Groene Hart

The Groene Hart (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣrunə ˈɦɑrt]; "Green Heart") is a relatively thinly populated area of the Netherlands covering much of the middle portion of the Randstad megalopolis.

The major Dutch cities of Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Haarlem, Amsterdam, and Utrecht surround this area.

[citation needed] Since the Dutch Golden Age, there has been a ring of cities surrounding this green and open central area.

The Groene Hart developed in the territory between the large cities in the Western Netherlands as an area of wet meadows and marshland.

In addition, rivers such as the Hollandse IJssel, Oude Rijn, Lek, Vlist, Loet, Rotte, and Meije run through the area.