Contaminated Industrial Sites in the Netherlands

Out of the 650,000 industrial sites in the Netherlands (not included former industrial premises which are used for nonindustrial activities nowadays) about 100,000 are under suspicion of being contaminated with polluting substances. Desk studies estimate that in about 25,000 cases the contamination can be expected to be so heavy that it poses a serious threat to health or the environment. Remedial measures are therefore considered necessary. A clean-up operation however is not enough. In order to prevent new or further deterioration of the soil, adequate preventive measures have to be taken.