Cabinet aims to prevent unnecessary water damage with sufficient room for large rivers

The large rivers play an important role in the water safety of the Netherlands. The Rhine, Waal, Maas, Lek, and IJssel increasingly catch large amounts of rainwater due to extreme weather. For this, these rivers need space. Since there has been room for unwanted spatial developments, such as residential areas, holiday parks, and even hospitals in parts of the riverbed, Minister Madlener (Infrastructure and Water Management) has updated the Policy Line for Large Rivers (Bgr). This ensures that we retain sufficient space for water storage and drainage, prevent new activities or objects from making future river expansions more difficult or expensive, and avoid unnecessary damage to residents and businesses.

In July 2021, Limburg was hit by extreme flooding, where the Maas and its tributaries overflowed their banks, causing significant damage. This event underscored the need to give large rivers the space to better prepare for the consequences of extreme weather. The update of the Policy Line for Large Rivers is part of the government program.

Minister Madlener: “The Netherlands is, of course, a true water country. Water safety is at the heart of everything we do and develop on a ‘very small piece of earth’. This means we must give our rivers the space to catch and drain excess rainwater. With the adjustments we are making now, we give the large rivers the chance to continue performing this important task for us. This way, we are building a safe, livable, and future-proof river area.”

As of February 1, the ‘no unless’ principle applies to all areas in the riverbed where a Bgr permit is required. This means that the river takes precedence over a part of the potential future development plans – for example, large-scale housing construction or the establishment of holiday parks. Projects that are already well advanced or for which agreements have been made with the state fall under the transitional arrangement and may continue under the old rules. In areas that were permit-free, nothing changes. These are areas where provinces and municipalities determine how and what is built, not the state.

Even under the new policy line, there remains room for carefully weighed developments, such as: river-related activities, activities of great social importance, activities for ground-based agricultural businesses, and sustainability of the energy supply. Additionally, small and temporary activities remain possible, such as the demolition and reconstruction of existing buildings, annual events, and depots for dike reinforcement projects. Through a 10% expansion scheme, there remains development space for existing buildings. Activities of subordinate importance are also possible. This includes, for example, coverings and shelters, earthworks, planting, property boundaries, fencing, and grids.

In the coming years, important choices must be made to make the river system future-proof and better prepare the Netherlands for extreme weather conditions. By investing now in smart management and adjustments to regulations, we are building a safe and robust river area for all residents and other stakeholders. The update of the Policy Line for Large Rivers is an important step in this.