Noorderzijlvest Water Authority travels to Peru for knowledge exchange and sustainable cooperation
From September 27 to 9 October 2025, a delegation representing various organisations, including Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, will travel to Peru for a working visit as part of the international Blue Deal programme. The trip is focused on knowledge exchange, cooperation, and celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Peru.
Working together on water solutions
In Peru, Noorderzijlvest works with local water partners to find solutions to extreme drought, water shortages, and flooding. The collaboration is part of Blue Deal, a global programme run by Dutch water authorities that aims to provide access to clean, safe, and sufficient water for 20 million people by 2030.
“We’re not just going to share our knowledge—we’re also going to learn from others,” says Roeland van der Schaaf, Dyke Reeve of Noorderzijlvest Water Authority. “In Peru, we’ll learn how water management works under extreme conditions, how water is viewed as a shared responsibility, and how collaboration with natural systems is central to the approach.”
A story of reciprocity
Climate change knows no boundaries. The mudslides in Peru and rising sea levels in the Netherlands are two sides of the same crisis. But the solutions also know no boundaries. By listening, sharing, and working together, something new emerges: a bridge between knowledge and culture, between technology and tradition.
In Peru, water is a living being, a source of life. In the Netherlands, it is a force that we must tame. Sharing stories creates mutual understanding and new insights that help both countries adapt to climate change.
What's on the agenda?
- Participation in the regional Blue Deal meeting in Lima with partners from Argentina and Colombia
- Interviews with Peruvian stakeholders and water users
- Workshops on youth participation, flood prevention, and organisational strengthening
- Celebration of 200 years of cooperation with the Dutch embassy
- Vlog and report on the working visit
Who's coming?
The delegation consists of representatives from various organisations committed to sustainable water management:
- Roeland van der Schaaf, Kees de Jong, Milagros Sosa, and Nadia Oukake (Noorderzijlvest Water Authority)
- Francine Engelsman (Hunze en Aa’s Water Authority)
- Roel van der Veen (Rivierenland Water Authority)
- Nienke Swagemakers (Dutch Water Authorities - Blue Deal Programme)
- Sterre Koops (Hanze University of Applied Sciences – Climate Café)
- Lotte de Jong and Maya Daumal (Climate café external team)
Why this working visit matters
International cooperation not only strengthens the position of Dutch water authorities worldwide, but also their own organisation. Noorderzijlvest employees develop professionally and personally, and bring valuable lessons back to the Netherlands.
“Water connects us all,” says Roeland van der Schaaf. “By working together and learning from each other, we are building a future in which water management becomes stronger and more resilient worldwide.”