landbouwgebied

Landbouwgebied is a geographic area where the principal land use is agriculture. In spatial planning, it is a zoning category used to designate farmland and to regulate non-agricultural development, with the aim of protecting agricultural production, maintaining rural landscapes, and supporting related infrastructure.

The term is common in Dutch-speaking regions and literally translates to “agriculture area” (landbouw = agriculture, gebied = area). It is typically characterized by open fields, pastures, farmsteads, and drainage and irrigation networks, with settlements limited to farmhouses or small clusters that are compatible with farming.

Functions include food production, rural employment, ecosystem services such as biodiversity, soil and water management, and the preservation of cultural landscape and heritage.

Planning and policy: In the Netherlands and in parts of Flanders, landbouwgebied is a planning category designed to shield agricultural use from fragmentation by urban or industrial development. Development within these zones is generally restricted to activities that support farming, such as agricultural infrastructure, processing facilities, or certain renewable energy installations, and must conform to local zoning rules. Boundaries can be adjusted through formal planning procedures.

Challenges: Pressures from urban growth, land fragmentation, climate change, and an aging farming population pose sustainability challenges. Balancing productivity with environmental goals and rural vitality remains a central policy issue, as does the need for investment in modernization and sustainable practices.

See also: agrarisch gebied, landbouwgrond, bestemmingsplan.