The Netherlands is dependent on artificial structures for water safety. In addition to water safety the artificial structures also provide habitat for different aquatic species. When designing artificial structures like dikes and breakwaters adjustments can be taken to increase species richness or stimulate …

The comparative analysis of clay properties is a crucial study in dike design, construction and maintenance. Understanding the properties of different clay covers and soil is essential for ensuring the stability and effectiveness of dike systems. This research analysis aims to provide valuable insights …

This study explores the effect of precipitation, evaporation, animal burrowing and the changing climate on the permeability of the clay cover layer on a dike. It also showcases the possibility of utilizing finite difference flow models, such as MODFLOW, for the simulation of various environmental impacts …

The current flood protection infrastructure in the Netherlands no longer meets required standards, which led to the formation of the Hoogwaterbeschermingsprogramma (HWBP). This program is tasked with reinforcing 2,000 kilometres of dikes and 400 sluices over the next 30 years to safeguard the country …

Coastal flood managers seek to anticipate future flood risk and as a result consider the adaptation of flood defences. Instead of crest heightening, dikes can be adapted to include hydrodynamic reducing vegetated foreshores to form a nature-based hybrid flood defence, for instance; at managed realignments. …

As the year passes, keeping themselves afloat has become more challenging for the Netherlands. Climate change and sea level rise are primary factors influencing the maintenance and reinforcement of the country's dikes system. Therefore, a new Delta Plan has been implemented to make the dikes system climate-proof …

Do we dare to explore the hypothesis that technology shouldn't necessarily play the main role in our human future? It's time to face this discrepancy. Technology became our faith, but it is certainly not a joyful faith. With every new "solution", comes the need for new "solutions" to mitigate the previously …

Nature-based strategies, such as wave attenuation by tidal marshes, are increasingly proposed as a complement to mitigate the risks of failure of engineered flood defense structures such as levees. However, recent analysis of historic coastal storms revealed smaller dike breach dimensions if there were …

Managed realignment is the landward relocation of flood infrastructure to re-establish tidal exchange on formerly reclaimed land. Managed realignment can be seen as a nature-based flood defence system that combines flood protection by the realigned dike (artificial) and restored saltmarshes (nature-based). …

Most research on hydrological risks focuses either on flood risk or drought risk, whilst floods and droughts are two extremes of the same hydrological cycle. To better design disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures and strategies, it is important to consider interactions between these closely linked phenomena. …