You don't know the answers nor the solutions, but you could suggest the way to solve many problems and that is ... u much u possible to listen and to include, to consult the people concerned." (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987) A comprehensive view of the environment in the light of human needs has characterized Dutch rural planning over a relatively long period (Foster 1989). From this perspective, the countryside is treated as an entity, requiring a synoptic approach and 'integrated' solutions. In the context of this tradition of rural development, the landscape is not simply 'scenery', but an ensemble of more or less cultivated areas fulfilling many functions. The basic function of rural land is agricultural production, which, according to the specific physical conditions, shapes the DLO),