Policy trends in river and flood management in the Netherlands since the 2010s - part 3

This part connects the most relevant water management policies in terms of quantity to the implementing organizations, from the European to the most local municipal context.

 

Policies per governmental organization

 

The table below provides an overview of the main laws, policies, and guidelines relevant to water management in the Netherlands, and explains what main responsibilities and topic areas it concerns, including the timeline it is applicable to. Several items have been given the name ‘delta’, and there differences are explained here. The main coordinator of all delta laws and policies is the Delta Commissioner, who enables cooperation between all stakeholders on all different levels. The Main Delta Program monitors the progress of delta decisions, preferred strategies, and delta plans. There are currently delta decisions on water safety, fresh water, spatial adaptation, the Rhine-Meuse delta, and the Ijssel lake. Preferred strategies provide bespoke guidance for various areas. Delta plans contain concrete measures on how to implement these policies[i].

 

Table: Main Dutch water management laws and policies since 2010

Policy Name	Years active	Key Features
European Water Framework Directive[ii]	2003, amended in 2008 - 2015	A framework to protect all water bodies (river basins and groundwater) up to one nautical mile from shore in EU countries.
European Floods Directive[iii]	2007-current	Legislation for all EU countries to prepare risk assessments and flood risk management plans by 2015.
Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet)[iv]	2024-current	Sets out the duties of the various government authorities with regard to water management.
National Water Program[v]	2022-2027	Contains river basin management plans, flood risk management plans, and the North Sea Programme.
National Climate Adaptation Strategy[vi]	2016, next version 2026	Together with the National Adaptation Plan, this sets the course for climate-proofing the Netherlands.
Delta Decision Spatial Adaptation[vii]	2014, updated in 2021	National goals for a climate-proof and water-robust Netherlands in 2050.
Delta Plan Spatial Adaptation (DPRA)[viii]	2017-2050	Guide for municipalities, waterboards, provinces, and the national government to speed up the process of spatial adaptation in 45 regions.
Room for the River 2.0[ix]	2025-2050	Enabling a future proof river area (from floods).
Room for the River[x]	2006-2019	Measures to create more space and prevent flooding in the tributaries of the Rhine and Meuse rivers.
Flood protection program (Hoogwaterbeschermingsprogramma HWBP)[xi]	2014-2050	Main implementation program of the National Deltaprogram by the 21 water boards and Rijkswaterstaat.
Example Water management program waterboard Vechtstromen[xii]	2022-2027	Local future water management programs that align with the national water plan, river basin management plans, and provincial environmental visions.
Climate risks in the Netherlands[xiii]	2024-2050	Analysis from the Planning agency for the living environment of the current climate risks in the Netherlands, to help enable policies for a climate-proof and water-robust Netherlands in 2050.
Guide Safe Climate Adaptation[xiv]	2024	Guide from the Dutch Institute for Public Safety for all safety regions
Example Risk profile safety region Amsterdam-Amstelland[xv]	2025-2028	Local risk profile and suggested measures for the safety region Amsterdam-Amstelland.
Example Water and Climate Adaptation Plan municipality Enschede[xvi]	2022-2026	This describes how the municipality deals with wastewater, rainwater, and groundwater, and what is being done to prepare for the consequences of climate change.

 

Additional types of water management guidelines, programs, and rules exist and influence each other, as shown in the figure below, based on the water board Vechtstromen[xvii]:

 

 

Figure 2: Relationships between policies on different governmental levels when creating water management plans by Dutch water boards[xviii].

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[i] https://www.deltaprogramma.nl/deltaprogramma/wat-is-het-deltaprogramma

[ii] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-framework-directive_en

[iii] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32007L0060

[iv] https://www.government.nl/topics/environment-and-planning-act

[v] https://iplo.nl/thema/water/beleid-regelgeving-water/programma-omgevingswet-water/nationaal-water-programma-2022-2027/

[vi] https://klimaatadaptatienederland.nl/en/policy-programmes/national-strategy/nas/

[vii] https://www.deltaprogramma.nl/themas/ruimtelijke-adaptatie

[viii] https://www.deltaprogramma.nl/themas/ruimtelijke-adaptatie/deltaplan

[ix] https://www.ruimtevoorderivier.nl/documenten/beleidsnotas/2025/04/08/programma-integraal-riviermanagement-april-2025

[x] https://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/water/waterbeheer/bescherming-tegen-het-water/maatregelen-om-overstromingen-te-voorkomen/ruimte-voor-de-rivieren#ruimte-voor-de-rivier

[xi] https://www.hwbp.nl/over-hwbp/wie-we-zijn-en-wat-we-doen

[xii] https://vechtstromen.bestuurlijkeinformatie.nl/Agenda/Document/dd2aaa8a-eae3-4a00-bc99-7542955a6eff?documentId=0967098f-e41a-4982-a0df-e670d3cb77d1&agendaItemId=4dacd9de-ff3d-408f-93a8-555db1076c89

[xiii] https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2024/05/14/bijlage-2-rapport-pbl-2024-klimaatrisicos-in-nederland

[xiv] https://nipv.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20240930-NIPV-Handreiking-veilige-klimaatadaptatie.pdf

[xv] https://stukken.veiligheidsregioaa.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/VRAA_REGRISICOPROFIEL_25-28_DEF.pdf

https://stukken.veiligheidsregioaa.nl/risicoprofiel-2025-2028/

[xvi] https://groenblauwenschede.ireporting.nl/FbContent.ashx/pub_1001/downloads/v210622195815/Water-%20en_klimaatadaptatieplan%20Gemeente%20Enschede%202022-2026.pdf

[xvii] https://vechtstromen.bestuurlijkeinformatie.nl/Agenda/Document/dd2aaa8a-eae3-4a00-bc99-7542955a6eff?documentId=0967098f-e41a-4982-a0df-e670d3cb77d1&agendaItemId=4dacd9de-ff3d-408f-93a8-555db1076c89

[xviii] https://vechtstromen.bestuurlijkeinformatie.nl/Agenda/Document/dd2aaa8a-eae3-4a00-bc99-7542955a6eff?documentId=0967098f-e41a-4982-a0df-e670d3cb77d1&agendaItemId=4dacd9de-ff3d-408f-93a8-555db1076c89