According to Infrastructure and Water Management Minister Mark Harbers, water commissions are “hugely important”. “The Netherlands grew up with water and the fight against high water.” But there have been some challenges. “In rainy times we need to be able to hold water so that we can use it in dry times.”
Also, water quality needs to be improved, says the minister. “The water authorities are responsible for this. Whether you live near a river, in peaty soil or sandy soil. These decisions affect your home or business and therefore affect every Dutch person.’
Building assignment
That means water boards are also indirectly involved in housing, says Jane Alblas, a spokeswoman for the Union of Water Boards. “There is an important housing task, but we have to take into account water and soil conditions.”
The government wants 900,000 homes built by 2030. But all the optimal places for construction have already been used, according to Alblas. “We also understand that construction has to be done in suboptimal locations,” says Alblas. But since 60 percent of the Netherlands is below sea level, it is necessary to carefully consider the criteria that construction in those places must meet. “So that we don’t have to deal with damage and hassle, which in turn costs millions.”
Alblas makes a comparison with Turkey. ‘There is a lot of anger about non-seismic buildings. In the Netherlands we must also be prepared to build climate-proof. There must be good criteria for that.’
practical theory
For the moment, the Union of Water Authorities is not involved in talks on new building plans. “It is not in the nature of water commissions to invite themselves to these discussions.” According to the union, the cabinet sees the need for water and soil to play a leading role. It is included in the coalition agreement and Minister Harbers has turned it into a policy document. “It was embraced in theory, but now it has to be put into practice.” This is stated in the coalition agreement and Minister Harbers has further elaborated the plan in a position paper.
According to the Association of Water Boards, there is not only a battle against water, but the Netherlands must also learn to live with water. Raising the levees further is an option, but according to Alblas the Netherlands cannot avoid giving more space to the water. “That also means we have to accept that flooding is part of it.”