Socio-demographic and socio-economic differences in the availability of green space in the Netherlands.

Abstract

We aimed to map the spatial distribution of green space in the Netherlands, and to first comprehensively assess socio-demographic and socio-economic differences in the availability of green space in the Netherlands. Data was analyzed from all registered residents of the Netherlands aged one and above on January 1, 2017 (16,440,620 individuals). Socio-demographic and socio-economic information was derived from Statistics Netherlands. Data on green space density (percent of the area) around home were assembled by the Institute for Public Health and the Environment at the address level. The distribution of exposure to green space was described by age groups, sex, ethnicity, household socioeconomic status (SES), and urbanicity degree, and stratified by green space type. The distribution of green space by all vegetation, trees, shrubs, low vegetation, grass field, and agriculture was mapped for the Netherlands in 2017. Small differences in green space density were found across age and sex groups. Ethnic Dutch (58.1%) and Indonesian (54.5%) had more green space coverage around residence than Turkish (50.0%) and Moroccan (50.0%). People with higher household SES generally had greater green space coverage, although it slightly decreased at the highest SES level. Higher urbanicity levels were monotonously associated with lower green space exposure. These differences particularly originated from differences in low vegetation. Observed differences between ethnic and SES groups originated mostly from differences in rural to moderately urbanized areas. Environmental injustice was found among ethnic, SES, and urbanicity groups. The differences were mostly present in low vegetation and in rural to moderately urbanized areas.