Long recognised as a forerunner in environmental policy, the Netherlands has continued to make important strides in dealing with environmental pressures in what is a very densely populated country with the sixth largest economy in the euro area. In the context of modest growth over 2000-14, it managed to decouple greenhouse gas emissions, all major pollutants and waste generation from economic activity. Yet, the Netherlands still has the fifth-highest share of fossil fuels in its energy mix among OECD countries, and around 95% of habitat types and 75% of species are considered threatened. The country needs, therefore, to push the frontier of environmental policy even further and in innovative ways to maintain growth while ensuring conservation and sustainable use of environmental assets.