From USSR to EU: 20 years of rural landscape changes in Vidzeme, Latvia

► Latvia underwent major political and socio-economic changes over the last 30 years. ► We examined landscape structure changes in Vidzeme, from 1988 to 2007. ► The changes were compared to socio-economic, infrastructure, and physical variables. ► National and European subsidies play a key role in agricultural activities. ► The polarised landscape structure from the Soviet era was restored in various places.