Dominant attributes in the perception and evaluation of the Dutch landscape

Many years of research at the Winand Staring Centre for Integrated Land, Soil, and Water Research have resulted in a set of attributes that determine landscape perception and evaluation in The Netherlands. Investigations were carried out among the inhabitants of different regions. Despite great physical differences between the regions there was much agreement on the salient attributes. These are: the nature of the landscape as a whole (unity), its function (use), maintenance, naturalness, spaciousness, development in time, soil and water, and sensory qualities such as colour and smell. They may be considered basic qualities of the Dutch landscape. Unity and use always come first; they determine the significance of the other attributes. The attributes may be used in planning procedures, such as developing Environmental Impact Assessments, designing new landscapes, or even constructing a map of people's evaluation of the landscape.