Overview
- The cabinet signalled on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that provinces will be allowed to set the size of buffer zones around Natura 2000 sites and choose which measures apply to reduce local nitrogen deposition.
- Noord‑Holland published a provincially run subsidy on November 3 that uses just over €8 million from central government to pay small and medium livestock farmers within 500 metres to voluntarily partly or fully stop.
- Farmers can apply for the Noord‑Holland scheme from 1 December 2026 until 13 May 2027 and may receive payments for lost production capacity, surrendered production rights, demolition of housing and storage, permit fees, and adviser costs.
- The minister has proposed raising the rekenkundige ondergrens (RKO) so small emitters would be permit‑free from 1 July 2027, a step the government says lowers permit pressure but that legal experts warn could be overturned in court.
- The subsidy explicitly covers PAS‑melders and allows the province to add funds if demand from that group is high, and provincial councils will decide later this year how to balance tailored zones, conservation goals and local economic effects.