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This article presents information regarding Krimpenerwaard landscape in the Netherlands. The Krimpenerwaard is a peatbog polder located in the western part of the Netherlands, in the province of South-Holland, in the "Green Heart of Holland." The scenery is characterized by openness due to a lack of relief, absence of woods, and the almost parallel bands of buildings, land parcels, embankments and waterways. Open water is everywhere and where no water is visible it is very close beneath the surface. At present less than 1 per cent of the total area is protected as a nature reserve. There are some 350 farm holdings, mainly engaged in dairy farming. The holdings have, on average, about 24 ha and less than 50 cows, which is much less than the normal trend in the Netherlands. Although the land use is intensive, most of the farmers do not produce enough fodder for their dairy stock. Agricultural modernization in the Krimpenerwaard has not kept pace with developments in the rest of the country and until recently only one-quarter of the farms had modern box stalls. |
