This section has another local example of how these policies are implemented in practice.
Stream restoration in Hengelo[i], [ii]
Hengelo’s water plan from 2006[iii] contains measures until 2030, and is created in cooperation with the water board, the province, and the main drinking water company. The main issues addressed by this plan are stream restoration, splitting rainwater and wastewater, and reducing groundwater flooding. Stream restoration is dependent on these other two issues, and thereby they should all be considered in combination. The traditional perspective was that water should not be seen in the urban landscape. It was part of the subsurface infrastructure, unless there was flooding. Urban water had negative connotations and was a problem of the municipality, not the people. Therefore, the goal of the water plan was to also restore the relationship between water and society, going beyond technical measures. This meant making neighborhoods more attractive and increasing awareness.
Hengelo is located at the bottom of the higher elevated moraine of Enschede and historically the water from the many streams was used for industry, mainly metal, which also extracted several meters of groundwater. As these industries were discontinued in the 1970s, polluted groundwater nuisance became a recurring issue, mainly during winters, and the few remaining streams no longer had a water carrying capacity. Many neighborhoods did have a main pond. Ideally the streams are reconnected aboveground.
Figure: Stream restoration in municipality Hengelo[iv]
Together with waterboard Vechtstromen many of the stream restoration projects have already been completed[v]. There is now a new climate adaptation strategy in alignment with the delta plan spatial adaptation (DPRA). Since 2019 the municipality is actively involving citizens in these climate adaptation plans and relevant stress tests[vi]. 60% of space in the municipality is owned by private citizens, which is why it is necessary to collaborate to reach the policy targets. As with the national expectations, measures are required to address an increase of frequency an intensity of pluvial floods, drought, and heat. Pluvial floods are a current issue as many paved city center areas do not offer sufficient drainage during outburst storms. Drought is mainly an issue because existing streams and the main industrial canal do not receive sufficient oxygen, leading to algae and bacterial growth and subsequent plant and animal mortality. Consequently, there is less water available for drinking water extraction, agriculture, and nature, which even leads to an increased fire hazard in nature areas. Heat is a large issue, especially in the inner city with ground temperatures of up to 50°C during a heat wave on August 12th, 2022[vii]. This could be reduced by introducing more blue elements into the urban landscape.
Small scale local measures on privately owned land stimulated by the municipality include subsidies for green roofs and decoupling rain water from the sewage system. In public space, the current focus is on retention areas called wadis, continuing to connect streams, and replacing the sewage system. More funding will be required, but can also become available through sewage plans, climate adaptive measures, and transforming grey areas to green. Every six years the local plans are revised where needed to adapt to the changing circumstances, both climate wise and politically. Involving citizens in this project means to discuss with different stakeholders (children, health care, experts, and citizens through social media polls and meetings) what would be the worst impacts to experience and what actions should be prioritized.
This is a great improvement to previous plans, as it is found that on average in Europe municipal climate plans are often inconsistent (70%), identify risks without any follow-up measures (48%), implements specific measures without any risk identification (49%), or don’t involve any groups of potentially vulnerable people during plan development (99%)[viii].
[i] Newsletter municipality Hengelo and waterboard Regge and Dinkel 2012 https://www.hengelo.nl/bestanden/documenten/Inwoners/Water/Hengeleau_2012_Elsbeek%20terug%20in%20Driene.pdf
[ii] https://www.hengelo.nl/bestanden/documenten/projecten%20en%20plannen/groen%20en%20water/Klimaatadaptatiestrategie%20Hengelo%202022.pdf
[iv] https://www.hengelo.nl/bestanden/documenten/Inwoners/Water/Hengeleau_2012_Elsbeek%20terug%20in%20Driene.pdf
[vi] https://www.hengelo.nl/bestanden/documenten/projecten%20en%20plannen/groen%20en%20water/Klimaatadaptatiestrategie%20Hengelo%202022.pdf
[vii] https://innovationorigins.com/nl/maastricht-is-de-meest-hittestressbestendige-binnenstad-van-nederland/
[viii] https://www.utwente.nl/nieuws/2025/5/305909/klimaatplannen-steden-vaak-inconsistent
