Advancements in smart cities, Internet of Things, and Internet of Nature: A brief overview of applications and best practices in the Netherlands

In recent years, smart cities have gained traction worldwide, particularly in the Netherlands, where urban populations are growing, and technological advancements are shaping urban landscapes. Smart cities utilize innovative technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the emerging Internet of Nature (IoN), to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and residents› overall quality of life. The IoT, a network of interconnected devices and sensors, optimizes various urban systems like transportation, energy management, healthcare, and public safety. Similarly, the Internet of Nature extends IoT principles to natural ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and climate resilience. Integrating IoT and the IoN offers promising solutions for urban challenges, ensuring that smart cities in the Netherlands and beyond continue to thrive sustainably. These concepts offer innovative solutions to challenges posed by rapid urbanization, resource depletion, and climate change. This paper explores the integration of IoT and the IoN in the context of smart cities, focusing on their applications and best practices in the Netherlands. Smart city applications in the Netherlands focus on smart mobility, energy transition, circular economy, smart green infrastructure, nature-based solutions (NBS), and digital twin models. Cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Eindhoven lead in smart city innovation and employ smart infrastructure, digital connectivity, data analytics, and citizen engagement.