The nitrogen space tug-of-war, even before farmers were taken over

Entice farmers to sell their farms. This appears to be the strategy to reduce nitrogen deposition in nature. The long-awaited letter on nitrogen from the cabinet will arrive tomorrow, describing the plans. But in the background, the battle for nitrogen space that may arise has been going on for a long time. Lots of different parts need that space. And therefore everyone wants priority.

An example: Rijkswaterstaat wants to widen the A27 near Amelisweerd (Utrecht). It cannot be done like this: the extra nitrogen emitted by the enlargement of the A27 must be compensated in advance. So Rijkswaterstaat went looking for space for nitrogen and found it by buying six farms in Gelderland.

Get angry of the province of Gelderland. “Why is this possible for asphalt and not for PAS detectors?” Gelderland MP Peter Drenth wondered angrily. “I have great difficulty with this, it is inexplicable.”

Because Gelderland would have preferred to spend the space freed up by buying the six companies of its province differently. Since 2019, a solution must be found for the PAS reporters, farmers who are suddenly illegal due to a court ruling. This group of farmers is now facing high penalties because the court has ruled that they need a nitrogen permit, whereas the government previously said it was not necessary.

So this group would like to be placed at the top of the list. Especially now that the provinces have no choice but to enforce this. That’s why concerned farmers demonstrated in Zwolle last week in hopes of a solution. Minister Van der Wal has already indicated this week that time is running out for this group and that a solid solution needs to be found, rather than “a permit here and a permit there”.

Much like PAS detectors, construction projects are also acutely seeking space for nitrogen, as the court overturned the building exemption earlier this month. Consequently, it is necessary to consider in advance how much nitrogen is released during each construction project and what the consequences are.

This will likely lead to delays. Especially since such calculations take months and there is a lack of experts capable of drawing up such reports. So Bouwend Nederland also raises his hand when it comes to prioritizing the nitrogen space, because “with the scrapping of the building exemption, the Netherlands will be effectively blocked”.

The battle for nitrogen space is therefore in full swing. And there’s no denying nature, where it all began. As the government’s nitrogen targets are for 2030, environmental organizations fear being overtaken by sharp demands on the nitrogen space.

So the toilet is viewed with hope. Tomorrow ministers will detail their nitrogen plans and a list of priorities would help many parties.