Water Management in the Netherlands

COURSE OBJECTIVE
Climate change and socio-economic development lead to challenges for water safety and freshwater availability in the Netherlands. The aim of this course is to gain insight into water management in the Netherlands and how climate change, land use changes, and population growth influence policies and practices. Special attention will be paid the Delta Programme, which aim is to protect the Netherlands against floods, ensure freshwater supplies, and to climate-proof the country’s spatial planning. To better understand the water management practices, the course covers the key characteristics of the hydrological system in the Netherlands.

By the end of this course, the student is able to:
1. Describe key characteristics of the Dutch hydrological system, and explain which factors played a key role in the changes and development of the hydrological system.
2. Evaluate and explain the impact of climate change on the Dutch hydrological system.
3. Explain the main principles of the Dutch water management, and its key topics and issues, but also to critically reflect upon the chosen strategies.
4. Reproduce the different components of the Delta Programme, and critically reflect upon the rationale behind the adaptation strategies
and the trade-offs between adaptation decisions.
5. Review the scientific literature in order to investigate a key issue related to water management in the Netherlands, and present the main
finding in a poster presentation.

COURSE CONTENT
The lectures provided by the (guest-)lectures have the following content:

1. History of the Dutch landscape and water management practices in the last 2000 years
2. Drainage and groundwater systems, in connection with geology and land use.
3. The climate in the Netherlands and its influence on the hydrological systems
4. The effects of climate change in the Netherlands, including the impact on the climate extremes, the hydrological system, and implications for water management.
5. The history and current evolution of the Delta Programme
6. Flood safety: past, current and future coastal and riverine water safety management
7. Freshwater: past, current and future freshwater management
8. Spatial adaptation: Linking solutions for flood safety and freshwater to spatial planning.

TEACHING METHODS
Lectures

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
Grading is done through one examination half-way (40%) and one examination at the end of the course (40%). Grading of the poster and
the presentation of the poster is based on peer-review by fellow students, and a review of the teacher based on a grading matrix (20%).