Estate Properties for Sale at Netherlands Sotheby's International Realty

The Nature Conservation Act is a Dutch law aimed at protecting nature and the landscape. The law was introduced in 1970 and determines that natural and landscape values may not be disturbed or lost for the benefit of economic or other activities. The Nature Conservation Act regulates, among other things, the prohibition of destroying protected plant and animal species, the construction of extensive paved surfaces, and the establishment of buildings or structures in protected natural areas. Additionally, the law also sets out the responsibilities of the government and citizens for the management and protection of natural and landscape values. The Nature Conservation Act plays an important role in promoting sustainable policy and safeguarding natural diversity for future generations.

A NSW designation for an estate means that the estate is classified under the Nature Conservation Act 1928. The NSW focuses on preserving estates in the Netherlands and their original and historical character. As an owner or leaseholder of an estate with a NSW designation, you may be eligible for tax benefits which help to maintain the estate.

The status must be applied for and requires compliance with the specific conditions of the Nature Conservation Act. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality promotes obtaining the NSW status by offering tax incentives. This allows valuable estates and their contribution to the natural beauty in the Netherlands to be preserved.

Do you want to buy an estate and have it designated as an NSW estate? We would be happy to tell you what to consider in terms of conditions to receive this status.

1. Conditions for the estate

The estate must be at least 5 hectares in size. It refers to a contiguous estate that you want to buy. There is an exception for estates where a part consists of a historical country house of at least 1 hectare in size. Sometimes exceptions are made for estates of less than 5 hectares. The estate you want to purchase must consist of wood stands such as forests or natural areas for at least 30 percent. A combination of both is also allowed.

2. Conditions for Public Access
Is there a estate for sale that you would like to have recognized as an NSW estate? It is important that it is accessible to the public. There must be freely accessible and traversable paths available for walkers. This may include marked accessible green strips and plot edges. The estate must generally be accessible throughout the year, between sunrise and sunset. Furthermore, the public accessibility must be indicated with signs, at the access roads to the estate.

It is permitted to temporarily or permanently close certain parts to the public in order to preserve the natural or cultural-historical values. The immediate surroundings of a residence or farm may also be closed. Finally, the estate may be closed to the public for hunting for a maximum of 7 days per year.