Quantity and Quality of Greenspace in Dutch Socio-economic Vulnerable Neighborhoods

Abstract

Greenspace can directly and indirectly contribute to better physical and mental health. Although health effects can vary per target group and vegetation type, one can say that greenspace stimulates physical activity, has a stress-reducing influence, facilitates social contact and reduces heat stress, air pollution and noise. Unfortunately, however, people with a low socio-economic status (SES) around the world have less greenspace and inferior quality greenspace in their neighborhood, compared to wealthier population groups. This is not in accordance with UN Sustainable Development Goal 11.7: universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces.
In the Netherlands, space limitations complicate greening. Policymakers, charged with spatial planning and health, therefore need recent and accurate data on greenspace to make informed decisions in the pursuit of a fairer distribution of it. The aim of this study is providing these data, besides increasing the knowledge in the research area. Its main question is whether there is an association between the quantity and quality of the greenspace in Dutch neighborhoods and their SES, and whether this SES influences the association between greenspace and health. Quantity has been analysed with satellite images, using QGIS. Quality has been assessed on local scale, by personal greenspace visits in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Health has been determined on the basis of self-perceived health and psychological complaints.
The results confirm the unequal socio-economic greenspace distribution that has been found in previous studies: Dutch neighborhoods are greener as their SES is higher. A positive correlation has been found between greenspace quantity and health. The association, however, is weaker in low than in high SES neighborhoods. The quality analysis has led to two significant differences between greenspace in high and low SES neighborhoods. In high SES neighborhoods, significantly less skyline disturbance was observed; in low SES neighborhoods it was significantly less crowded by day.
Since a green living environment is undeniably linked to better health and each person has equal right on it, it is of crucial importance that policymakers dare to prioritize greening vulnerable neighborhoods. Nevertheless, the local situation always has to be considered: the positive correlation between greenspace and SES only exists in the least urban neighborhoods (< 1000 inhabitants / km2).
The comparatively weak correlation between greenspace quantity and health in low SES neighborhoods suggests that greening them, without addressing other health impairing factors, will lead to little health benefits among the inhabitants. Greening thus asks for an integrated and interdisciplinary approach. This approach is also needed in light of the current context of complex societal and environmental problems.
The low number of observed greenspace visitors by day in low SES neighborhoods raises questions on the use of proximate greenspace by inhabitants of these neighborhoods. Although having a view on greenspace alone is healing, the greenspace needs to be actually visited for an optimal benefit from its health enhancing effects. Therefore additional research is recommended on what could prevent inhabitants of low SES neighborhoods from visiting nearby greenspace and how this could be stimulated.

Date of Award	1 Oct 2025
Original language	English
Supervisor	Esmée Bijnens (Examiner), Dennis Uit de Weerd (Co-assessor) & Frank Van Belleghem (Co-assessor)