# King and farming minister visit Overijssel nature area on 21 October

> King Willem-Alexander and Agriculture Minister Van Essen will discuss nature restoration, nitrogen reduction and what the new cabinet's policy means for farmers near a protected nature area.

Climate · published 2026-10-14 11:03 · https://nlnow.nl/a/king-and-farming-minister-visit-overijssel-nature-area-on-21-october/

King Willem-Alexander and Minister Van Essen of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature will make a working visit to a Natura 2000 area in Overijssel on Wednesday afternoon, 21 October, the national government announced. The visit centres on nature restoration, nitrogen reduction and future-proof farming.

The King and the minister will talk with nature managers, farmers and others involved about the challenges in the area. They will be told about cooperation between nature organisations, governments and farmers. An area-based approach (gebiedsgerichte aanpak) will also be discussed.

The visit ends at a dairy farm. There the King and the minister will discuss the challenges and opportunities for farmers near a Natura 2000 area, and what the new cabinet policy means for them.

The government says the King regularly makes working visits with a minister or state secretary. On these visits, concrete examples show him how the minister's policy works in practice and what the challenges are.

## Background

- **Natura 2000**: The network of protected nature areas across the European Union. In the Netherlands, protecting these areas from nitrogen deposition affects permits for building, farming and infrastructure.

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