People and nature have worked together in the National Landscape Low Holland to create something very beautiful below sea level. This is reflected in the openness, the protected city, and village views and the peat meadow areas with wide ditches, high water levels, and historically valuable drying facilities. Like other peat areas, however, Laag Holland suffers from subsidence as a result of dewatering for agriculture. Roads and houses are subsiding and water management costs are increasing. At the same time, there is a significant emission of CO2 due to the oxidation of the peat. With our research by design, we show how the historical landscape offers starting points for new forms of agriculture and innovations in water management. In doing so, we unfold spatial perspectives for four agricultural trends: economies of scale, short chains, new crops, and ecosystem services.
Which trend eventually prevails and what Laag Holland will look like in the future depend on many factors, and a combination is very likely. The design research is intended primarily to show that a choice certainly can be made and that it is a good idea to discuss it with one another.
Photo header: Siebe Swart