Jolanda Maas

Jolanda Maas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology at the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and affiliated with APH - Mental Health. Her work bridges environmental psychology and clinical mental health, focusing on how natural environments influence psychological well-being across diverse populations.

Her research centers on nature connectedness, green spaces' effects on cognitive performance and mood, and green schoolyard applications in educational settings. Key themes include measuring connectedness (e.g., Dutch Nature Connection Index), nature-based interventions in healthcare, and optimizing school environments for child development. Her work directly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals for health (SDG 3) and sustainable cities (SDG 11).

Recent publications (2025) reveal a cohesive trend: developing practical tools (e.g., GreenIF framework) and validating nature-based solutions across healthcare and education. Her methodology combines quantitative psychometrics with qualitative field observations, emphasizing real-world implementation in hospitals, long-term care, and schools.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Groene Schoolpleinen Monitor grant (2025)
• Groene Schoolpleinen voor een gezonde ontwikkeling van kinderen grant (2019)

Dr. Maas supervises two PhD theses and Master's students in Clinical Psychology while leading the active "Groene Schoolpleinen Monitor" project. She secures competitive grants for green infrastructure research, with findings disseminated through teacher training and policy recommendations. Her ancillary consultancy with Vitamin G (since 2020) extends this expertise to community health initiatives.