We have mapped land-use changes since the 1990s in a selection of urban areas in four Norwegian municipalities, with a particular focus on natural areas and arable land in and around these urban areas. In addition, we have analysed changes in the attitudes of politicians, civil servants and civil society actors to land-use and environmental measures in the same municipalities during the same timespan. Based on this, we study the relationship between land use, attitudes to land use, and external drivers.