%0 Thesis
%9 Bachelor
%A Dommele, Maarten van
%D 2022
%F theses_frw:3945
%P 42
%T The spatial relation between housing growth and nature in the Northern Netherlands between 2000 and 2020
%U https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3945/
%X Housing shortage will be one of the biggest challenges in the Netherlands for the coming years. The solution to this problem is mainly sought in the building of new houses. Another national challenge is the preservation of nature. To fight global warming, (European) climate policies have become more important during the past decades. The construction of new houses within or near nature can have a direct negative impact on nature. Therefore, insight regarding the spatial relation between housing growth and nature is needed. This research investigates the spatial relation between housing growth and protected nature areas in the three northern provinces of the Netherlands (Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe). The following main research question is central to this thesis:  “How was the spatial relation between housing growth and nature in the Northern Netherlands during the first two decades of the 21st century?”  In order to investigate the spatial relation between housing growth and protected nature areas, various spatial analysis tools in ArcGIS Pro are used. First the location of housing growth is determined and later compared to the location of protected nature areas. Furthermore, clusters of housing growth are mapped with the help of a hotspot analysis. Also, the average distance of housing growth clusters to protected nature areas is calculated. During the first decade, almost 25.000 more houses were built than during the second decade. In both decades, less than 1% of all housing units was built within protected nature areas. However, both during the first and the second decade, approximately one third of the housing growth took place within a 1 km distance of protected nature areas. Results of this research can help policymakers to make decisions regarding housing growth and nature preservation.