ANP
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More than half of the dikes do not yet meet the safety standard that all Dutch dikes must meet in 2050. This has emerged from research by the water boards and Rijkswaterstaat.
About 3500 kilometers of dikes fall under “the primary flood defenses”, together with the sluices and pumping stations that are supposed to protect the Netherlands against flooding. According to the report, 1,500 kilometers must be reinforced to meet the 2050 standard. It is now 174 kilometers away. More than 500 kilometers are expected to be reinforced by 2028.
Since the Water Act of 2017, all flood defenses in the Netherlands must be inspected every 12 years and reinforced where necessary. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate is now investigating exactly how many kilometers need to be reinforced and what the associated costs are.
Dikes are now safe
The dykes that do not yet meet the 2050 standard are now safe, conclude Rijkswaterstaat and the water boards. “We are 27 years ahead of the expected situation in 2050 with the checks,” says Erik Wagener, director of the Flood Protection Program (HWBP).
The Flood Protection Program (HWBP) consists of 21 water boards and Rijkswaterstaat and is responsible for the operation. While the water boards are responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the dikes, the HWBP mainly looks at the medium term.
Work will be done first on the flood defenses along the major rivers. Especially on the dikes along the Lek, IJssel, Maas and Waal, for example between Gorinchem and Waardenburg and also near Nijmegen, explains Wagener. There are, however, some challenges, such as the energy crisis and climate change. Dike builders are also bound by nitrogen legislation, which means that projects along Natura 2000 areas first require a permit. They also have to deal with high costs for energy and building materials.
12.4 billion
The government has earmarked 12.4 billion euros until 2050 to reinforce the 1,500 kilometers of dykes. The water boards pay 400 million euros annually for this.
The total costs for the dyke improvement are difficult to predict because it involves such a long period. At the end of 2023, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will present a final report to the House of Representatives. Then more will become known about the total costs of the largest dyke improvement operation since the Delta Works.
