National Programme Room for the River Caren Hoekstra, senior advisor River Basin Management RvR Rick Kuggeleijn, head Safety

Overview ~ Programme Room for the River ~ reason ~ task ~ organisation ~ Measures ~ Challenges ~ Noordwaard

Overview ~ Programme Room for the River ~ reason ~ task ~ organisation ~ Measures ~ Challenges ~ Noordwaard

Netherlands under water!

Catchments of rivers Rhine and Meuse Netherlands Germany Switzerland France Discharge at Lobith Dutch-German border Average: 2,200 m 3 /s top: 12,000 m 3 /s peak: 16,000 m 3 /s (1/1250 per year)

1953

River dikes

Bursting of dikes

Floods in ‘93 en ‘95 Damage and evacuations

Recent European floods ~ Floodings Donau en Elbe (2002) ~700 death ~ people homeless ~€ 25 billion damage ~ 2005: floods Bulgary, Germany, France, Austria, Roemenia ~ 2007: floods England, Italy, Zwitserland and Germany ~ 2008: floods Italy

Potential damage bij floods ~ More than 10 million people are in danger along the river Rhine ~ Potential damage: €165 billion ~ Severe consequenses for the environment Inbreuk van Ochten en Paswaey 1726Doorbraak bij Huissen, 28 dec Vastlegging overstromingen in Culemborg

Overview ~ Programme Room for the River ~ reason ~ task ~ organisation ~ Measures ~ Challenges ~ Noordwaard

Flood protection in NL Flood Protection Act: ~ safety levels (probabilities) ~ every 5 years, evaluation hydraulic design parameters (design discharges, etc.) ~ every 5 years: check infrastructure (dikes and dams) ~ report to Parliament 2001: new round: Rhine design discharge up from to m 3 /s at the border

Objectives of Room for Rivers 1. Safety “Improving flood protection in the Rivers Region up to the required level” 2. Spatial quality “Contributing to improving the spatial quality of the Rivers Region”

Room for the River A programme on behalf of three ministries: ~Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment ~Transport, Public Works and Water Management ~Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Scope: ~Security, Water Quality, Nature, Spatial planning, Housing

Safety: Planning studies ~ Water authorities initiator for dyke reinforcement (11 projects) ~ RWS initiator for other measures (18 projects) ~ Provinces and municipalities initiator for planning studies if they make a proactive offer themselves (about 11 projects)

Overview ~ Programme Room for the River ~ reason ~ task ~ organisation ~ Measures ~ Challenges ~ Noordwaard