Lease | Questions & Answers

What does the Apeldoorn council’s lease allocation scheme involve?

The municipality of Apeldoorn is making agricultural land available through liberalised leases, a flexible form of lease in which the term and conditions can be determined with greater freedom than under standard leases.

There are two types of lease:

Short-term lease

(1 year, renewable up to 6 years). In this case, the land is leased for a period of one year.

Long-term lease

Through a tender process (3 years, nature-inclusive farming). In this case, the land is being leased for a period of three years.

These plots of land are available on a temporary basis as they may eventually be rezoned for other purposes, such as urban development or nature conservation. Until then, the local authority wishes to ensure that the land is used responsibly by farmers who contribute to sustainable and nature-inclusive land use.

The lease allocation is divided into eight clusters, each consisting of one or more plots. A single lease agreement is concluded for each cluster.

The selection process for one-year leases is based on applications and a draw.

The selection process for a three-year lease is carried out via a tender procedure that assesses the quality of the proposed land use. Tenderers must demonstrate how they contribute to areas such as soil health, biodiversity and water quality.

What are ‘clusters’?

The land to be leased is grouped into clusters, with each cluster comprising one or more cadastral parcels. A single lease agreement is concluded for each cluster.

How is it decided who is allowed to lease a cluster?

The lease will be awarded through a tender process and/or a draw. For the long-term lease, interested parties may submit an application form together with the form detailing nature-inclusive measures. On this form, you can indicate how you intend to practise sustainable land use. Points will be awarded based on the proposed measures, and the application with the highest score will be awarded the cluster.

For the one-year lease, interested parties may submit an application form for their preferred plot. No points-based system is used; allocation is by lottery.

What is the aim of the new ‘nature-inclusive agriculture’ leasing method?

The local authority wishes to contribute to future-proof agriculture. Among other things, this means placing greater emphasis on soil quality, biodiversity and water quality. The lease is in line with the Agriculture Action Plan, which was adopted at the end of 2023.

Where can I find the available clusters and sign up for them?

All available clusters are published on the webpage about lease grant. You can also register via this website.

What is a liberalised lease?

A liberalised lease is a form of lease in which the term and conditions can be determined with greater flexibility than under a standard lease. In this case, the agreements are for three years and one year.

What plots of land are on offer?

This concerns agricultural land that is awaiting urban or nature conservation development.

I’m currently on a lease with the local council. What happens if I’m not selected in the ballot or am not allocated a cluster?

The current lease will then automatically expire, and you must vacate the premises and remove your personal belongings.

Can I also hand in my registration form at the Town Hall?

No, in the case of a long-term lease, you can access the form via the website at Lease allocation page submit digitally.

In the case of a one-year lease, you can submit the form and its attachments to the designated notary.

If you really can’t sort this out, please let us know via pacht@apeldoorn.nl. We will then get in touch with you as soon as possible.

As a hobby farmer, can I also take part in this lease allocation?

Yes, hobby farmers can also apply for this lease. For further information, please see the application conditions.

How do I know if I’ve been selected in the draw?

You will be notified personally by email of the result of the draw.

Am I also allowed to sublet the land?

No, you are not permitted to sublet. By registering, you enter into an agreement exclusively with the local authority and are also jointly and severally liable for the land.

I live 3.5 km from my preferred cluster. Can I enrol there?

No, that is not possible. From a sustainability perspective, a distance criterion of 3 kilometres as the crow flies applies, measured from the tenant’s business or residential address to the cluster. You can measure the distance as the crow flies using Google Maps via the ‘Measure distance’ option. If you find it difficult to measure this, we’d be happy to help. Please email us at pacht@apeldoorn.nl.

What exactly is the schedule?

Once the registration period has ended, the registration forms will be checked to ensure they are complete. The draw will take place on Thursday 20 January.

Where can I go if I have any questions?

Please email any questions you may have to pacht@apeldoorn.nl. We will do our best to reply to you as soon as possible. We will add any questions that may be of interest to everyone to this “Questions & Answers” section on the website.