Room for the river: Innovation, or tradition? the case of the Noordwaard

Abstract

Dutch river management has changed dramatically over the past two hundred years. Approaches to flood management, however, date back many more centuries. This chapter compares the state river management program, Room for the River (undertaken from 2006 to 2015), to historical flood management strategies and techniques. We consider which measures used in this program might be useful in addressing the possibly accelerated pace of climate change and rise in sea level. We focus on the cultural water landscape of the Noordwaard. Formed in response to large river discharges occurring in 1993 and 1995-and the precautionary evacuation of two hundred fifty thousand inhabitants which accompanied them-Room for the River consisted of more than thirty projects and eight measures. In a departure from past policies, most measures took place in thewinter bed, or floodplain, of the river or behind its dike. Another innovative characteristic was its dual objective of ensuring safety and contributing to spatial quality-which the program defined as the balance between hydraulic effectiveness, ecological robustness, and cultural meaning and aesthetics. The program dedicated a special team to monitor progress on cultural issues. Room for the River represented a paradigm shift from the flood management policies of the recent past. Yet, some of the measures it recommended, such as digging a bypass and raising mounds in the Noordwaard, also recalled into practice much older approaches. This cutting-edge program made visible and returned to use traditional ways of flood management.