The challenge
Historically, the province of Limburg experiences severe flooding, with estimates suggesting a future flood could affect 60,0000 people.
Historically, the province of Limburg experiences severe flooding, with estimates suggesting a future flood could affect 60,0000 people.
A water authority plan that improves 15 dykes and relocates five while future-proofing them and ensuring they are climate adaptable.
After completion, the population and businesses in the northern Meuse valley of Limburg will be protected against high water and flooding.
Limburg has been hit by severe floods in the past, and without intervention it could happen again. According to estimates, as many as 60,000 people could be affected by flooding in the Meuse valley, causing up to 3 billion euros worth of damage. Limburg Water Board wants to prevent this situation at all costs.
The water authority plan aims to improve the dikes in a climate-adaptable and future-proof way, with fifteen dike reinforcements and five dike relocations. Arcadis has been involved in the project from the very beginning, from planning and environmental management right through to implementation.
Flood protection is a long-term project that has a huge impact on the residents concerned. Despite the major floods in the 1990s, Limburg citizens—unlike residents of the coastal provinces—are not used to water control structures. The few dikes built along the Meuse river were never primarily intended to prevent flooding. This major project is therefore very significant for the region and its inhabitants. The work is even more urgent and necessary now that climate change is causing water levels in the Meuse to rise further. After completion, residents and companies in the northern Meuse valley will be well protected from high water levels and flooding.