Evaluating the development of macro infrastructural stocks in the Netherlands: Assessing factors driving historical material stocks growth

Maintaining a constant macro-infrastructure stock requires significant material resources, which incurs an environmental cost. This study presents a detailed database of material stocks (steel, concrete, and asphalt) for macro-infrastructure (transport, energy, water, and utilities infrastructure) in The Netherlands. Using a bottom-up material stock accounting approach at high (25m² grid) resolution, we analyze the macro-infrastructure distribution across spatial and temporal scales. We examine 39 detailed infrastructure types in highway, railway, oil and gas, water, and utility aggregated infrastructure categories. Since 1950, material stocks have increase over fourteenfold, driven mainly by asphalt use in highways. Urban areas exhibit 3–4 times lower per capita stocks than rural areas, while material density per km² is 4–5 times higher in urban areas. Decomposition analysis reveals strong economic influences on historical stock growth. This research supports the sustainable transition of macro-infrastructure by quantifying existing material stocks, identifying growth factors, anticipate future needs, promoting circularity, and guiding investments.