Climate change leads to increasing amounts of rainwater and

Room for meltwater draining into rivers. As a result, high water levels
are increasingly common. Major rivers like the Rhine and the
Meuse flow through the Netherlands towards the sea. A lot of

the River
Giving rivers more space in order
to prevent flooding
JOHAN ROERINK AEROPICTURE
these rivers are contained by dykes, but in many places the
space between the dykes is insufficient to accommodate very
high water volumes. This Increases the risk of flooding. To
address the situation, the Netherlands has established the
Room for the River programme. As well as enhancing flood
protection, the programme also makes the surroundings
more attractive by reinforcing the ecological, economic and
landscape functions.
 Enhanced flood protection and a more attractive stability of the dikes and the spatial quality for the A variety of measures
environment – with those twin aims, the Dutch Room for hinterland decrease. The problem can only be properly Every river is different and requires an individual solution. A • H
 igh-water channel: a branch of a river is used to drain high
the River programme has already created more space for the resolved by reducing the rivers’ water levels. The variety of measures and techniques are available for making water via a different route. The channel is not excavated
Netherlands’ major rivers at more than thirty locations. As a Netherlands is therefore giving its rivers more room. This room for the river: below the water table, but constructed by building tow
result, four million people living near to rivers in the can be done by relocating dykes or by creating side channels dykes in the landscape.
Netherlands now enjoy better protection against flooding. in the flood plains. Such measures are helping to prevent
And the quality of the river environment has been improved flooding and all attendant problems for people, animals,
in the process. infrastructure, and the economy.

What’s the issue? The opportunity is also being taken to improve spatial • L owering the flood plain: sedimentation has gradually raised
High river levels are increasingly common as a result of quality by utilising the potential of the river environment. the level of the flood plain over the past few centuries.
greater rainwater and meltwater inflows, due to climate Urban and rural riverside areas are made more visually Excavating the top layers of the flood plain makes them • D
 e-poldering: the containing dyke is moved further away
change. Rivers contained by dykes often have insufficient attractive, and scope is created for recreational activities. lower, providing more space for the river during periods from the river, so that the river can flow into the area
space to accommodate very high water volumes, and The programme also provides opportunities for local of high water. during periods of high water. The ppeople living in these
leading to an increased risk of flooding. At some point economies, and stimulates the national economy by areas are compensated to move elsewhere, or have to
strengthening dykes by making them even higher is not a awarding project realisation contracts to the hydraulic build new houses on dwelling mounds.
satisfactory answer to the problem, because both the engineering sector.

• D
 eepening the summer bed: dredging the riverbed to make it
deeper creates more room for the river.
• R emoving obstacles: removing or modifying obstacles in the
river helps to increase its flow rate. Examples include
lowering or eliminating ferry pier banks, widening bridge
openings, and removing or lowering quays and flood-free
• W
 ater retention: some places along rivers, such as certain areas.
lakes, can serve as temporary water storage areas for the
retention of excess river water under exceptional
circumstances. Such as when the storm surge barrier is
closed and the amount of water flowing towards the sea
rUimte voor de rivier
ijsseldelta
is very great.
markermeer
ketelmeer

Kampen
dijkverlegging
westenholte • S trengthening dykes: in some areas, river widening is not an
option due to lack of space. At such locations, the dykes
Zwolle
Lelystad
Uiterwaardvergraving
sCheller en oldeneler
buitenwaarden
iJss

may be reinforced instead.

el

HoogwatergeUl
Veessen-wapenVeld
Haarlem Almere
Amsterdam
Uiterwaardvergraving
Uiterwaardvergraving
bolwerKsplas, worp en
Keizers-, stobben- en
ossenwaard
olsterwaarden
dijkverbetering
Deventer
leK / betuwe / tieler-
en CulemborGerwaard

Special team works to enhance spatial quality

Hilversum Uiterwaardvergraving dijkverlegging
de tollewaard Apeldoorn
VoorsterKlei
Amersfoort
Leiden
Uiterwaardvergraving
Uiterwaardvergraving doorwerthsChe waarden
obstakelverwijdering Zutphen
bossenwaard, pontwaard dijkverlegging
maChinistensChool elst
en heerenwaard Uiterwaardvergraving

• Dyke relocation: moving a dyke further away from the river The Room for the River programme has a special Q Team,
CortenoeVer
middelwaard Uiterwaard-
dijkverbetering Utrecht vergraving
dijkverbetering meinerswijK dijkverbetering
Den Haag leK / alblasserwaard nederrijn / arnhemse-
nederrijn /
en VijFheerenlanden en VelpsebroeK
GeldersChe

increases the width of the flood plain and provides more which is dedicated to enhancing spatial quality. The team
Vallei
dijkverlegging
dijkverbetering Velp hondsbroeKsChe pleij
Nie leK / lopiKer- en NederriJN
uw
e Krimpenerwaard Uiterwaardvergraving
w
at
er
lek
Culemborg Arnhem
Pa huissensChe waarden
Rotterdam

room for the river by extending its winter bed. does not produce plans itself, but gives solicited and
w N
eg N
Nieuwe maas Uiterwaardvergraving ka er
d Uiterwaardvergraving
Tiel N eN
millinGerwaard
aVelinGen Uiterwaardvergraving
aa
l sc
dijkverbetering waal h
munniKenland
oude maas / Voorne putten ontpoldering BoveN
No

-riJN
kribverlaging
ord

oude maas noordwaard kribverlaging

beneden-waal midden-waal Nijmegen

unsolicited advice, is always available to the programme

merwede

i
obstakelverwijdering
ha sPu Dordrecht
riN suiKerdam / Gendtse waard
dijkterUglegging
r-

gv dijkverbetering
dordtsche

t
w e

steu
ed

liet
ga
m ieuw
kil

steurGat / lent kribverlaging

kribverlaging
er
N

land Van altena waalboChten

dijkverbetering waal Fort st. andries

bureau as a discussion partner, and makes so-called Spatial

hollaNdsch s
oude maas / hoeKsChe waard dieP maa dijkverbetering
amer sche
Berg ’s-Hertogenbosch nederrijn / betuwe /
krammer/ tieler- en CulemborGerwaard
volkerak kadeverlaging
zuiderKlip rivierverrUiming
oVerdiepse polder

Quality Implementation Visits during the realisation and

kadeverlaging
waterberging biesbosCh
VolKeraK-zoommeer
dijkverbetering dijkverbetering
amer / donGe berGsChe maas /
land Van altena

delivery phase. On completion of each project, the Q Team

Zoommeer

Bergen op Zoom

Eindhoven

produces a Final Spatial Quality Assessment Report.

• L owering perpendicular groynes and building attracting groynes:
groynes are hydraulic engineering structures that
interrupt the water flow and limit the movement of
sediment. Rivers will be able to drain excess water more
easily when existing groynes are lowered and parallel
barriers are built.
The Dutch programme Room for the River has already created more space for the major rivers at more than thirty
locations.
Never-ending task
Protecting against high water is a never-ending task. The
climate is constantly changing, and many delta countries
like the Netherlands are vulnerable to flooding. As a result,
flood prevention work is always necessary. Responsive
action is no substitute for pre-emptive intervention to make
deltas safe places to live and work – now and in the future.

2 | Factsheet – Room for the River Factsheet – Room for the River | 3
 More information and contact

For more information about the Room for the River programme,
visit www.ruimtevoorderivier.nl/english

4 | Factsheet – Room for the River