This is our Client; The Stichting Natuurbelang De Onlanden van Leekstermeer, Peizer- en Eelderdiep or for short Stichting Natuurbelang De Onlanden. It was founded on January 10, 2000, even before De Onlanden was established as a contiguous nature reserve and advocate for the Interest of De Onlanden nature area.

Water Board Noorderzijlvest operates in a large part of Groningen, in North and Central Drenthe, and in a small part of Friesland. In De Onlanden, this water board is therefore one of the most important stakeholders, with a significant influence on the area and on the relationship that people have with the area. Their tasks include regulating water levels; purifying wastewater; managing dikes; and nature management in and around the water. 

Besides being a water storage area, De Onlanden is also home to the development of nature. One of the key organizations responsible for protecting and managing this nature is the organization Natuurmonumenten. (Nature Monuments). Natuurmonumenten largely operates independently from the Dutch government. As an independent organization, Natuurmonumenten relies solely on donations, subsidies, and membership dues for its funding.

Staatsbosbeheer is a major stakeholder in De Onlanden due to its substantial land ownership in this area. In addition to a large portion of De Onlanden, Staatsbosbeheer manages a total of 271,000 hectares of nature in the Netherlands. Staatsbosbeheer operates as an independent executive body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LVVN), formerly known as the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Safety and is accountable to this ministry for its objectives and budget. 

The Land- en Tuinbouw Organisatie Nederland (LTO) which represents 56% of arable farms in the Netherlands (Wisman, 2020) has a significant impact on De Onlanden and its Human-Nature relationship. De Onlanden is made up of past agricultural land and still surrounded by farmland that is currently in use. These farmers have a big impact on De Onlanden through how sustainable their agricultural methods are and how well they treat soil and water. 

Waterbedrijf Groningen is a utility company – an organization that provides essential services and products in a monopolistic position for the public good. The company is responsible for supplying clean drinking water to the Groningen region and works closely with provincial and municipal governments, and water boards. 

The three municipalities of Noordenveld, Tynaarlo and Groningen were part of founding the Stichting Natuurbelang De Onlanden and belong to the two provinces of Drenthe and Groningen. While The De Onlanden area is not part of Groningen it is part of the area of the Waterboards which is why its municipality is still involved with it. De Onlanden plays an important role for the towns in these provinces as without it they would face the serious threat of floods during high water seasons. 

The citizens’ exact interest is difficult to define, nonetheless they play an important role in De Onlanden as they are the ones either directly, or in proximity, related to the area. Therefore the wellbeing of the Onlanden lies in their best interest as not only does that ensure future economic stability (complicated by climate disasters) but also prosperities of a bettered mental health through realizing the pathways to nature connectedness.