Netherlands's forest cover rose from 10.4 % in 1994 to 11.1 % in 2023.
Netherlands · Environment
Forests, air quality, land, water and protected areas.
10 indicators · 10 with data
Land
Netherlands's forest area rose from 3,510 km in 1994 to 3,723 km in 2023.
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)
% of land area
66th of 213 · 23rd in Europe & C. Asia
Netherlands's terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) rose from 17.6 % in 2013 to 22.9 % in 2025.
Netherlands's agricultural land (% of land area) fell from 57.8 % in 1994 to 53.5 % in 2023.
Netherlands's arable land (% of land area) rose from 26.8 % in 1994 to 30.0 % in 2023.
Air
Netherlands's air pollution (pm2.5) fell from 20.8 in 1994 to 8.6 in 2023.
Water
Netherlands's water stress rose from 67.2 % in 1993 to 74.9 % in 2022.
Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita
cubic metres per person
149th of 181 · 45th in Europe & C. Asia
Netherlands's renewable internal freshwater resources per capita fell from 719.4 in 1993 to 621.4 in 2022.
Access
Netherlands's safe drinking water fell from 100.0 % in 2000 to 100.0 % in 2024.
Netherlands's safe sanitation rose from 97.4 % in 2000 to 97.5 % in 2024.