Organization: Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment

The Netherlands has a population of over 16 million in an area (including the territorial sea and surface water) of just 41,528 km2. The Netherlands lies in a delta, which enables three major rivers: the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt, to flow out to sea. Without dikes and coastal dunes, around two thirds of the Netherlands would be flooded. Flood protection is therefore a very high priority in water management for the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.

Dutch history is marked by floods and the response to them. In 1993 and 1995, the Dutch rivers swelled to unprecedented levels. Large tracts of farmland were inundated; 250,000 people and one million head of livestock were evacuated. As a consequence, the Dutch government took measures to protect the rivers region against flooding. The approach, Room for the River, was born.

Natural flood plain, the implementation of which started in 2007, restores the river’s natural flood plain in places where it is least harmful in order to protect those areas that need to be defended. By 2015, through a series of more than 30 measures, costing USD 2.9 billion, we will have lowered and broadened our flood plain and created river diversions and temporary water storage areas. We will restore marshy riverine landscapes to serve once again as natural ‘water storage’ sponges and provide biodiversity and aesthetic and recreational values.

The countries through which the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt rivers flow, cooperate closely on flood protection. These countries are The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. Room for the River also shares this experience with other countries all over the world, and highly values the experience obtained from these international exchanges.

Keywords: water and disasters, sustainable development.

Location: Holland, Europe

Corresponding websites:

>> Dutch Water Program Room for the River
>> Interview with Waterschap Groot-Salland, Waterschap Veluwe and the contractor on the Room for the River projects along the river at Deventer
>> Overdiepse Polder Journal 2012
>> Interview with Waterschap Brabantse Delta and the contractor on the Room for the River river widening project 'Overdiepse Polder'
>> Corporate Clip Room for the River
>> Facing Flood Risk across Europe