News item | 29-05-2026 | 13:30
Heavy showers, longer droughts, more heat and rising sea levels: the climate will continue to change in the future, even if all climate goals are achieved. And so the battle that the Netherlands has been waging with water for centuries is also changing. Today the government is showing how we can deal with this until 2100: each ministry has mapped out the options for its own sectors, such as water management, housing, agriculture and nature.
All this is included in the draft National Climate Adaptation Strategy 2026. It will be possible to respond to this from June 9. The strategy will be adopted at the end of 2026.
Minister Karremans (Infrastructure and Water Management): “In recent years, a lot of attention and resources have of course been focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but much less on how we can best adapt to a changed climate. While that is already sensible: think of the heat this week, but also of the heavy showers in Limburg in 2021 and Enschede in 2024. To prevent us from later suffering from increasingly hot summers and increasing flooding due to extreme experience showers and other consequences of climate change, we now have to look ahead. Today we indicate how we can keep the Netherlands safe and resilient. In the long term, clear choices are needed, so it is important that these measures are decided on time. The Netherlands has been known for centuries for its knowledge and expertise in the field of water. And if anyone can win that battle, it is Netherlands Waterland.”
Ambitions and goals per sector
The report details the government’s ambitions and targets for each sector. A distinction is made between the European and the Caribbean Netherlands. The effects of climate change vary, but we want infrastructure to continue to work well throughout the Netherlands, that people are safe from flooding and that loss of important heritage is prevented.
Possible measures depend on the speed of climate change
For each sector, we look at what measures are possible to remain resilient in a changing climate. The speed of climate change determines which choices can be made at what time. This way, smart investments can be made and damage can be prevented as much as possible.
Example: flooding
To prevent flooding in the future, we must do more than just drain water as quickly as possible. In the long term, it is wise to adapt the use of space to what works best for water and soil, for example building in places that are not vulnerable to flooding. It is also desirable not to focus solely on draining water quickly, because during dry periods we want to have more fresh water available.