Zaanstad (Netherlands) proposal: rights of nature

Summary

On 11 January, 2024, the Socialist Party (SP) submitted an agenda initiative to the Zaanstad Municipal Council about Rights for Nature and granting legal personality to all natural areas in the municipality of Zaanstad. The proposal argued that legal recognition would improve protection of biodiversity and Natura 2000 sites (a network of protected nature areas within the European Union land area) while ensuring that the interests of nature are considered alongside human interests in municipal decision-making.

The proposal calls on the municipal executive to: (page 2, machine translated)
– conduct a study into the legal and practical feasibility of granting legal personality to nature in the municipality of Zaanstad;
– join forces with the municipal council of Eijsden-Margraten and all other municipalities that will also take this initiative and conduct research in the near future;
– contact the municipalities in the Zaanstreek-Waterland region, the city of Amsterdam, and the province of North Holland, and request that they also commit to this effort;
– share the results of the investigation and the progress with the municipal council every six months;
– to always take the interests of nature into account when formulating new policies in council proposals and to make these interests transparent;
– to involve all relevant civil society organizations, local experts, and other stakeholders in this study on the implementation of rights for nature in and around Zaanstad.

The proposal was discussed by the municipal council in January of 2024 and revisited on 25 January, 2025. Following these discussions, a municipal working group was established. On 28 August, 2025, the council held an expert session where specialists presented the ecological condition of the Natura 2000 areas surrounding Zaanstad and legal scholar Tineke Lambooy outlined legal options for recognizing the rights of nature under Dutch law. Zaanstad is also exploring the appointment of a “nature ambassador” to speak on behalf of flora and fauna during council meetings, similar to how an ombudsman advocates for citizens. As of 2026, no legal rights or legal personality have been granted to nature within the municipality.