Dossier
The Netherlands in 2120
Climate change, urbanisation, biodiversity, rising sea levels, extreme weather and increasing food production: these are just a few of the factors that help shape the spatial planning of the Netherlands. There appears to be a need to look to the future. With these factors in mind, what will the Netherlands look like a century from now? Wageningen University & Research has drafted a vision on what it believes a future-proof Netherlands could look like in 2120.
This is an integral vision in that it considers the spatial planning of the Netherlands in 2120 from various perspectives, such as agriculture, biodiversity, sustainable energy, water and the circular economy.
A future, naturally
This map is not a blueprint, but a projection. It shows the Netherlands as it could look in 2120 if nature-based solutions are prioritised.
This view on the future was inspired by several design and discussion sessions held with researchers. We hope to use the results of these sessions, along with our scientific knowledge, to further shape and develop the vision and contribute to the societal debate.
Download the map of the Netherlands in 2120
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2120 collection
The vision has now spread widely and is being further developed or even already put into practice in many places. This has led to several 2120 initiatives, ranging from small to large, such as in Wageningen, Arnhem, Vallei and Veluwe, Green Metropolis and even Europe.
View the 2120 collection here (mostly in Dutch):
News about the Netherlands in 2120
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NL2120’s nature-inclusive vision for the future wins WUR Impact Award 2023
- The team behind NL2120, the nature-oriented vision for the future of the Netherlands, has won the second edition of the WUR Impact Award. NL2120 brought together research from the entire spectrum of Wageningen University & Research to develop a hopeful vision for the Netherlands in roughly 100 years. “To achieve that ideal, we need to cooperate with nature and understand that climate, soil and biodiversity are intricately connected,” team lead Tim van Hattum summarises the key message of NL2120. The NL 2120 programme is part of the overarching research programme Nature-Inclusive Transitions. -
Dutch government invests 110 million euros in knowledge and innovation program NL2120
- The Dutch government announced on the 24th of February that it will invest 110 million euros in NL2120, of which 40 million are conditional. In this knowledge programme, governments, nature organisations, engineering firms, dredging companies and knowledge and professional institutions work together on nature-based solutions for major challenges in the areas of climate, nature-inclusive agriculture, biodiversity and housing. NL2120, which is financed through the National Growth Fund, is one of the largest partnerships in the world in the field of nature-based solutions.