Land Consolidation Experience from the Netherlands: Insights from Jan Spijkerboer

On March 13, 2025, the Faculty of Land Management of NUBiP of Ukraine, in collaboration with Dutch Kadaster, hosted an insightful guest online lecture titled «Land Consolidation in the Netherlands and the Province of Zeeland: Strategies, Challenges, and Lessons for Ukraine». The event attracted students, researchers, and professionals in land management, offering a valuable exchange of knowledge on European best practices in land consolidation.

The event was moderated by Taras IEVSIUKOV, Dean of the Faculty of Land Management at NUBiP, who welcomed the participants and introduced the topic. The event was officially opened by Oleksandr LABENKO, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and International Affairs, and Olga SAVCHENKO, Director of the Department of Land Management, Land Use, and Protection at the StateGeoCadastre of Ukraine. Their opening speeches emphasized the importance of land consolidation for Ukraine’s post-war recovery, sustainable agriculture, and regional development.

The main lecture was delivered by Mr. Jan SPIJKERBOER, Senior Area Development Advisor at Dutch Kadaster. He presented an in-depth analysis of land consolidation in the Netherlands, highlighting its historical evolution, legal frameworks, and practical applications.

Jan SPIJKERBOER began by providing an overview of the Netherlands' land structure: 12 provinces, each governed by its own council, with a total of 570 council members; 21 waterboards, responsible for managing water resources, a crucial aspect given the country’s geography; a high density of dairy farms, underscoring the significance of land management in supporting the agricultural sector.

The speaker outlined the main types of land consolidation practiced in the Netherlands: agricultural land consolidation – the reallocation of land parcels to enhance agricultural efficiency; infrastructure-focused consolidation – incorporating road construction and water management improvements; integrated land development – a multifunctional approach introduced in the 1970s, combining agriculture, nature conservation, infrastructure planning, and outdoor recreation.

Land consolidation has a 100-year history in the Netherlands, with over 600 projects covering more than 2 million hectares. Jan Spijkerboer traced its key milestones:
1924 – The first Land Consolidation Act was passed.
1950s–60s – The "heroic years" of land consolidation, with over 50,000 hectares improved annually.
1985 – A shift towards rural and regional development, integrating land consolidation into broader land-use planning.
2007 – Decentralization of land management responsibilities from the central government to provincial authorities.
2024 – The introduction of the Environment and Planning Act, emphasizing participatory approaches in land consolidation.

The lecture paid particular attention to the Province of Zeeland, which has seen numerous land consolidation projects aimed at sustainable agriculture, nature conservation, and infrastructure improvement. Notable examples include:
Kruiningen (1949) – Reconstruction of agricultural land.
Schouwen-Oost (2010) – Land consolidation for nature development.
Franekeradeel-Harlingen (6,700 hectares) & Blokzijl-Vollenhove (3,500 hectares) – Large-scale projects enhancing agricultural efficiency and environmental sustainability.

The latest projects (2024) focus on sustainable agriculture, resilient water management, energy landscapes, and outdoor recreation development.

Drawing parallels between the Dutch experience and Ukraine's land management challenges, Jan Spijkerboer outlined key takeaways:

Promoting voluntary land consolidation – reducing fragmentation of agricultural land.
Integrating land consolidation into regional development strategies – ensuring synergy between agriculture, infrastructure, and environmental goals.
Strengthening legal frameworks and decentralization – empowering local authorities to drive land management reforms.

The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where participants discussed the applicability of Dutch land consolidation strategies in Ukraine. The event highlighted the importance of international cooperation in improving land governance and fostering sustainable rural development.

In his closing remarks, Taras IEVSIUKOV emphasized the value of such knowledge exchanges and the need to further explore land consolidation as a tool for Ukraine’s agricultural resilience and economic recovery.

This guest lecture was a significant step toward bridging academic research with practical solutions, fostering a sustainable and efficient land governance system for Ukraine.

Oleksandr SHEVCHENKO,
Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Land Management