Cows Away from Festivals: Juveniles are also looking for space for nitrogen

The county of Gelderland indicated to the festivals in the past year that in many cases it has a nature permit Need. For example, visitors who come to a site by car emit nitrogen. Aggregates that provide electricity at the site as well.

In that province of Gelderland, tens of thousands go crazy every year at Down the Rabbit Hole, a four-day party organized by Mojo at the Groene Heuvels amusement park near Wijchen. This site is owned by Leisurelands.

99 cows went

Four kilometers away is the Natura 2000 district De Rijntakken. This means: nitrogen emissions must be compensated. according to Norwegian Refugee Council, who did research about it, a nitrogen chamber was purchased for 99 cows from a farmer in the area. This space can now be used for Down The Rabbit Hole and other new festivals that may be held at the same venue.

Leisurelands’ Kees Rutten doesn’t want to talk about cow numbers, but assures RTL Nieuws that ‘the nitrogen acreage has been purchased from a local cattle farmer to allow these kinds of big festivals to continue in years to come.’

Not a problem for 2019

In 2019, the State Council canceled the Nitrogen Approach Program, the central government’s nitrogen approach until then. The rules got stricter from that point on. A nature permit has become almost always required to emit nitrogen near endangered nature.

Previously, more nitrogen could be emitted without having to obtain a permit. So it wasn’t about festivals at the time, they don’t emit huge amounts.

The Zwarte cross in Achterhoek – held near Natura 2000 Korenburgerveen – has its own nature that allows nitrogen to be emitted. Nitrogen emissions can be reduced relatively easily with small interventions – by using a different type of fuel for rallies, for example.

“fits again”

But in order to increase the duration of the festival or the number of visitors, more is needed. Farmers in the area may have to be looked at for this: “It’s a headache,” says Markus Zigthoff of Zwarte Cross. “Buying cows can be a last resort.”

In any case, cows don’t have to give way to this year’s edition: “We just received the accounts that everything is OK.”

Several major festivals take place annually at the Walibi Holland event site in Biddinghuizen (Flevoland) – near the Veluwerandmeren Nature Reserve. Lowlands, but also the Defqon.1 dance event, for example. These festivals don’t have to be confusing. Walibi Holland has stated that they have enough room for nitrogen within the permit.

If a festival is not taking place near a nature reserve in danger, an event permit from the municipality is often sufficient.