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TheGroene Hart (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈɣrunəˈɦɑrt]; "Green Heart") is a relatively thinly populated area of theNetherlands covering much of the middle portion of theRandstad megalopolis. The major Dutch cities ofRotterdam,The Hague,Leiden,Haarlem,Amsterdam, andUtrecht surround this area. Cities inside the Groene Hart includeZoetermeer,Alphen aan den Rijn,Gouda,Woerden, and the smaller cities ofSchoonhoven,Oudewater,Haastrecht,Nieuwkoop,Montfoort,Waddinxveen,Bodegraven, andBoskoop.
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The Groene Hart has a rural character, which contrasts with the urban areas around it. Agriculture, nature, and recreation are the primary activities in the Groene Hart.[citation needed] Mills, dikes and Dutch cows are the primary sights of this lowland area. The Groene Hart is important Dutch bird habitat. The bird speciesblack-tailed godwit,northern lapwing andEurasian oystercatcher can all be found in the area.[citation needed]
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Since theDutch Golden Age, there has been a ring of cities surrounding this green and open central area. This area was given the nickname of "Groene Hart" by the middle of the twentieth century. The Groene Hart developed in the territory between the large cities in the Western Netherlands as an area ofwet meadows andmarshland. Thesewetlands were not suitable for building, so they were used foragriculture andpeat production.
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The Groene Hart is a water-rich area, with bodies of water such as theLangeraarse Plassen,Nieuwkoopse Plassen,Reeuwijkse Plassen,Kagerplassen, andBraassemermeer. In addition, rivers such as theHollandse IJssel,Oude Rijn,Lek,Vlist,Loet,Rotte, andMeije run through the area.
One of theEuropean footpaths runs through the area. In the Netherlands it is known as the Floris V-pad, part of the Dutch LAW 1-3 path. The Limes, the former northern border of the Roman empire in The Netherlands, crosses the Groene Hart.
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A government policy was adopted in 2003 to preserve the Groene Hart. It allows for the larger cities on the edge of the Groene Hart to build limited amounts of housing. The government also limits the establishment of greenhouses and other types of commercial buildings within the area.
The plan for the development of the Groene Hart includes four areas:
52°06′45″N4°42′03″E / 52.11250°N 4.70083°E /52.11250; 4.70083