The Netherlands is the sixth-largest economy in the euro area and a global transport hub, with the Port of Rotterdam the largest in Europe.
As a small, densely populated country with a very open economy, the Netherlands became a forerunner in environmental policy decades ago when it was confronted with acute environmental pressures. More recently, the government has reined in ambitions for environmental policy objectives to levels set by the European Union, with a view to promoting a level playing field. The country has made important strides in environmental performance, but still faces some persistent challenges, including addressing diffuse pollution (such as nitrogen deposition in nature areas) and securing significant improvements in
the quality of ecosystems and biodiversity.
This is the third OECD review of the Netherlands’
environmental performance. http://www.oecd.org/environment/country-reviews
