Brabant Partners and Argaleo are starting a multi-year collaboration to enhance monitoring and distribute recreational pressure in Brabant's natural areas. In 2025, they will launch an innovative monitoring system that will map visitor density to help adapting routes and starting points to the needs of visitors. With this initiative, the province of Brabant is at the forefront of smart recreational distribution in the Netherlands and Europe.
The collaboration combines technology, data and a place-based approach, resulting in a system that balances nature conservation and recreation. The aim is to better distribute visitor flows in Brabant's nature areas, while at the same time improving accessibility. With this project, Brabant is setting an example not only regionally but also internationally in sustainable recreational development.
Innovative approach to leisure distribution
The popularity of walking and outdoor recreation in Brabant is
growing, leading to congestion in popular areas. With a dense network of
walking routes, long-distance trails and attractive nature areas, the province
offers many recreational opportunities, but this also leads to overcrowding in
key locations.
To tackle this problem, Brabant Partners, with the support of the European Interreg project 'MONA', has taken the initiative to reduce recreational pressure. A key step in this project is the development of the 'WandelStarter', an interactive platform that gives recreational walkers an insight into available starting points, facilities and routes. This platform will help visitors make more informed choices and encourage local recreation, spreading visitor numbers more evenly across the region. Following a test phase, the WandelStarter will be launched in April 2025.
Monitoring as the key to effective recreation
management
To support visitor distribution and route adjustments, accurate
monitoring is essential. This project collects data on visitor numbers,
distribution and origins, which is crucial for nature management and regional
planning.
Argaleo plays a key role in the monitoring project by developing a custom made dashboard that provides insight into visitor density and movement patterns. This data will not only help improve recreational infrastructure, but will also allow other organisations to link their monitoring needs to the system.
The project will run until at least 2028, with the pilot phase starting in the Loonse and Drunense Duinen and surrounding areas.