Preferred strategy for Rhine Estuary-Drecht Towns

The Delta Decisions on Flood risk management, the Rhine-Meuse Delta, Spatial adaptation and Fresh water constitute the basis for the preferred strategy for the Rhine Estuary-Drecht Towns region. The primary focus of the preferred strategy is on flood risk management. The secondary focus is on fresh water and spatial adaptation. There is also a focus on mitigating the consequences of flooding through spatial planning and crisis management. 

Flood risk management

Findings show that the current system with dikes and open, movable, storm surge barriers is sustainable until at least 2070, even given the current expectations for sea level rise. In the short term, many new homes will be built in the area, including near existing dikes. It will be a challenge to preserve enough room for future dike upgrades. The Rhine Estuary-Drecht Towns Delta Programme is actively committed to establishing the appropriate structures and boundary conditions for area developments. That includes establishing a development framework for dikes. In this way, the agendas for dikes and spatial developments will be coordinated and linked with one another in good time. 

The strategy also pays attention to mitigating the effects of flooding, both behind the dikes and in the unprotected area outside the dikes. In the years ahead, particular attention will be paid to the flood-aware design of new residential areas and facilities for vital and vulnerable functions. 

All investments in the spatial domain will take the long-term agenda for flood risk management into consideration. Area developments are being implemented for the long term, and efficient coordination with the agenda for flood risk management is cost-effective. This approach fits in with the national aim of making water and soil leading factors for spatial development. 

Fresh water

The Western Netherlands freshwater region is keeping in mind a possible increase in water demand due to factors such as population growth, climate change and land subsidence measures. In addition, the freshwater strategy makes the Western Netherlands resilient to situations with limited freshwater influx, as in 2018. Major infrastructure measures will not yet be required in the decades to come. However, measures are being taken in the context of areas such as Smart Water Management and the Climate-Resilient Freshwater Supplies in the Main Water System.

Spatial adaptation

The agenda for spatial adaptation in Zuid-Holland is considerable. There are major ambitions for housing, work, accessibility, economic growth, nature, prosperity, health and liveability. Climate adaptation has been included in the policies of several major cities and the provincial authority of Zuid-Holland, and it is an important component of each new development. The Climate-Adaptive Building Covenant of the province of Zuid-Holland serves as a guideline for the housing construction agenda in the Rhine Estuary-Drecht Towns area.