Overijssel voor en met elkaar! – Draft Omgevingsvisie Province of Overijssel
The document Overijssel voor en met elkaar! is the draft Omgevingsvisie (Environmental Vision) issued by the Province of Overijssel, Netherlands. As a strategic instrument established under the Dutch Omgevingswet (Environment Act), it provides an integrated framework for the physical living environment. This draft, dated April 22, 2025, outlines provincial ambitions and policy directions for the medium term reaching to 2035, with a strategic outlook toward 2050. It serves as the primary guidance for municipal planners, regional authorities, and developers operating within provincial boundaries.
The document focuses on managing scarce space through the principle of zuinig, zorgvuldig en meervoudig ruimtegebruik (frugal, careful, and multi-functional space use). Its regulatory scope covers domain-specific themes including climate adaptation, the energy transition, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, urbanization, and mobility. Key structural elements of the vision include the Leidende Principes (Leading Principles) and the Redeneerlijn (Reasoning Line), which define the logic for location choice and project assessment based on the questions Of? (Whether?), Waar? (Where?), and Hoe? (How?). The vision also integrates brede welvaart (broad prosperity) through four Rode Draden (Red Threads): spatial quality, social quality, health, and sustainability.
The policy framework is further detailed through regional perspectives for the four quadrants of the province: Salland, Noordwest Overijssel, Vechtdal, and Twente. It establishes concrete targets for housing production, industrial site development, and nature restoration to be executed in collaboration with local stakeholders and regional partners.
Leading Principles and the Reasoning Line
The province utilizes four Leidende Principes to guide spatial decision-making and prioritize competing claims on land use:
- Sustainability: Managing space and resources sustainably to ensure future availability.
- Water and Soil Steering: Making the natural water and soil systems leading factors in spatial design (Water en bodem sturend).
- Powerful DSS Regions: Focusing on Dagelijkse Stedelijke Systemen (Daily Urban Systems) as the engines of growth.
- Existing Networks: Building upon established infrastructure, social structures, and ecological networks.
The Redeneerlijn (Reasoning Line) acts as a decision-making tool. It prioritizes legally protected areas and climate adaptation measures at the top of the hierarchy, followed by land use dependent on specific natural conditions. Local administrative discretion is greatest at the lower levels of the line, which address network alignment and contributions to broad prosperity.
Urbanization and Housing Strategy
Overijssel focuses its urbanization strategy on three Daily Urban Systems (DSS): Zwolle, Twente, and the Stedendriehoek. The primary directive for residential and commercial development is inbreiding voor uitbreiding (infill before expansion).
- Housing Targets: A requirement of 47,300 new homes by 2030, with a provincial ambition to reach 60,000 units.
- Affordability Standards: New developments must generally target 30% social rent, 40% affordable/mid-market, and 30% higher-end segments.
- Business Locations: A projected need for approximately 1,000 hectares of industrial land by 2040, prioritizing high-environmental category sites (levels 3, 4, and 5) for the circular economy.
- STOMP Principle: A mobility hierarchy prioritizing Stappen (walking), Trappen (cycling), OV (public transport), Mobiliteitsdiensten (mobility services), and finally Privéauto (private cars).
Water, Soil, and Climate Adaptation
Policy framework 6.1 establishes Water en bodem sturend as a leading principle. This requires all new spatial developments to be designed with the existing water and soil system as the starting point to prevent the externalization of costs to future generations.
- Zandgronden (Sand Soils): Focus on increasing groundwater reserves by slowing drainage and increasing infiltration.
- IJssel, Vecht en Delta: Reserving space for future water discharge and storage while being restrictive regarding construction in flood-prone areas.
- Veenweidegebieden (Peat Meadows): Countering soil subsidence and CO2 emissions through gradual rewetting and level management.
- Bebouwd gebied (Built-up Areas): Implementing the Maatlat groene klimaatadaptieve gebouwde omgeving to ensure climate-robust construction.
Agriculture and Nature Framework
The document distinguishes between two types of agricultural zones based on local environmental conditions mapped in cooperation with Wageningen University (WUR):
- Generieke Landbouwgebieden: Zones with highly suitable conditions where agricultural space is strictly protected from other claims.
- Gebiedsspecifieke Landbouwgebieden: Zones near Natura 2000 or peat areas where agriculture must be combined with societal goals like nature management, water storage, or healthcare services.
- Biodiversity Targets: Achieving 10% groenblauwe dooradering (green-blue veins) in the landscape by 2050 and expanding the Natuurnetwerk Nederland (NNN) by 8,199 hectares.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four Red Threads (Rode Draden) in the Omgevingsvisie?
The four Red Threads used to evaluate projects are spatial quality (ruimtelijke kwaliteit), social quality (sociale kwaliteit), health (gezondheid), and sustainability (duurzaamheid).
How many new houses does Overijssel aim to build by 2030?
The province has a housing requirement of 47,300 homes by 2030, with a higher ambition target of 60,000 homes.
What are the three Daily Urban Systems (DSS) mentioned in the document?
The three Daily Urban Systems identified as the economic and cultural engines of the province are Zwolle, Twente, and the Stedendriehoek.
What is the STOMP principle in mobility planning?
STOMP is a hierarchy for mobility choices: Stappen (walking), Trappen (cycling), Openbaar Vervoer (public transport), Mobiliteitsdiensten (shared mobility), and Privéauto (private car).
How much new industrial land is needed in Overijssel by 2040?
The province identifies a need for approximately 1,000 hectares for business parks (bedrijventerreinen) by the year 2040.
What is the primary rule for expanding urban areas?
The province enforces the principle of 'inbreiding voor uitbreiding,' meaning infill development and densification within existing urban areas must be prioritized before expanding into green space.
What is the significance of the year 2027 in the document?
By 2027, all surface and groundwater bodies must meet the ecological and chemical quality standards set by the EU Water Framework Directive (Kaderrichtlijn Water).
