Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 NM): N/A
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 57 000 km2
Strategic documents related to MSP
Technical resources related to MSP
Status of MSP
-
Constituent countries:
-
The Kingdom of the Netherlands:
Name of the plan |
Integrated Management Plan for the North Sea 2015 |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (Local/ Sub-national/ National)
|
National |
Scope (Coastal Zone /Coastal and Marine /Marine)
|
N/A |
Purpose (Strategic /Zoning /Comprehensive)
|
N/A |
Political commitment (Informal /Executive decision / Legal statute)
|
N/A |
Implementation framework (Guiding /Legally binding)
|
N/A |
Main objectives (Biodiversity conservation / Economic development / Multiple objectives)
|
N/A |
Spatial allocation (Limited / Partial allocation /Detailed allocation)
|
N/A |
Stakeholders involved (Limited /Key sectors /Sectors & Public)
|
N/A |
Participatory process (Informative /Consultative /Collaborative)
|
N/A |
Funding (Government /Public-Private /Grants)
|
N/A |
Name of the plan |
Policy Document on the North Sea 2009-2015 (Section 5.6 of the National Water Plan) (2009) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (Local/ Sub-national/ National)
|
National |
Scope (Coastal Zone /Coastal and Marine /Marine)
|
N/A |
Purpose (Strategic /Zoning /Comprehensive)
|
N/A |
Political commitment (Informal /Executive decision / Legal statute)
|
N/A |
Implementation framework (Guiding /Legally binding)
|
N/A |
Main objectives (Biodiversity conservation / Economic development / Multiple objectives)
|
N/A |
Spatial allocation (Limited / Partial allocation /Detailed allocation)
|
N/A |
Stakeholders involved (Limited /Key sectors /Sectors & Public)
|
N/A |
Participatory process (Informative /Consultative /Collaborative)
|
N/A |
Funding (Government /Public-Private /Grants)
|
N/A |
Name of the plan |
Policy Document on the North Sea 2016-2021 (Appendix 2 to the National Water Plan) (2016) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (Local/ Sub-national/ National)
|
National |
Scope (Coastal Zone /Coastal and Marine /Marine)
|
N/A |
Purpose (Strategic /Zoning /Comprehensive)
|
N/A |
Political commitment (Informal /Executive decision / Legal statute)
|
N/A |
Implementation framework (Guiding /Legally binding)
|
N/A |
Main objectives (Biodiversity conservation / Economic development / Multiple objectives)
|
N/A |
Spatial allocation (Limited / Partial allocation /Detailed allocation)
|
N/A |
Stakeholders involved (Limited /Key sectors /Sectors & Public)
|
N/A |
Participatory process (Informative /Consultative /Collaborative)
|
N/A |
Funding (Government /Public-Private /Grants)
|
N/A |
Name of the plan |
North Sea Programme 2022 – 2027 (2022) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
2022 |
Size of planning area in km2
|
58 000 km² |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
Ministry for Infrastructure and Water Management |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Underway |
Plan review
|
Completed |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (Local/ Sub-national/ National)
|
National |
Scope (Coastal Zone /Coastal and Marine /Marine)
|
Coastal and Marine |
Purpose (Strategic /Zoning /Comprehensive)
|
Comprehensive |
Political commitment (Informal /Executive decision / Legal statute)
|
Executive decision |
Implementation framework (Guiding /Legally binding)
|
Legally binding |
Main objectives (Biodiversity conservation / Economic development / Multiple objectives)
|
Multiple objectives |
Spatial allocation (Limited / Partial allocation /Detailed allocation)
|
Detailed allocation |
Stakeholders involved (Limited /Key sectors /Sectors & Public)
|
Sectors & Public |
Participatory process (Informative /Consultative /Collaborative)
|
Collaborative |
Funding (Government /Public-Private /Grants)
|
Government |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management |
Governmental funding |
Part of structural budgets |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-Private funding |
N/A |
Total size of planning area |
58 000 km² |
Time required to complete the planning document |
Two years |
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Protection of marine life and habitats; to achieve good environmental status; renewable energy (predominantly offshore wind); shipping; sand extraction for coastal defense; all this in relation to climate change, fisheries and other (emerging) uses |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
Structured through the consultation body “Overleg Fysieke Leefomgeving”; face-to-face and online meetings; and once the draft of the plan has been published, consultation in accordance with national and international legislation. Stakeholders are encourage by the government to organize themselves |
Sectors included in planning |
All relevant sectors amongst which maritime transport (shipping); oil and gas; offshore wind/renewables; pipelines and cables (including telecom); commercial fishing; mariculture; military; sand extraction for coastal protection; recreational boating/sailing |
Articulation between MSP and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IZCM) |
Two-fold: secure sand extraction areas for beach nourishment and special attention to Land-Sea Interactions. Also linkages with river basin management plans is discussed briefly (especially in relation to water quality) Land-Sea interactions are part of the MSP, other coastal topics are part of the National Water Programme 2022-2027 |
Articulation between MSP and marine conservation (including the Kunming- Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) |
ecosystem preservation and restoration targets leading for MSP development |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
To further the sustainable blue economy and co-use of areas at sea (including wind farms) a Community of Practice has been set up in 2018. The blue CoP is open to all and acts as a platform for joint learning and development, networking and assisting projects to move through the development curve and overcome “valley of death”. It provides the opportunity for business, (applied) science and government agencies to work in sync. |
Articulation between MSP and climate change (including the Paris Agreement) |
National Determined Contribution translated in offshore(wind) energy roadmap. Roadmap leading for the MSP. |
Plan approval process |
adoption by parliament |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
Legally binding |
Plan review process |
to start mid 2025 |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
Policy evaluation; separate monitoring; and evaluation of the good environmental status of the sea |
Interactions with neighbouring countries in the context of MSP attending transboundary coherence approaches |
North Seas Maritime Spatial Planning Collaboration Group |
Legal framework
Legislation for Maritime Spatial Planning is in place for the Dutch North Sea. It is part of the National Water Act, which dictates a National Water Plan to be drafted every six years. Ecosystem-based MSP shall build on the Marine Strategy and a program of measures to ensure good environmental status of the sea. The National Water Plan ensures taking into account all relevant Land-Sea Interactions.
For various sectoral interest, specific legislation is in place, for instance the Electricity Law regulating offshore renewable electricity to be landed, or the Common Fisheries Policy of the EU for sustainable fisheries.
More information can be found here.
Contact
Ministry for Infrastructure and Water Management
Lodewijk Abspoel – Senior advisor European Integrated Maritime Policy, North Sea and MSP