Dry Feet 2050

The risk of flooding and water shortages in the northern provinces is increasing as the climate changes more rapidly. The 'Droge Voeten 2050' (Dry Feet 2050) project investigated what measures we need to take to limit flooding until 2050. The provinces and water boards are jointly responsible for these measures.

Even better protection against water

We are taking action to protect ourselves against the more extreme ( weather) conditions that are expected. We have started by strengthening the reservoir of our water board. This is how we are doing it:

  • We are improving the management of pumping stations.
  • We construct water storage facilities in existing or new nature reserves.
  • We are modifying the Schaphalsterzijl pumping station.
  • We raise quays and reinforce dikes.
  • In times of high water and heavy rainfall, we deploy pumping stations in locations that do not cause any nuisance to the villages here.

Combination of water storage and nature

One of the measures concerns the cooperation between water storage and the ecological main structure. Areas have already been designated for the construction of part of the'ecological main structure'. In the lowest-lying areas, such as the Westerkwartier, cooperation with water storage will be established. This means that we will specially design part of the area to store excess water.