleinschaligheid through subsidies, tax incentives, microfinance, cooperative models, technical assistance, and planning frameworks that favor incubators, local procurement, and community energy projects. See also localism, sustainable development, microenterprise, and cooperatives.