The Netherlands is facing challenges associated with climate change, biodiversity loss, the energy transition and transition towards circular agriculture that will influence the countryside and the people living there. Within the last decade, the concept of circularity has gained increased attention in the debate about resource management and as a method to reduce the environmental impact of production and resource use. This research will explore what can be learned from the past to develop design and landscape management recommendations for the future of Dutch rural landscapes by testing the usefulness of historical circularity in the context of today’s contemporary challenges.