Agricultural land faces pressure from rising prices and competing uses

Agricultural land in Flanders and the Netherlands is facing increasing pressure due to rising prices and competing land uses. In Flanders, the organization De Landgenoten warns that land is being lost to 'equinization' and 'gardenization.' This occurs when agricultural plots are converted into recreational horse paddocks or integrated into private residential gardens, leading to land fragmentation that makes it difficult for active farmers, especially younger ones, to expand their operations.

Research from the Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research (ILVO) supports these concerns, noting that many vacated farms in East Flanders are repurposed for rural living or hobby farming rather than agriculture. De Landgenoten is advocating for stronger spatial policies, adjusted lease agreements, and cooperative land management to protect agricultural production.

In the Netherlands, high land prices are complicating efforts to address environmental damage, housing needs, and energy production. The scarcity of available land, driven by demand for residential areas, nature, and defense, has led to low land mobility and rising costs. Experts are examining how government intervention can better steer the land market to support sustainable choices and social-economic vitality in rural areas.