Samenvatting

Over forty countries around the world are taking an innovative legal path in the field of nature protection and environmental law by granting legal rights to elements of nature. Given the challenges which the Netherlands needs to solve regarding biodiversity loss and pollution of land, water and air, it is high time to reconsider past practices. In this article, the authors explore whether this innovative ‘Rights of Nature’ path could strengthen nature protection and environmental law in the Netherlands as well. The authors address that question from a legal-social and ethical perspective.