The Netherlands might have 20 national parks but they need to be bigger and more recognisable, according to Labour and D66 MPs.The Netherlands needs an official national parks policy like Scotland, Canada and America, the parties say.

‘People need to be able to see that they are in a part of nature which is really worth visiting,’ D66 parliamentarian Stientje van Veldhoven is quoted as saying by broadcaster Nos.

The D66 and Labour plan involves extending the national park limit to 5,000 hectares, five times their current size. There also needs to be proper car parks, catering facilities and more organised activities.

‘Think, for example, of good bike routes and GPS treasure hunts,’ Van Veldhoven said.

The parties want the cabinet to set aside €1m to draw up a proper national parks policy.